Essential Vocabulary for the GRE - A Cold Day in Hell

Here you will learn some English words about religion, such as "atheism", "animism", "baptism", etc. that are needed for the GRE exam.

review-disable

review

flashcard-disable

flashcard

spelling-disable

spelling

quiz-disable

quiz

start-learning
Essential Vocabulary for the GRE
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:

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

Ex: Due to his agnosticism , he approached religious debates with a sense of curiosity and caution , avoiding firm stances on the existence of gods .
atheism [noun]

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

Ex: She wrote an essay exploring the reasons behind her atheism .

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

Ex:
theology [noun]

the study of religions and faiths

Ex: The professor 's lectures on theology were very insightful .
almighty [adjective]

having the absolute power and ability to do anything

Ex:
animism [noun]

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

Ex: Traditional healing practices in animism often involve invoking the aid of spirits for physical or spiritual well-being .
theism [noun]

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

Ex:
biblical [adjective]

related to or derived from the Bible

Ex: The archaeological findings provided evidence supporting biblical accounts of ancient civilizations .
baptism [noun]

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

Ex: The ceremony included prayers and the ritual of baptism .

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

Ex: Preparing for his bar mitzvah involved studying the Torah .

the doctrine that separates the state from religious associations

Ex: The policy of secularism ensures that government decisions are free from religious bias .

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

Ex: He practiced spiritualism to connect with his deceased relatives .

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

Ex: The philosophy of asceticism encourages renouncing worldly pleasures .

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

Ex: The archbishop conducted the ordination ceremony for new priests with solemnity and grace .

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

Ex: The priest conducted the christening , pouring water over the baby 's forehead as a symbol of purification .
clergy [noun]

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

Ex: New members of the clergy were ordained in a special service .
commemorative [adjective]

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

Ex:

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

Ex: Members of the congregation volunteered to help with community outreach programs .

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

Ex: Monastic life often begins with the consecration of novices , a solemn commitment to a religious order and a life of spiritual discipline .
crucifix [noun]

a cross with a image or statue of Jesus on it

Ex: The old church had a wooden crucifix with intricate carvings .
deity [noun]

a supernatural figure that is worshipped like a god or goddess

Ex: The temple was dedicated to the local deity of harvest .

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

Ex:
effigy [noun]

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

Ex: She created a clay effigy of her favorite author .
epistle [noun]

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

Ex: The epistle to the Corinthians addresses issues in the early church .
exorcism [noun]

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

Ex: After the exorcism , the strange occurrences in the house ceased .
Gospel [noun]

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

Ex:
kosher [adjective]

(of food) prepared according to Jewish law

Ex: He bought kosher wine for the Sabbath celebration .
guru [noun]

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

Ex: They visited the guru to receive blessings and advice .
halal [adjective]

(of food) prepared according to Islamic law

Ex:
hermit [noun]

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

Ex: Hermits often follow a strict regimen of fasting , prayer , and self-denial as part of their ascetic lifestyle .
heretic [noun]

someone with beliefs against the doctrines of a particular religion

Ex: The heretic 's writings were banned for promoting unorthodox ideas .
hymn [noun]

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

Ex: They chose a well-known hymn for the wedding ceremony .

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 story of the monk 's past lives is an example of reincarnation .
judaic [adjective]

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

Ex:
martyr [noun]

someone who is killed because of their beliefs

Ex: The martyr 's death inspired many to continue the cause .
lama [noun]

a Mongolian or Tibetan Buddhist monk

Ex: The lama 's teachings focused on meditation and compassion .
monastic [adjective]

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

Ex: The book explores the monastic traditions of various religious orders .

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

Ex: Pantheism posits that the entire cosmos is sacred and that divinity is immanent in all things , from the smallest atom to the vast expanse of the universe .

the belief in or worship of multiple gods or deities

Ex: Polytheism is the belief in or worship of multiple gods .