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SAT Humanities - Religion and Belief Systems

Here you will learn some English words related to religion and belief systems, such as "scripture", "pagan", "martyr", etc. that you will need to ace your SATs.

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SAT Vocabulary for Humanities
Scripture
Scripture
[noun]

the sacred writings of the Christian faith, comprising the Old and New Testaments of the Bible, considered authoritative and divinely inspired by Christian

Ex: The Bible, as a central scripture in Christianity, is divided into the Old Testament and the New Testament. 
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deity
deity
[noun]

a supernatural figure that is worshipped like a god or goddess

Ex: In ancient Greece, Zeus was considered a powerful deity. 
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altar
altar
[noun]

the table in a church, used for giving communion in Christianity

Ex: The congregation gathered around the altar for the morning service. 
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providence

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

Ex: The religious community attributed their survival in difficult times to the providence of God, believing in divine protection. 
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rite
rite
[noun]

a formal or ceremonial act, procedure, or ritual, often associated with religious practices

Ex: The priestess performed the purification rite to cleanse the temple before the annual festival. 
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mosque
mosque
[noun]

a place of worship, used by Muslims

Ex: The minaret of the mosque towered over the city skyline, calling the faithful to prayer. 
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clergy
clergy
[noun]

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

Ex: The clergy gathered for the annual conference. 
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disciple
disciple
[noun]

a follower or student who adheres to the teachings and practices of a particular leader, teacher, or philosophy

Ex: Jesus Christ had many disciples who followed him and spread his teachings. 
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monk
monk
[noun]

a member of a male religious group that lives in a monastery

Ex: The monk spent his days in prayer and contemplation within the monastery walls. 
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denomination

a distinct branch or or subgroup within a larger religious tradition, characterized by specific beliefs, practices, and organizational structures

Ex: The Catholic Church is the largest denomination within Christianity, with millions of followers worldwide. 
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hymn
hymn
[noun]

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

Ex: The congregation sang a hymn at the beginning of the service. 
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gospel
gospel
[noun]

a set of teachings or principles of a religious group considered authoritative or generally accepted within that group

Ex: Followers adhere to the gospel of their faith. 
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pilgrimage

a journey or religious expedition to a sacred place or shrine, typically undertaken for spiritual or religious reasons

Ex: Every year, devout Hindus embark on a pilgrimage to the sacred city of Varanasi to bathe in the holy Ganges River. 
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benediction

a prayer asking for divine blessing, protection, or guidance

Ex: The priest offered a benediction at the end of the ceremony. 
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secular
secular
[Adjective]

not concerned or connected with religion

Ex: The school is secular, meaning it does not promote any specific religious beliefs. 
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sacred
sacred
[Adjective]

connected with God or a god, and considered holy or deeply respected in religious contexts

Ex: The river is considered sacred in many indigenous cultures. 
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pagan
pagan
[Adjective]

relating to religions or spiritual systems outside the world's main religions

Ex: Pagan rituals often involve ceremonies honoring natural phenomena such as the changing of seasons. 
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to minister

to fulfill a role in religious service or guidance, providing support and leadership within a community

Ex: After completing seminary, she decided to minister to a local community as a pastor. 
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to baptize

to initiate into a religious faith by immersing in or sprinkling with water

Ex: The pastor will baptize the newborn as a symbol of initiation into the Christian faith. 
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to consecrate

to make something sacred through religious rituals

Ex: The priest consecrated the church with a special ceremony, dedicating it to divine worship. 
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dogma
dogma
[noun]

a belief or a belief system held by an authority who proclaims it to be undeniably true and expects immediate acceptance

Ex: The church's dogma was strictly enforced, leaving no room for dissenting opinions. 
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motto
motto
[noun]

a brief statement or phrase that represents the guiding beliefs or ideals of an individual, family, or institution

Ex: The school's motto, "Perseverance and Excellence," inspires students to strive for success. 
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credo
credo
[noun]

a formal statement of beliefs or principles, often religious or philosophical in nature

Ex: The Nicene Creed is a well-known Christian credo that articulates fundamental beliefs about the nature of God and Christ. 
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spiritualism

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

Ex: She was fascinated by spiritualism and attended séances regularly. 
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rationalism

the belief or principle that ideas and actions should be based on logic instead of religion or emotion

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idealism
idealism
[noun]

the belief in or pursuit of high principles, values, or ideals, often with a focus on the potential for perfection or improvement

Ex: His idealism led him to work for social change in his community. 
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determinism

the theory or doctrine that all events and occurrences are completely determined by previously existing causes, therefore human beings cannot be punished or held accountable for their deeds

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fundamentalism

a strict commitment to the core beliefs and teachings of a religion, often accompanied by a literal interpretation of its sacred texts

Ex: Religious fundamentalism often advocates for a return to the original teachings and practices of the faith. 
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empiricism

(in philosophy) the doctrine that knowledge is derived from sensory experience rather than theory or intuition

Ex: John Locke is a central figure in philosophical empiricism. 
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individualism

the conviction that prioritizes self-reliance and personal independence as virtues

Ex: Her approach to life was heavily influenced by the principles of individualism, prioritizing her own goals and aspirations. 
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consumerism

the idea or belief that personal well-being and happiness depend on the purchase of material goods

Ex: The holiday season is often associated with consumerism, as people are encouraged to buy gifts for friends and family. 
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materialism

the philosophical belief that the spiritual world does not exist and the only thing that exists is physical matter

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dualism
dualism
[noun]

the belief that reality consists of two fundamental and opposing components, such as mind and body or good and evil

Ex: Cartesian dualism, proposed by René Descartes, posits a separation between the mind and the body as two distinct substances. 
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egalitarian

a person who believes in or advocates for the principle of equality, especially in regards to social, political, and economic affairs

Ex: As an egalitarian, she fought for equal rights across all social classes. 
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utilitarian

someone who supports the theory that actions are morally right if they maximize happiness or pleasure and morally wrong if they cause unhappiness or pain, regardless of other outcomes

Ex: John Stuart Mill is known as a prominent utilitarian philosopher who developed the theory of utilitarianism. 
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pacifist
pacifist
[noun]

an individual who is against war and violence as a way to settle disagreements or conflicts

Ex: As a pacifist, she refused to participate in any form of military action. 
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zealot
zealot
[noun]

a person who is fanatically committed to a cause, ideology, or belief, often with uncompromising intensity and willingness to act aggressively in its defense

Ex: The environmental zealot chained himself to the pipeline in protest. 
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radical
radical
[noun]

a person who holds extreme or unconventional ideas or opinions

Ex: The radical spoke passionately at the town hall. 
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abolitionist

a person who advocates for the complete elimination of something

Ex: Many abolitionists risked their lives and faced persecution for their beliefs in the pursuit of justice and equality. 
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extremist
extremist
[noun]

a person who holds radical views, particularly in politics or religion, and is willing to use extreme measures to achieve their goals

Ex: She was labeled an extremist for her radical views on social justice issues. 
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martyr
martyr
[noun]

someone who is killed because of their beliefs

Ex: He is remembered as a martyr for his fight against injustice. 
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to espouse

to take up, follow, or support a cause, belief, ideology, etc.

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