Vocabulary • simple definitions
Glossary
Short, neutral definitions for common terms you’ll see across religion study.
Key terms
AhimsaNon-violence; minimizing harm in thought, word, and deed (especially prominent in Jain traditions).
Anatta“Not-self” doctrine in many Buddhist schools; the self is not an unchanging essence.
CanonA recognized collection of authoritative scriptures/texts.
DharmaA multi-meaning term across Indian traditions; can refer to duty, teaching, law, or the way things are.
Dao (Tao)The Way; ultimate principle of harmony and reality in Daoist traditions.
DenominationA recognized branch within a religion (often used in Christianity).
KarmaMoral causation; actions have consequences shaping experience and (in many traditions) rebirth.
KamiSpirits/deities associated with nature, places, and community in Shinto.
MokshaLiberation from the cycle of rebirth (used in several Indian traditions).
MonotheismBelief in one God.
PolytheismBelief in multiple gods.
Progressive revelationThe view that God reveals guidance through different messengers across time (notably in the Baháʼí Faith).
Reincarnation / rebirthThe idea of repeated lives (varies by tradition and interpretation).
Ritual purityPractices and concepts around cleansing and readiness for worship/ritual.
SectA subgroup often distinct from mainstream institutions; the word can be neutral or negative depending on context.
ScriptureSacred texts held as authoritative in a tradition.
SyncretismBlending or overlapping of religious practices/ideas, often historically and culturally.
Wu-weiEffortless action; acting in alignment with the Dao rather than forced striving.
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