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History of Religions

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History of the 3 Monotheistic religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) and of the main different Christianity confessions (Roman Catholicism, Eastern Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy, Anglicanism and Protestantism)

History and Philosophy of Religions

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8. ESSENTIAL GLOSSARY
  • Agnosticism
    Derived from the classical Greek a-, normally meaning ‘not’ or ‘without’, and gnosis, meaning knowledge of the immaterial or transcendent, the term was coined by British biologist T. H. Huxley in 1869] 1. Agnosticism is a theory, belief, or ideology entailing the belief that nothing is known or can be known of immaterial things, with particular reference to the existence or nature of God.
  • Anthropocentric (https://www.trueorigin.org/glossary.php)
    adj. human-centered (as opposed to theocentric). Most popular philosophies, world-views, and frameworks of interpretation are anthropocentric in that they either view human reason and opinion as autonomous, or they operate under the presupposition that human reason and opinion are autonomous, or both. http://www.ucl.ac.uk/non-religious-belief/resources/concepts/glossary/#irreligion
  • Atheism
    [Derived from the classical Greek a- (normally meaning ‘not’ or ‘without’) and theos (‘god’), it first appeared in English in the mid-1500s as a translation of Plutarch’s *atheotēs.]
    1. A belief in the non-existence of a God or gods, or (more broadly) an absence of belief in their existence.
    2. Belief that there is no God or gods. Arguably the most popular current usage, atheism here signifies disbelief in the existence of a God or gods, and is distinguished from both theism and *agnosticism. In common speech, the term is often understood to imply a degree of conviction or certainty (see also *anti-theism). Sometimes referred to as *positive atheism, or less commonly *strong or *hard atheism.
  • Christianity
    Christianity is a monotheistic religion, the most followed in the world, founded on the preaching of Jesus Christ, and spread starting from the first century. A.D.
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/
    http://www.dictionary.com/browse/christianity?s=t
  • Hebraism (or Judaism)
    Judaism is a very ancient monotheistic religion, widespread from the 11th - 10th century B.C. in the Near East. Judaism also indicates a style of life and a cultural tradition widespread among the Jewish people, in the various communities present in all the countries of the world.
    https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/hebraism
    http://www.dictionary.com/browse/hebraism
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/judaism/
  • Humanism (https://www.thefreedictionary.com/humanism)
    a. A system of thought that focuses on humans and their values, capacities, and worth.
    b. A cultural and intellectual movement of the Renaissance that emphasized human potential to attain excellence and promoted direct study of the literature, art, and civilization of classical Greece and Rome.
    c. The study of the humanities; learning in the liberal arts.
    d. Secular humanism.
  • Islam
    Islam refers to a monotheistic religion, widespread from 7th century A.D. in the Arabic Peninsula, thanks to the prophet Muhammad.
    https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/islam
    http://www.dictionary.com/browse/islam?s=t
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/
  • Monotheism
    Refers to the doctrine or belief that there is only one God.
  • Polytheism
    Refers to the belief in or worship of more than one god
  • Ontology
    1. The branch of Philosophy dealing with the nature of being
    2. A set of concepts and categories in a subject area or domain that shows their properties and the relations between them.
    https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/ontology
    https://www.ontology.co/idx03.htm
    https://inpho.cogs.indiana.edu/
  • Religion
    The belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods.
    1. A particular system of faith and worship.
    2. A pursuit or interest followed with great devotion.

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This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This web site reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.