Essential Vocabulary for the GRE - A Cold Day in Hell

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

uncertainty or lack of commitment regarding the existence of deities or the ability to know and comprehend the nature of ultimate reality

the belief that rejects the existence of God or a higher power

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

the study of religions and faiths

having the absolute power and ability to do anything

the belief in spirits residing within natural elements, objects, and living beings

the belief in the existence of one or more gods or deities

related to or derived from the Bible

a Christian ceremony during which water is poured on someone or they are immersed into water to welcome them to the Church

a Jewish ceremony for a boy when he turns 13, marking his transition to being considered an adult in the Jewish community

the doctrine that separates the state from religious associations

the belief that the human spirit or soul can survive after death and communicate with the living

a practice that advocates letting go of all the material, mortal, or pleasurable things in order to enrich one's faith and spiritual abilities

a bishop of the highest rank who is responsible for all the churches in a specific large area

a Christian religious ceremony during which a baby is named and admitted to the Christian Church

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

acting as something like a statue or structure that is established to remind others of a person or event

a group of people who gather in a church to say prayers

act or ceremony of declaring something sacred or dedicated to a divine purpose, particularly in Christianity

a cross with a image or statue of Jesus on it

a supernatural figure that is worshipped like a god or goddess

a male priest, religious leader, or minister; especially a Christian one

a physical illustration of someone, especially a graven image or statue, often life-size

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

the religious or spiritual practice of driving out evil spirits or entities from a person or place

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

(of food) prepared according to Jewish law

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

(of food) prepared according to Islamic law

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

someone with beliefs against the doctrines of a particular religion

a religious song intended to praise God, especially sung by Christians in congregation

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

related to the Jew and their faith, religion, or culture

someone who is killed because of their beliefs

a Mongolian or Tibetan Buddhist monk

relating to people like monks, nuns, etc. who voluntarily made a public sacred promise to dedicate their life to a special duty

the belief that God and the universe are one and the same, considering the entire natural world as a divine expression of God

the belief in or worship of multiple gods or deities