Definition Significance/ examples illustration

Activity space

The space within which daily activity occurs

Activity spaces represent our daily livesEx: star bucks

http://www.crunchgear.com/2010/06/14/starbucks-announces-free-wifi-at-all-locations/

Animistic religion

The belief that inanimate objects, such as hills, trees, rocks, and other elements of the natural landscape, possess souls and can help or hinder human efforts on earth

Animatisms is the foundation for many mythsEx: the belief system of many native Americans

http://www.crystalinks.com/azteculture.html

Buddhism

 a world religion or philosophy based on the teaching of the Buddha and holding that a state of enlightenment can be attained by suppressing worldly desires

It is largely practiced in Asia and follows of the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama Ex: Theravada

http://www.history-of-china.com/southern-northern-dynasty/flourishment-of-

buddhism.html

Cast system

Strict social segregation of people on the basis of ancestry and occupation

The strictness of the system forces many families to be unable to socially or financially move forward in lifeEx: The cast system in India’s Hindu society

http://www.yogaforcarnivores.com/vegetarian.html

Christianity

the religion based on the life, teachings, and example of Jesus Christ

One the three major world religionsEx: Methodist

http://www.popumc.org/

Confucianism

A philosophy of ethics, education, and public service based on the writings of Confucius

it is a philosophy mainly practiced and part of the Chinese culture

http://www.chinafacttours.com/index.php?image-349-imageid-9.html

Diaspora

From the Greek “to disperse,” a term describing forceful or voluntary dispersal of people from their homeland to a new place

Term can be used in many forceful removals of people over the history of mankindEx: The dispersal of African Americans during the slave trade

http://www.nick-taylor.co.uk/2010/05/why-diaspora-will-suck/

Eastern orthodox church

One of the three great divisions of Christianity; the others are the Protestant churches and the Roman Catholic Church. The Catholic and Orthodox churches were originally united, but they parted in the eleventh century, when they differed over several points of doctrine, including the supreme authority of the pope, which Orthodox Christians reject

This was one of the results of the great schism of the Christianity Ex: Burwood

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Burwood_Greek_Orthodox_Church.JPG

Ethnic cleansing

The systematic killing or extermination of an entire people or nation

Ethnic cleansing is an atrocity that has plagued many countriesEx :the holocaust

http://www.vuw.ac.nz/staff/marian_evans/shirley-grace/ethnicfour.html

Ethnic religion

Religion particular to one, group of people

They do not actively seek converts through evangelism or missionary work

http://www.tattoopilot.com/tattoodesigns/ethnic-tattoo-designs/

Feng shui

The Chinese art and science of placement and orientation of tombs, dwellings, and cities.

Feng shui has been a incorporated into many different cultures by interior design

http://www.articleqs.com/articles/44/1/Feng-Shui-For-love-and-romance/Page1.html

Hajj

The Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca

The hajj is an important pilgrimage that Muslims are supposed to participate in at least once in their lifetime

http://www.milligazette.com/dailyupdate/2006/20060108-hajj-islam.htm

Hinduism

main Indian religion: a major religion and religious tradition of South Asia, the oldest worldwide religion, characterized by a belief in reincarnation and a large pantheon of gods and goddesses

One of the major religions and in polytheistic

http://libguides.byui.edu/content.php?pid=10720&sid=91577

Indigenous religions

Belief system and philosophies practiced and traditionally passed from generation to generation among peoples within an indigenous tribe or group

Indigenous religions are an important part in understanding different cultures

http://www.sudanpartners.org/cgi-bin/giga.cgi?cmd=print_article&news_id=60541&cause_id=121

Intrafaith boundaries

Boundaries within a single major faith

Can cause a religion to split into different denominationsEx: the great schism

http://www.rpmo.co.uk/

Interfaith boundaries

Boundaries between the world’s largest religions

can and have caused many wars and genocides over the history of the three major religions and smaller religionsex: crusades

http://washingtondcjcc.org/center-for-arts/gallery/exhibitions/benjamin.html

Islam

a monotheistic religion based on the word of God as revealed to Muhammad during the 7th century

It is the youngest of the worlds majors religions

http://trcs.wikispaces.com/Islam08

Jihad

a campaign waged by Muslims in defense of the Islamic faith against people, organizations, or countries regarded as hostile to Islam

It can lead to violence and war

http://www.africaworldpressbooks.com/servlet/Detail?no=234

Judaism

The religion of the Jews, which has its basis in the Bible and the Talmud. In Judaism, God is the creator of everything and the source of all goodness.

Judaism is the basic foundation which lead to the creation of Christianity

http://library.thinkquest.org/05aug/02016/j_resources.htm

Minarets

Tower attached to a Muslim mosque, having one or more projecting balconies from which a crier calls Muslims to prayer

Without the minarets the calling of Muslims to prayer would have been harder to do

http://www.ak3d.net/champaner/photos/photo_28.html

Monotheistic religion

the belief that there is only one God, as found in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam

Two of the three major religions are monotheisticEx: Christianity, Islam

http://www.ccsd.k12.ny.us/zupan/GlobalII/Webpages/Monotheistic%20Religions.html

Pilgrimage

Voluntary travel by an adherent to a sacred site to pay respects or participate in a ritual at the site

Pilgrimages can be the single most important act of a person of faith’s life Ex: Hajj

http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/encap/skilton/illustr/Dore011.html

Polytheistic religion

the worship of or belief in more than one deity, especially several deities

The first religions were all polytheisticEx: Hinduism

http://brichnculture.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=11&products_id=69

Protestant

a member or adherent of any denomination of the Western Christian church that rejects papal authority and some fundamental Roman Catholic doctrines, and believes in justification by faith.

The protestant denominations formed because of protests to the corruption of the current churchEx: Baptist

http://www.sullivan-county.com/identity/reformers.htm

Religion

A system of beliefs and practices that attempts to order life in terms of culturally perceived ultimate priorities

Religion is a main part of human history and has shaped nations and wars

http://www.postgazette.com/pg/07240/812574-28.stm

Religious extremism

Religious fundamentalismcarried to the point of violence

This can lead to ethnic cleansing

http://www.adamzyglis.com/cartoon255.html

Religious fundamentalism

religious movement or point of view characterized by a return to fundamental principles

Fundamentalism can occur in any religion and has occurred in most

http://dunedinschool.wordpress.com/2010/01/07/fundamentalism/

Roman Catholic Church

a Christian church that has a pope as the head of a hierarchy of bishops and priests and is administered from the Vatican City in Rome

Is a major denomination and is the only one that follows the pope

http://www.hfreunion.org/InsideChurch.htm

Sacred sites

Place or space people infuse with religious meaning

Sacred sites are important to the religion is pertains to and can cause conflict is more than one religion claims itEx: Jerusalem

http://www.shambhala.com/html/catalog/items/isbn/978-1-57062-117-8.cfm

Secularism

the belief that religion and religious bodies should have no part in political or civic affairs or in running public institutions, especially schools

Secularism is present in many industrialized nations and allows religious freedom

http://www.merinews.com/article/secularism-versus-religious-intolerance/144723.shtml

Shamanism

a religion of northern Asia, in which shamans are believed to be able to intercede between humanity and powerful good and evil spirits

Shamanism is an important part of Asian history

http://shamanismoflight.org/Indigenousframe2.htm

Shari ‘a laws

System of Islamic law based on varying degrees of interpretation of the Qur’an

Shari ‘a laws can be controversial because of belief that it infringes on the rights of certain people

http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/37326/

Shi’ite

A follower of the Shia branch of Islam, which considers Ali, the cousin of Muhammad, and his descendants as Muhammad's true successors.

The Shiite are mostly in Iran and have had conflict with the Sunni’s for many years

http://www.mtholyoke.edu/~ali22a/page%20three.html

Shintoism

Focuses particularly on nature and ancestor worship

Shintoism spread into India from Japan

http://dtsdapache.hershey.k12.pa.us/wpmu/hs_aphg/2010/02/02/shintoism/

Sunni

the largest branch of Islam, which believes in the traditions of the Sunni and accepts the first four caliphs as rightful successors to Muhammad

The Sunni’s have a larger following than the Shiite and have had conflict with the Shiite’s for many years

http://www.mtholyoke.edu/~ali22a/page%20three.html

Taoism

Chinese philosophy that advocates a simple life and a policy of noninterference with the natural course of things.

Taoism has been an important part of shaping China’s culture and history

http://www.gardenvisit.com/history_theory/garden_landscape_design_articles/sacred_gardens/taoism_nature_isles_immortals

Universalizing religion

is a religion that attempts to operate on a global scale and to appeal to all people wherever they reside

The spreading of religion can be voluntary or forceful, when forced it can cause the extinction of previously exciting culture and death of the resistor Ex: Christianity

http://www.landrethplanet.org/A

P/religion.htm

Zionism

movement establishing and developing Jewish state: a worldwide movement, originating in the 19th century, that sought to establish and develop a Jewish nation in Palestine

its function has been to support the state of Israel

http://www.zionism-israel.com/maps/Map_Jerusalem_6Daywar.htm