Course content Course content
Studying religion
Studying religion

Start this free course now. Just create an account and sign in. Enrol and complete the course for a free statement of participation or digital badge if available.

More free courses

A103_7 Glossary

Printer-friendly version

Studying religion glossary
Browse the glossary using this index

Special | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | ALL

Page:  1  2  3  4  5  6  (Next)
  ALL

A

Allah

Muslim name for the one God; not a personal name, having the sense of ‘the God’.

aryan

‘Noble’ or ‘pure’. Used of themselves and their traditions by Indo-Europeans who migrated into ancient India and whose beliefs are preserved in early parts of the Veda.

autonomous

Following its own laws; when applied to religion, this implies that religion is an entirely distinctive phenomenon and thus can only be understood on its own terms. The Latin phrase sui generis (of its own kind) is sometimes used to make this point.

B

Bhagavad Gita

‘Song of the Lord’: a Hindu religious text.

Bible

Usually refers to Christian scriptures comprising both the Old and New Testaments.

brahman

Ultimate power or reality underlying the visible world.

brahmin

‘Priestly’ class in the Hindu social system.

C

church

Place where Christians meet for worship but also the world-wide community of Christians, or a particular community of Christians.

D

darshan

‘Sight’ or vision of the deity. In these units darshan refers to standing in the presence of the sacred in the expectation that the ‘sight’ of the deity will bring a blessing.

Dasshera

One name given to the string of Hindu festivals that fall at the end of the monsoon season. The first nine nights are also known as Navratri and, in Bengal, Durga Puja is celebrated during this time.

Page:  1  2  3  4  5  6  (Next)
  ALL


This image says: This course is closing soon. Please consult the course description page for more information.

Take your learning further

Making the decision to study can be a big step, which is why you'll want a trusted University. The Open University has 50 years’ experience delivering flexible learning and 170,000 students are studying with us right now. Take a look at all Open University courses.

If you are new to University-level study, we offer two introductory routes to our qualifications. You could either choose to start with an Access module, or a module which allows you to count your previous learning towards an Open University qualification. Read our guide on Where to take your learning next for more information.

Not ready for formal University study? Then browse over 1000 free courses on OpenLearn and sign up to our newsletter to hear about new free courses as they are released.

Every year, thousands of students decide to study with The Open University. With over 120 qualifications, we’ve got the right course for you.

Request an Open University prospectus371