0.1 Glossary  (Page 5/5)

Religion Education – Education about religion that is neither done from the point of view of a specific religion, nor is it done to promote any particular religion. In the South African school system, this is presented within Life Orientation.

Religion Studies – In South Africa, the optional high school subject. It is an extension and further development and specialisation of the general Religion Education.

Religious discourses – Religious ways of thinking, speaking and writing.

Religious Education – Education that is done in accordance with some or other specific religion.

Research – The process whereby the researcher discovers valid answers to questions by using systematic procedures.

Revelation – A religious experience that is believed to come from God and becomes highly important in, even central to, a given religion's belief structure.

Revitalisation – A phase in the history of a religion, marked by the rediscovery of ancient treasures and their adaptation and application to a new cultural situation.

Ritual – A religious observance, intended to remind of a sacred occasion or to bring a sacred presence about.

Saint – In the Catholic and Orthodox churches, someone who, while still alive, showed themselves to be very pious and holy. It is thought that saints can plead on one's behalf with God, and once someone has been declared a saint (after the saint's death), believers can pray to that person and ask him or her to do so.

Sangha – In Buddhism, the community.

Sati – The practise (now outlawed) whereby an Indian woman would be cremated alive along with her husband when he died.

Second Great Awakening: A revival of evangelical Protestantism in the USA during the early nineteenth century

Sect – A small religious group which has broken away from a larger group because it believes that the latter no longer proclaims the "true religion".

Secular myth – A story that serves the same purpose as a religious myth, but does it outside a religious environment.

Secularisation – The process in which religious structures and organisations lose their influence upon the wider society.

Secularism – The conduct of life independent of religious institutions and symbols.

Self–discovery – Finding out what one's own presuppositions are and how these derive from one's cultural and religious background.

Semi–structured interview – This type of interview is slightly more structured than the unstructured interview, and it requires you to have a schedule of questions at hand to put to the participant.

Semitic – A term used to denote a group of languages widely spoken in the Middle East.

Shari'a – Muslim law.

Shinto – A Japanese religion in which the appreciation of nature is very important.

Sikhism – A religion that attempts to combine aspects of Islam and Hinduism.

Solar calendar – A calendar system that is based on the movement of the sun.

Spirituality – The religious sensibilities, experiences and insights of an individual or group.

State religion – A religion that is supported by the state or government.

Stone Age – The period in the history of a civilisation in which people made use of stone to fashion objects of use.

Structured interview – In this type of interview the questions have been formulated carefully and will be asked in a strict order.

Sub–Saharan Africa – T hat part of Africa south of the Sahara Desert. The term is not always used very precisely, but it serves to separate the northern parts of Africa, which are Arabic–speaking and culturally oriented towards the Middle East, from the central and southern parts that are dominated by people speaking various Bantu languages.

Substantive definition of religion – A definition that attempts to say what religion "is".

Symbol – A word, gesture or object that stands for a religious reality, or brings its presence about.

Syncretism – The process of integrating elements from one religion into another religion. It may occur in various degrees, from the introduction of fairly peripheral items to the creation of a new religion.

Talmud – A Jewish scripture with authority almost on a par with the written Torah.

Taoism – A Chinese religion that emphasises magic, spiritual experience and longevity.

Theism – The belief in one or more gods, who created the world and look after people.

Theocracy – A system of government based on the assumption that God is the prime governing agent.

Tithing – The giving of one tenth of produce, income or property for religious objectives.

Torah – In Judaism, this term literally means "revelation" but is used as a synonym for "The Law". It is also the term used for the first five books of the Hebrew Bible.

Transcendence – The belief that God is outside this reality and separate from human beings.

Transcendentalism: The belief that all people can attain an understanding of the world that transcends rational, sensory experience

Typology - A way to classify things, such as religions. In Religio0n Studies, the question whether a religion is local, national or universal constitutes a typology.

Universal religions – Religions which are not associated with one particular country or nation. Most of these are missionary religions that actively seek converts.

Unstructured interview – In interviews of this type it is usually said that questions should not be formulated beforehand and that the questions will present themselves as the interview unfolds. In practice, this is too extreme and the researcher should still have an idea of where the interview ought to be heading.

Usury – Lending money at interest, especially at an exorbitant rate.

Varna – The Hindu concept this concept according to which society can be divided into four distinct classes according to the work that various people do.

Wesak – The main Buddhist festival, celebrating the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha.

World view – A conception of the world; it may overlap with religion.

Zoroastrianism – A religion that was founded in Persia and was the first major monotheistic faith.