Religion

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Chapter 16

• Religion

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• ReligionAny set of coherent answers to the
  dilemmas of human existence that makes the world
  meaningful a system of beliefs and rituals that
  helps bind people together into a social group.
• RitualA formal pattern of activity that
  expresses symbolically a set of shared meanings.

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• SacredA term used to describe phenomena that are
  regarded as extraordinary, transcendent, and
  outside the everyday course of events.
• ProfaneA term used to describe phenomena that
  are not considered sacred.

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• SecularizationA process in which the dominance
  of religion over other institutions is reduced.
• Simple supernaturalismA form of religion in
  which people may believe in a great force or
  spirit but do not have a well-defined concept of
  god or a set of rituals involving god.

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• AnimismA form of religion in which all forms of
  life and all aspects of the earth are inhabited
  by gods or supernatural powers.
• TheismA belief system that conceives of a god or
  gods as separate from humans and from other
  living things on the earth.

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• PolytheisticA term used to describe a theistic
  belief system that includes numerous gods.
• MonotheisticA term used to describe a theistic
  belief system centered on belief in a single
  all-powerful god.

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• Civil religionA collection of beliefs and
  rituals that exist outside religious
  institutions.
• ChurchA religious organization that has strong
  ties to the larger society.

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• SectA religious organization that rejects the
  beliefs and practices of existing churches
  usually formed when a group leaves the church to
  form a rival organization.
• DenominationA religious organization that is on
  good terms with the institution from which it
  developed but must compete with other
  denominations for members.

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• CultA new religion.
• ReligiosityThe depth of a persons religious
  feelings.