Essential Vocabulary for TOEFL - Religion

Here you will learn some English words about religion, such as "temple", "shrine", "soul", etc. that are needed for the TOEFL exam.

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abbey [noun]

a church with buildings connected to it in which a group of monks or nuns live or used to live

Ex: We visited the abbey during our vacation , marveling at its breathtaking architecture and tranquil surroundings .

temple [noun]

a building used for worshiping one or several gods, used by some religious communities, especially Buddhists and Hindus

Ex: She performed rituals at the temple during the festival of Diwali .

mosque [noun]

a place of worship, used by Muslims

Ex: The mosque welcomed visitors of all faiths to learn about Islam and its practices .

shrine [noun]

a place or building for people to pray in, which is considered holy by many due to its connection with a sacred person, event, or object

Ex: The ancient shrine houses relics believed to have healing powers .

monastery [noun]

a building where a group of monks live and pray

Ex: Visitors to the monastery are often impressed by its beautiful architecture and tranquil gardens .

believer [noun]

someone who believes in a god or a particular religion

Christianity [noun]

the Abrahamic religion based on the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, the followers of which regard the Bible as sacred

Ex: The Bible is the sacred text of Christianity , containing the Old and New Testaments .

Catholic [adjective]

related to or belonging to the Western branch of the Christian Church that is led by the Pope

Ex:

Protestant [adjective]

related to or belonging to the Western branch of the Christian Church, distinct from the Roman Catholic Church

Ex: The Protestant tradition emphasizes the authority of the Bible in matters of faith and practice .

Christ [noun]

the man based on whose teachings Christianity is established

Ex: During the Christmas season , many people celebrate the birth of Christ .

Bible [noun]

the holy book of Christianity that consists of the Old Testament and the New Testament

Ex:

bishop [noun]

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

Ex: The cathedral , being the seat of the bishop , hosted several important religious events throughout the year .

father [noun]

a title used for Christian priests, especially in certain traditions

Ex: She spoke with the father about baptism arrangements .

Saint [noun]

someone who, after their death, is officially recognized by the Christian Church as a very holy person

Ex:

monk [noun]

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

Ex: Monks often engage in manual labor as part of their daily routine to support their community .

nun [noun]

a member of a female religious group that lives in a convent

Ex: Nuns often engage in teaching , healthcare , and charitable works as part of their ministry .

to preach [verb]

to give a religious speech, particularly in a church

Ex: The priest will preach on Sunday about forgiveness and compassion .

soul [noun]

the spiritual part of a person that is believed to be the essence of life in them

Ex: The artist poured her heart and soul into every painting she created .

heaven [noun]

the realm of God and angels where the believers are promised to reside

Ex: His actions were guided by the hope of reaching heaven after his life .

hell [noun]

(in Christianity) the dwelling place of Satan and his forces, where sinners suffer eternal punishment

Ex: Different cultures have unique interpretations of what hell represents .

spiritual [adjective]

relating to sacred matters such as religion, church, etc.

Ex: He sought spiritual enlightenment through study and contemplation .

to worship [verb]

to respect and honor God or a deity, especially by performing rituals

Ex: The community gathered at the sacred grove to worship the nature spirits and offer thanks for the harvest .

ritual [noun]

the act of conducting a series of fixed actions, particular to a religious ceremony

Ex:

sin [noun]

any act that goes against the law of God

Ex: The story emphasized the importance of recognizing and repenting for one 's sins .

faith [noun]

strong belief in a particular god or religion

Ex: The preacher 's powerful sermon inspired a renewed sense of faith among the congregation .

divine [adjective]

originating from, relating to, or associated with God or a god

Ex: She felt a sense of divine presence while meditating in nature .

devil [noun]

the spirit that opposes God and tempts people to do wrong

Ex: The story depicted a hero who made a pact with the devil to gain power .

Islam [noun]

the religion of the Muslims, which was established by Muhammad whose holy book is called the Quran

Ex: The Quran is the holy book of Islam , believed to be the word of God as revealed to Muhammad .

Muslim [noun]

a person who believes in Islam

Ex: He identified as a Muslim and embraced the principles of peace and charity .

Quran [noun]

the sacred book of Islam which is written in Arabic

Buddhism [noun]

an Indian religion based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, whose followers worship in temples

Ex: The principles of Buddhism emphasize compassion and mindfulness in everyday life .

hinduism [noun]

the religion of most people in South Asia, Sri Lanka, and Nepal in which people worship multiple gods

enlightenment [noun]

(in Buddhism and Hinduism) a transcendent state of spiritual realization, liberation from the cycle of reincarnation, characterized by the cessation of desire, suffering, and individual consciousness

Ex: Hinduism describes enlightenment as liberation from rebirth .

judaism [noun]

the religion of Jewish people that is monotheistic

to convert [verb]

to change one's religious beliefs to a different one

Ex: Growing up in a secular household , Maria felt a calling to spirituality and ultimately chose to convert to Christianity .

carnival [noun]

a festival happening annually that involves dancing, music and colorful clothes

Ex: The carnival brought the entire city together in joy .

to sacrifice [verb]

to kill an animal or person as a religious act

Ex: The ritual required the high priest to sacrifice a lamb on the altar .

cult [noun]

a group of people with extreme religious views who are separate from any established religion

Ex: The documentary exposed the secretive practices of the cult .

to commemorate [verb]

to recall and show respect for an important person, event, etc. from the past with an action or in a ceremony

Ex: Families often visit cemeteries to commemorate loved ones on Memorial Day .

Essential Vocabulary for TOEFL
Family and Relationships	Stages of Life	Personal Characteristics	Feelings and Emotions
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Diet	Agriculture and Plants	Point of View	Cause and Effect
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Hobbies and Games	Shopping	The Economy	The Business World
Success and Failure	Politics	Law and Order	Crime and Punishment
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Engineering and Research	Athletics	Time and History