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Advanced Vocabulary for TOEFL - Religion

Here you will learn some English words about religion, such as "cleric", "pastor", "sufi", etc. that are needed for the TOEFL exam.

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Advanced Words Needed for TOEFL
theology
[noun]

the study of religions and faiths

Ex: He pursued a career in theology to become a religious leader .
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the quality of being linked with theology or the human spirit as opposed to material or physical items

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sect
[noun]

a religious group with beliefs or practices, especially extreme or unusual ones, that separate them from the rest of the people with the religion

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cleric
[noun]

a religious leader, especially a Muslim or Christian one

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clergy
[noun]

people who are officially chosen to lead religious services in a church or other religious institution

Ex: The church was filled with clergy from different denominations .
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guru
[noun]

a religious leader or teacher in Buddhism, Hinduism, or Sikhism

Ex: He became a follower of the guru after attending a spiritual retreat .
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oracle
[noun]

a priest or priestess serving as a mediator through whom the gods were thought to give their message in classical antiquity

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rabbi
[noun]

a religious teacher, scholar, or leader of Judaism

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synagogue
[noun]

a place of worship and religious study for Jews

Ex: The historic synagogue in the city is known for its stunning architecture and rich history .
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lama
[noun]

a Mongolian or Tibetan Buddhist monk

Ex: The lama was known for his wisdom and peaceful demeanor .
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pastor
[noun]

a priest or minister who is in charge of a church

Ex: The pastor spent years studying theology and serving in various capacities before leading his own church .
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heretic
[noun]

someone with beliefs against the doctrines of a particular religion

Ex: The heretic faced trial for spreading ideas contrary to the church's doctrine.
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someone who is sent to a foreign country to teach and talk about religion, particularly to persuade others to become a member of the Christian Church

Ex: The church raised funds to support the missionary in his work across different countries .
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pagan
[noun]

a person believing in a religion that worships many deities, especially one that existed before the major world religions

Ex: The community of pagans gathered to share traditions and rituals .
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reverend
[noun]

a title or a way of addressing clergymen

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sufi
[noun]

a member of an Islamic sect that tries to become united with God through prayer, meditation, and living a simple and strict life

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preacher
[noun]

someone who delivers spiritual speeches, often an associate of the clergy

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sermon
[noun]

a moral or religious speech, usually given during a church service

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homily
[noun]

a speech or a piece of writing that is meant to advise people on the correct way of behaving

Ex: She found the weekly homilies filled with wisdom and insight into applying faith to daily life .
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shaman
[noun]

a person in some religions and cultures believed to be capable of contacting good and evil spirits and curing people of illnesses, especially in some cultures in northern Asia and North America

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sikh
[noun]

a follower of Sikhism

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puritan
[noun]

a person belonging to an English religious group of the 16th and 17th centuries who wanted church rituals made simpler and who believed it was important to work hard and control oneself, while pleasure was unnecessary or even wrong

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pilgrim
[noun]

a religious person who travels to a sacred place for a holy cause

Ex: As a pilgrim, he embraced the challenges of the journey as part of his spiritual growth .
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messiah
[noun]

(in Judaism) divinely sent king who will save the Jewish people

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hermit
[noun]

a person who lives a very simple life in solitude as a religious practice

Ex: The hermitage was a place of refuge for pilgrims seeking guidance and solace from the wise hermit who dwelled within its walls .
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martyr
[noun]

someone who is killed because of their beliefs

Ex: The group honored the martyr who sacrificed their life for freedom .
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Gospel
[noun]

any of the four books of the New Testament that is about the life and teachings of Jesus Christ

Ex: The Gospel of Matthew includes the Sermon on the Mount .
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apostle
[noun]

any one of the twelve disciples of Jesus

Ex: Matthew , also known as Levi , was a tax collector before becoming one of the twelve apostles of Jesus , known for authoring the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament .
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epistle
[noun]

any of the letters in the New Testament, written by the apostles

Ex: In his epistle to Titus , Paul gives guidance on church leadership .
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agnostic
[noun]

someone who believes it is impossible to know whether God exists or not

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atheist
[noun]

someone who does not believe in the existence of God or gods

Ex: He became an atheist after studying various religions during college .
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Zen
[noun]

a school of Mahayana Buddhism, originally formed in Japan, emphasizing the value of meditation and intuition rather than reading religious scripts or ritual worship

Ex: She enjoys reading books on Zen and its teachings.
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voodoo
[noun]

a religious cult involving witchcraft and the worship of spirits, especially common in parts of the Caribbean

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(in Christianity) the concept of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

Ex: Belief in the Trinity is a fundamental aspect of Christian doctrine.
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salvation
[noun]

(Christian theology) the deliverance from sin and its consequences, believed to be brought about by faith in Christ

Ex: His testimony described how he found salvation after years of struggle .
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the return to life of Christ on the third day after his death on the cross, according to the New Testament

Ex: The resurrection of Jesus is celebrated as the culmination of God 's redemptive plan , bringing hope and joy to believers around the world .
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sacrilege
[noun]

the act of disrespectfully treating a sacred item or place

Ex: For believers , using holy symbols or objects for mundane purposes can be seen as sacrilege, as it diminishes their sacred significance and meaning .
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requiem
[noun]

a mass at which people honor and pray for the soul of a dead person, especially in the Roman Catholic Church

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the belief that after someone’s death, their spirit comes back to life in the form of a new body, especially in Buddhism and Hinduism

Ex: The child claimed to remember details from a previous reincarnation.
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prophecy
[noun]

a statement about events that have not yet occurred but are believed to be inevitable or possible, especially one made by a divine person

Ex: She claimed to have visions granting glimpses of future disasters , though few took her prophecies seriously .
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Advanced Vocabulary for TOEFL
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