Vocabulary for IELTS Academic (Band 8-9) - Religion

the written message or teachings of a religious leader that is accepted by their followers

any one of the twelve disciples of Jesus

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

the act of disrespectfully treating a sacred item or place

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

in certain Christian beliefs, a temporary state of purification for souls after death, preparing them for entry into heaven

the branch of theology concerned with the study of the end times, final events, and the ultimate destiny of humanity and the world

the return to life of Christ on the third day after his death on the cross, according to the New Testament

the state or quality of being sacred or morally pure

one of the biblical Ten Commandments, guiding ethical conduct in religious traditions

the belief that the universe and living organisms originated through divine acts of creation, often differing from scientific explanations such as evolution

a severe or morally corrupting sin, traditionally one of seven sins in Christian theology, including lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy, and pride

a belief or prophecy predicting a catastrophic end to the world within religious traditions

an opinion that is profoundly against the official principles of a particular religion

a belief system that anticipates a profound transformation of society, often associated with the coming of a messianic age or a thousand-year reign (millennium) of peace and righteousness

the belief in or worship of multiple deities, often associated with nature, and typically not adhering to major world religions such as Christianity, Islam, or Judaism

the belief, often associated with certain religious doctrines, that all events, including the ultimate destiny of individuals, are predetermined by a divine power or force

the female head of an abbey, convent, or other religious houses of nuns

the male spiritual leader and administrator of an abbey, monastery, or group of monasteries

a high-ranking priest who supervises all the churches and priests in a city

a set of beads used for counting prayers, especially in the Catholic tradition

the divine guidance, care, and intervention of a higher power

the intense devotion to a particular religious or political sect, often leading to prejudice or discrimination against members of other sects

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

a catastrophic event, often with cosmic or divine origins, believed to cause widespread destruction or significant change in the world

a religious and philosophical system that seeks to explore the mysteries of the divine and the nature of reality through a combination of spiritual insight, ancient wisdom, and esoteric teachings

a monumental building dedicated to gods and goddesses

a place of worship and religious study for Jews

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

a small place of worship or prayer that is usually separate from a main church or cathedral

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