ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun

religious belief - a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny; "he lost his faith but not his morality"

faith, religion

persecution - the act of persecuting (especially on the basis of race or religion)

vigil, watch - the rite of staying awake for devotional purposes (especially on the eve of a religious festival)

consecration - (religion) sanctification of something by setting it apart (usually with religious rites) as dedicated to God; "the Cardinal attended the consecration of the church"

chastity, sexual abstention, celibacy - abstaining from sexual relations (as because of religious vows)

toleration - official recognition of the right of individuals to hold dissenting opinions (especially in religion)

traditionalism - adherence to tradition (especially in cultural or religious matters)

censer, thurible - a container for burning incense (especially one that is swung on a chain in a religious ritual)

cloister - a courtyard with covered walks (as in religious institutions)

habit - a distinctive attire worn by a member of a religious order

orthodoxy - the quality of being orthodox (especially in religion)

supernatural virtue, theological virtue - according to Christian ethics: one of the three virtues (faith, hope, and charity) created by God to round out the natural virtues

netherworld, Scheol, underworld, Hades, infernal region, Hell - (religion) the world of the dead; "No one goes to Hades with all his immense wealth"-Theognis

meditation - (religion) contemplation of spiritual matters (usually on religious or philosophical subjects)

belief - any cognitive content held as true

apophatism - the religious belief that God cannot be known but is completely `other' and must be described in negative terms (in terms of what God is not)

cataphatism - the religious belief that God has given enough clues to be known to humans positively and affirmatively (e.g., God created Adam `in his own image')

doctrine of analogy, analogy - the religious belief that between creature and creator no similarity can be found so great but that the dissimilarity is always greater; any analogy between God and humans will always be inadequate

cultus, religious cult, cult - a system of religious beliefs and rituals; "devoted to the cultus of the Blessed Virgin"

cult - a religion or sect that is generally considered to be unorthodox, extremist, or false; "it was a satanic cult"

ecclesiasticism - religion appropriate to a church and to ecclesiastical principles and practices

mysticism, religious mysticism - a religion based on mystical communion with an ultimate reality

nature worship - a system of religion that deifies and worships natural forces and phenomena

revealed religion - a religion founded primarily on the revelations of God to humankind

theism - the doctrine or belief in the existence of a God or gods

heathenism, pagan religion, paganism - any of various religions other than Christianity or Judaism or Islamism

Christian religion, Christianity - a monotheistic system of beliefs and practices based on the Old Testament and the teachings of Jesus as embodied in the New Testament and emphasizing the role of Jesus as savior

Hindooism, Hinduism - a body of religious and philosophical beliefs and cultural practices native to India and based on a caste system; it is characterized by a belief in reincarnation, by a belief in a supreme being of many forms and natures, by the view that opposing theories are aspects of one eternal truth, and by a desire for liberation from earthly evils

Brahmanism, Brahminism - the religious beliefs of ancient India as prescribed in the sacred Vedas and Brahmanas and Upanishads

Jainism - religion founded in the 6th century BC as a revolt against Hinduism; emphasizes asceticism and immortality and transmigration of the soul; denies existence of a perfect or supreme being

Sikhism - the doctrines of a monotheistic religion founded in northern India in the 16th century by Guru Nanak and combining elements of Hinduism and Islam

Buddhism - the teaching of Buddha that life is permeated with suffering caused by desire, that suffering ceases when desire ceases, and that enlightenment obtained through right conduct and wisdom and meditation releases one from desire and suffering and rebirth

Hsuan Chiao, Taoism - popular Chinese philosophical system based in teachings of Lao-tzu but characterized by a pantheism of many gods and the practices of alchemy and divination and magic

Shintoism, Shinto - the ancient indigenous religion of Japan lacking formal dogma; characterized by a veneration of nature spirits and of ancestors

Manichaeanism, Manichaeism - a religion founded by Manes in the third century; a synthesis of Zoroastrian dualism between light and dark and Babylonian folklore and Buddhist ethics and superficial elements of Christianity; spread widely in the Roman Empire but had largely died out by 1000

Mithraicism, Mithraism - ancient Persian religion; popular among Romans during first three centuries a.d.