Text Set

Main commandments of the Mosaic law

The panj kakke or five symbols worn by Sikhs

In Judaism the Holy Ark of the covenant in the synagogue

Diminutive word meaning daddy in Aramaic for Father - used by Jesus

Brother of Cain; see Genesis 4v1-16 – relating to the first murder

A systemisation of the teachings found in the Suttas / Sutras

Founder of the Jewish nation

Referring to the three faiths of Islam, Judaism and Christianity

a Jain religious leader

Fifth book of the New Testament describing the work of the early church

Sacred fire although not as holy as the Behram.

The Islamic call to prayer

The Sikh holy scriptures

In Judaism, literally Lord, and used by Jews to refer to G-d

The period leading up to Christmas in the Christian year

the Jain holy scriptures

Agnostic can mean “Don’t know” or something firmer: “It is impossible to know about some things”. Many humanists are agnostic, particularly in this latter sense, as first defined by T H Huxley in Agnosticism and Christianity (1889): “It is wrong for a man to say that he is certain of the objective truth of any proposition unless he can produce evidence which logically justifies that certainty.”

Hindu and Jain term meaning ‘non-violence’

In Islam the family of the progeny of the Prophet from his daughter

The evil one

Reason

Embodiment of good (often known as God)

Referring to Islamic morals and ethics

A prison city in the Turkish Empire where Baha’u’llah was incarcerated from 1868 onwards

Islamic phrase meaning all praise to God

The Arabic name for God

literally - God is the most great- and a phrase occupying a prominent place in salat

literary devise in a story

Islamic term meaning the Trustworthy. It is a title given to the Prophet by the Arabs prior to Islam

Japanese name for Amitabha, a celestial Buddha; the focus of devotional activity in the Pureland School of Buddhism; Lord of the Western Paradise

The focus of devotional activity in the Pureland School of Buddhism; Lord of the Western Paradise

One of the 12 minor prophets of the Bible

In Sikhism referring to an ambrosia or nectar mixture of sugar and water used in ceremonies

The Sikh holy city to be found in the Punjab

(1864-1933) a pioneer in reviving Buddhism in India and returning Bodh Gaya to Buddhists

The Sikh wedding, literally ceremony of bliss

The Buddha’s cousin, attendant and confidant, famous for his compassion and memory of the Dharma

Buddhist concept of not-Self

The Jain belief that there is no absolute truth but relative truths and we should respect alternative viewpoints and recognise their partiality

Also called the Church of England

The evil one

Buddhist concept of impermanence

Literally, in the year of the creation of the world, and often used in Jewish dating

Talking as if one’s subject was a human being

Prejudice against people of the near East

Final Rites

A term in Jainism referring to sacred vows

The Jain principle of non-possessiveness or non-materialism

Those books of the Bible which were not accepted as canonical, often containing secretive messages

Islamic name-giving ceremony

Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) seminal Christian thinker

A Buddhist disciple who has achieved Nibbana / Nirvana

Overall leaders of the Anglican and Orthodox churches

An ancient language of India, and language of the Jain scriptures

A Buddhist disciple who has achieved Nibbana / Nirvana

Hero of the Bhagavad Gita

Truth and righteousness

A Buddhist king who promoted the Dharma, equality, human rights, vegetarianism, built hospitals, universities, irrigation systems etc. The paradigm of Buddhist leadership

In islam the Names of God

The Jain principle of non-stealing and abidance of the law

Sacred fire

Cathedral’ fire temples/consecrated fire found in the highest grade of Temple.

Atheism is a disbelief in the existence of deities, the opposite of theism. Atheism may include or lead to other beliefs or disbeliefs (e g disbelief in the supernatural), but not necessarily. Atheists are people who do not believe in gods. Humanism today is usually atheistic, but not just atheistic, and some humanists like to call themselves “positive atheists”.

Self - Ultimate reality manifesting as the ‘I’ in the individual

Personal freedom, the freedom to make decisions about, and take responsibility for, one’s own life, an important element of Humanism.

A Mahayana bodhisattva who embodies compassion. The most widely revered bodhisattva in Buddhism

In Buddhism, one of the Three Fires, the primary causes of unskilful action

Primary collection of sacred texts

Ancient sacred language.

A feeling of wonder and amazement

Islamic religious leaders

Birthplace of Sri Rama

In Islam the belief in the life Hereafter

Islamic term referring to signs of God found in creation

An Islamic term meaning a festival

A blessing and an Islamic wish or prayer said to each other and literally meaning ‘a blessed festival’

The festival of sacrifice in the Islamic calendar which is celebrated at the end of the festival

The festival of the breaking of the fast at the end of the month of Ramadan

In Islam, one of the wives of the Prophet Muhammad and the daughter of Abu Bakr

A significant Jewish leader of the 18thC

Followers of Baha’u’llah

The prophet-founder of the Baha’i Faith (1817-92). He is regarded by Baha’is as the Manifestation of God for this age

The Sikh spring festival

Rite of passage for entry into the church

Non-conformist denomination of Christianity that believes in adult baptism

A major rite of passage in Judaism; literally ‘son of the Commandment, and a rite of passage for Jewish boys on puberty

In Tibetan Buddhism, the intermediate state between dying and being reborn

The Tibetan Book of the Dead, literally, Liberation through hearing in the intermediate state

Extended religious communities.

The bowl carried by Buddhist monks and nuns, in which members of the laity may place food

Modern Zoroastrian leader

Sense of belonging to the British nation both emotionally and literally (as a British citizen)

Otherwise known as Baal Shem Tov or Israel Ben Eliezer, the founder of modern Jewish Chasidism

An alternative name for the Jewish synagogue; literally'house of assembly'

Another name for the Jewish synagogue; literally'house of study'

An alternative name for the Jewish synagogue; literally house of prayer

Sacred book of Hinduism – literally means ‘Song of the Lord’

In Judaism, a stand in the centre of the synagogue upon which the Torah scrolls are placed

The stories of the birth of Jesus in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke

Diocesan leader in the Anglican church

The beginning of the religious instruction ceremony in Islam

Perception

In the Indian state of Bihar, the Place where the Buddha achieved Enlightenment

A Pipal tree under which the Buddha achieved Enlightenment

Someone on the path to becoming a Buddha

The vow one takes to strive to become a Bodhisattva and then a Buddha

The Jain term referring to restraint in sensual indulgences

Hindu term for ultimate reality

The religion current at the time of the Buddha. Modern Hinduism is rooted in Brahmanism

The priestly caste of Hinduism

The circumcision ceremony of Jewish boys – literally'covenant of cutting'

An Enlightened being who discovers and teachers the Dharma; the historical person, Siddhartha Gotama who discovered and taught the Dharma in the 5th Century BCE

Literally, voice of the Buddha. A 5th century CE Theravadin commentator famous for writing the Visudimagga (path of purification)

The flag created by Colonel Henry Steele Olcott, symbolising the Dharma and peace

The Buddhist festival celebrating the New Year

One of the great German scholars of the 20th century

Zoroastrian Pahlavi scripture

Influential 20th century Christian writer of the Narnia novels

Brother of Abel; see Genesis 4v1-16 – relating to the first murder

Stylized and artistic handwriting

Central diocese in the Anglican church

Hymns sung at Christmas time

Major denomination of the church with the Pope at its head

The name given to someone trained and qualified to conduct (or celebrate) humanist baby-namings, weddings, civil partnerships and funerals. Also called an “officiant”.

Choosing to have non sexual relationships

Jewish festival of lights or dedication of the menorah

Non-conformist place of worship or small addition to a church

Influential Victorian scientist who developed the theory of evolution

Referring to a fan of peacock feathers which is waved over the Guru Granth Sahib in the Sikh Gurdwara

A cantor or singer of prayers in the Jewish synagogue

Bridge of judgement

In Hinduism, worshipping books

Another commonly used word for baptism

One of the major monotheistic religions of the world

Major festival of Christianity celebrating the birth of Jesus

A canopy used during the Jewish wedding ceremony, under which the bride and groom stand

a place of worship or congregation

The main Protestant denomination of England

Lay official who has responsibility with the vicar for ensuring the church is maintained and services are well organised

Word used to describe ordained members of the Christian church

see Dependent Origination, pratityasamutpada (Sanskrit), paticcasamuppada (pali). Common to all Buddhist schools, this is a doctrine that states phenomena arise together in a mutually interdependent web of cause and effect. This is profoundly hard to see and it is often said that seeing and understanding Dependent Origination is the same as seeing the Dharma and being Enlightened

Second of the Christian rites of passage

A group of people in a place of worship

Council of 325 AD to defend the faith against Arianism

A relationship or bond between God and his people

Stories found in Genesis, the first book of the Bible

To be burned rather than buried on death

Central symbol of Christianity

The death suffered by Jesus on the cross and used by the Romans to punish insurrection

Underground cellar in a church

Conqueror of the Babylonians who established the Achaemenian Empire which lasted for over 200 years.

The spiritual leader of the Gelug school in Tibetan Buddhism. Historically the Dalai Lama also presided over the Tibetan Government. However, the current Dalai Lama has been in exile since the Chinese invasion and is based in Dharamsala in India. He is the head of the Central Tibetan Government (the government in exile).

Fire temple

Hindu term meaning'to catch sight of'

Referring to a collection of Sikh writings by the tenth Guru

The ten day Jain Digambara festival of forgiveness

Figure of authority

High priests

A belief in many faith systems of the end of time when God will judge the people of the world according to their worldly deeds and determine their eternal destiny

In Buddhism one of the Three Fires, the primary causes of unskilful action

Conscience

Different groups within one religion

Also known as Conditioned Arising, pratityasamutpada (Sanskrit), paticcasamuppada (pali). Common to all Buddhist schools, this is a doctrine that states phenomena arise together in a mutually interdependent web of cause and effect. This is profoundly hard to see and it is often said that seeing and understanding Dependent Origination is the same as seeing the Dharma and being Enlightened

The second book of the law to be found in the Bible

A group, sect or denomination that does not adhere to the mainstream beliefs of a religion

The teaching of the Buddha; Buddhist teaching; one of the Three Refuges

dharmakara, a Buddhist symbol representing the Dharma and the path to Nirvana

To hold together

Hindu term meaning that which holds everything together including society and civilisation

An Islamic term referrring to remembrance of God

Believers living away from their original homeland.

A sect of Jainism where monks are sky-clad (naked)

About 40 ecclessiastical and geographical areas into which England is divided

A word usually used of the 12 individuals chosen by Jesus, but often used of followers of a faith tradition

That which is holy

Hindu, Jain and Sikh autumn festival of lights

A term given to the Sikh act of worship

C H Dodd, one of the great English theologians of the 20th Century

Tower of Silence where the deceased are buried.

A Hindu term meaning'to see'

The understanding of the earth having binary oppositions, for example, good and evil

Suffering

term referring to the church that formed immediately after Jesus'resurrection

Major Christian festival that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus

One of the major denominations of Christianity associated with Greece and Russia

Referring to the movement towards unity of denominations

Symbols used in Tibetan Buddhism: the endless knot, lotus flower, victory banner, dharma wheel, treasure vase, golden fish pair, parasol, conch shell

Precepts taken by the devote laity: I undertake to abstain from: taking life (both human and nonhuman); taking what is not given (stealing); all sexual activity; telling lies; using intoxicating drinks and drugs which lead to carelessness; eating at the wrong time (the right time is eating once, after sunrise, before noon); singing, dancing, playing music, attending entertainment performances, wearing perfume, and using cosmetics and garlands (decorative accessories); luxurious places for sitting or sleeping

Philosophical term referring to verification through the senses

An intellectual movement which began the 17th and 18th centuries, also known as the “Age of Reason”, which saw a rise in scientific knowledge and belief in the power of human reason, coupled with rationalism, scepticism and anti-clericalism. Enlightenment anti-authoritarianism and Enlightenment values such as equality, the supremacy of reason and belief in shared human nature, have been very influential in the development of Humanism.

The letters of Paul and other early church leaders

Referring to end time speculations

Thanksgiving or act of worship celebrating the Last Supper

Important novelist of the 20th century influenced by Roman Catholicism

Second book of the Jewish scriptures or a period when Moses led the Isrealites out of Egypt

A Jewish prophet; one of the three major prophets owing to the length of the book

A religious opinion on Islamic law issued by an Islamic scholar

In Islam, the daughter of Prophet Muhammad and the wife of Imam Ali

Pseudonym for 11th century Iranian poet.

Symbolises the physical presence of God.

A discourse in the Pali Canon in which the Buddha preaches about achieving liberation from suffering through detachment from the five senses and the mind

A meeting of the Sangha shortly after the Buddha’s death in which the teachings were discussed and collated

A fixed amount of alms given by every individual Muslim at the end of the month

Five Khandas (Pali) / Five Skandha (Sanskrit) - The five aggregates which categorise all individual experience, according to Buddhist phenomenology. The aggregates which make up a person: form, sensation, perception, mental formations, consciousness.

The Five moral rules Buddhists undertake:I undertake the precept to refrain from taking the life (killing) of living beingsI undertake the precept to refrain from stealing.I undertake the precept to refrain from sexual misconductI undertake the precept to refrain from false speechI undertake the precept to refrain from intoxicants which lead to heedlessness

The most fundamental teaching of the Buddha; the nature of Suffering; Suffering’s origin; Sufferings cessation; the way leading to the cessation of suffering

Saviour

Heavenly self or guardian spirit

Freedom of choice

Person who rejects authority and tradition, particularly on matters of religion, preferring to think for him- or herself.

A person or group who believes the literal truth of the faith

Seasonal festival, traditionally agricultural.

Indian leader 1869-1948

Hindu term for inner shrine room in the Mandir or temple

Mythological region where Adam and Eve resided

17 Hymns traditionally believed to have been composed by Zarathushtra

(Sanskrit) family name of the historical Buddha

A sect in Tibetan Buddhism, also known as the ‘Yellow Hat Sect’, that is lead by the Dalai Lama

In Judaism, the rabbis’ answers to the Mishnah

First book of the Bible

Word used to describe those people of non-Jewish faith

In Islam, the place where Prophet Muhammad delivered his last sermon, and also a Sh’iah festival celebrating the appointment of Imam Ali as the successor to the Prophet

An ancient philosophy often associated with Jewish mysticism

Word used to describe a personal transcendent Being

A virtue which is the midpoint between asceticism and debauchery.

The Sikh holy shrine to be found at Amritsar, literally lake of Amrit

Good thoughts, words and deeds.

One of Luke's most famous parables - Chapter 10 verse 29ff

Hindu term for entrance to the Mandir

The first four books of the New Testament

(Pali) family name of the historical Buddha

Literally ‘collection’ and is the abbreviated name for the Sikh Guru Granth Sahib

The individual's struggle for good

Lingu Franca of the ancient near east

The name given to hymns in Sikh scriptures

The Sikh place of worship literally meaning the Guru's door

The written Punjabi language in which the Sikh Guru Granth Sahib is written

The anniversary of a Sikh Guru’s birth or death

An Indian term for teacher; literally a remover of darkness

The most widely used name for Sikh scriptures, literally'Teacher Book, Sir'

The founder of Sikhism (1469-1539)

(Ahādīth) Islamic traditions or stories concerning the Prophet Muhammad

In Judaism, a series of Talmudic narratives about the Passover

Islamic pilgrimage

In Judaism, a legally binding statement

In Islam those things which are permissible

To live a righteous life

Fellow workers

Literally the Lord’s abode, referring to the Sikh Golden Temple in Amritsar

A term in Judaism referring to a pious sect

Hindu term referring to worshipping God through fire

In Judaism, a concluding ceremony

German term meaning salvation history

Unorthodox beliefs

A covering worn by Muslim women

A term in Islam referring to the migration of the Prophet from Makkah to Madinah (Medina)

A particular type or form to be found in Biblical narratives

An early spring Sikh festival

Hindu spring festival

Evil sister of demon king

The term referring to the murder of six million Jews in the Second World War

Main Christian church service based on the Last Supper. Also called Eucharist and Mass

Term for the third person of the Trinity

One of the 12 minor prophets of the Bible

Heaven

A nine-sided building for worship. There is an present only one in each continent.

Formal attempts to guarantee, for all human beings, decent treatment and protection from discrimination and abuses of power. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is based on belief in the “dignity and worth of the human person”. The universality of human rights appeals very much to humanists.

In the 20th century Humanism came to mean a naturalistic worldview that includes a rejection of religious beliefs and the conviction that moral values are founded on human nature and experience alone; a humanist is someone who holds these beliefs.

A religious song of praise

a picture of a religious figure or saint in an Orthodox church

Islamic food for breaking of the fast

In Islam, perfection of faith

A Muslim leader of prayers

The leader of the Iranian revolution of 1979 which saw the fall of the regime of the Shah

Word used to describe God becoming human

A term used of religious narratives when they are considered to be without error

Referring to the power of God to breathe life into works

Co-operative and positive interaction between groups of different religious beliefs

Place of pilgrimage and reflection for Christians

Sacred fire believed to have been burning since the eighth century.

Son of Abraham in the Bible

One of the three major prophetic books of the Bible

Literally submission to God; one of the three great monotheistic Abrahamic religions

The chosen land of the Jews, and pilgrimage country for Christians

fThe founder of modern Jewish Chasidism

A major patriarchal figure of the Bible

A collection of stories about the life of a Sikh guru

Birth date of Sri Krishna

Ceremony for a variety of occasions.

Folklore like literature concerning the previous births of the Buddha, often illustrating particularly moral values of Buddhism. The word also specifically refers to a text division of the Pali Canon in the Khuddaka Nikaya of the Sutta Pitaka and associated comentary

Fundamentalist denomination of Christianity

One of the three major prophets of the Bible

Founder of Christianity

Honorific title for Jesus with messianic overtones

Generally used to depict the historical Jesus rather than the Jesus of faith

A meditative state achieved through the practice of calm meditation

In Islam, a hadith or teaching

Earnest striving or effort for righteousness, against evil, wrong-doing and oppression

In Islam, a term referring to the struggle of the self

A term in Jainism referring to a Prophet or Ford-Maker

Embodied Atman (or Self) equated to idea of soul in other religions

Hindu term meaning knowledge

A major book of the Bible examining the problem of innocent suffering

Designated the fore-runner of Jesus of Nazareth

An allegorical book of the Bible written during the Exile

A major figure of the Exodus stories of the Bible

English novelist who wrote the The Lord of the Rings

Assessment of thoughts and actions.

Term used to describe conditions that justify warfare

The cube shaped shrine to be found at Makkah, and the direction towards which Muslims turn to pray

A mystical teaching of Jewish philosophy

A prayer of sanctification in Jewish worship

Scripture recited by Shvetambara Jains during the festival of Paryushan

Referring to the comb worn to keep the hair tidy of male Sikhs

Referring to the steel bracelet worn by male Sikhs on their wrist

A sweet food eaten at all Sikh ceremonies

The concept of cause and effect in Hindu, Jain and Buddhist faith traditions. In Buddhism the word comprises both ‘volitional activities’ and ‘action’, with motivation/ intention making the difference between ‘good’ and ‘bad’ karma.

Hindu path of action or fulfilling ones duty

Compassion – a key Buddhist value. For Theravadins compassion is a means of attaining a happy present life and a heavenly rebirth. For Mahayana Buddhists it is a requisite for becoming a bodhisattva

The Jewish dietary laws; that which is lawful

One of the key philosophic texts of the Vedas

Literally princess, and the name given to all female members of the Sikh Khalsa

A Jewish term referring to holy matters

The early message of Christianity passed on in the oral tradition

Referring to the uncut hair of male Sikhs

The crown placed on the Torah scroll

One of the three sections of the Jewish Bible – the Writings

The first wife of the Prophet Muhammad during which time he married no other

In Islamic belief, human beings are the vice-gerent or key agent of God, and it is also a technical term referring to the successor of the Prophet

Literally the pure ones, referring to the family or brotherhood of initiated Sikhs

Referring to the Sikh double edged sword

Festival celebrating the birth of Zoroaster.

Referring to the Islamic religious tax

The central message of Jesus

A small skull cap worn by Jewish males in worship and at the synagogue

Referring to a Sikh sword or dagger

Hindu god, eighth incarnation of Vishnu

Sacred cord given/received during initiation and worn throughout a follower's life.

Hindu goddess – giver of wealth and beauty

A title for a Tibetan teacher

The kitchen and dining hall within the Sikh Gurdwara

A term referring to the Sikh wedding hymn

The Jewish toast ‘to Life’

A stand for the Bible in a church

When a sacred text is read over a period of time

Play

Material in a narrative that has some elements of historical origin but has been embellished to create a moral

Period of the Christian year leading up to Easter

The major law book of the Pentateuch, in the first five books of the Bible

Symbol of good in all living beings.

Referring to the Eucharist, Mass or Lord's Supper

Prayer used by Jesus to instruct his disciples - Matthew Chapter 6 verse 9ff

Thanksgiving or act of worship celebrating the Last Supper

One of the most popular and influential Mahayana Sutras and the basis upon which the Nicheren sects of Buddhism were established

Place of the Buddha’s birth, in Nepal near the Indian border, a pilgrimage site

Jewish evening prayers

Jewish freedom fighters during the inter-testamental period

(Medina) the holy city to which the Prophet Muhammad (pbhu) fled

A Mahayana tradition, popularised by Nagajuna, where it is believed all phenomena are empty of Self-nature or essence

The Islamic Sunday school

The most recogniseable of all the Jewish symbols, the star of David

In Hinduism, a Major Rishi (or seer)

The Jain birth festival of birth of Lord Mahavir

The founder of Jainism

A branch of Buddhism distinct from Theravada; followers aim to become bodhisattvas and eventual Buddhas

A marriage gift

The important Jewish philosopher

(Mecca) the holy city of Islam to be found on the Arabian peninsular

The Jewish concept of'giving lashes'or administering corporal punishment

A contemporary black American Muslim (1925-1965) who was assassinated in the USA.

A circular painting representing the cosmos – a microcosm of the universe. In Vajrayana, mandalas may have more esoteric meanings

Hindu term for Temple or sacred place of worship

Prayers

Poems or phrases primarily used as spiritual conduits that instil one-pointed concentration

Ancient law book

The mother of Jesus

An Arabic word for rosary beads

An Islamic phrase meaning ‘whatever God wills’. It is said in praise or surprise at something

A word referring to the scroll editors who introduced vowels into the Hebrew texts

Catholic term for the Eucharist or Lord's Supper

One of the Buddha’s closest disciples famous for his supernatural powers, such as mind-reading and mental transportation

The power that allows Brahman to appear or manifest as everything and everyone

Female Saint who had vision of Krishna

A screen for separating men from women in the Jewish synagogue

A term for celebratory fairs in India

The seven/eight branched candlestick used at the Jewish festival of Channakuh

In Jewish and Christian theology a saviour figure based on Davidic concepts

Major non-conformist denomination

A small container hung on door posts of Jewish homes and containing the Shema

Referring to the ascension of the Prophet Muhammad to heaven, referring also to the believers spiritual ascension

One of the 12 minor prophets of the Bible

A description of the Buddhist concept of achieving enlightenment between the contrasting paths of indulgence and asceticism

In Judaism, part of the Talmud

A niche in the mosque indicating the direction of Makkah

In Judaism a word for the ritual bath, once found in the synagogue

In Islam, referring to the birth of the Prophet

The Jewish concept of war commanded by G-d

The Jewish concept of optional war

A pulpit in the mosque

The tower beside a mosque from which the call to prayer is made

Jewish afternoon prayers

The quorum of ten Jewish males required for synagogue worship to occur

The actions of Jesus and other holy figures to demonstrate the acting power of God

In Judaism referring to legal rulings

A term in Judaism referring to commandments or laws

The eastern wall or wall facing Jerusalem in the Synagogue

Priests

A Jewish term for festivals

Hindu term meaning end of delusion or end of cycle of reincarnation

Referring to single culture areas of the UK where there is lower representation of faith groups

Belief in one God

The Sikh statement of belief composed by Guru Nanak

Regarded as the law giver and major founder of Judaism

A Muslim place of worship, literally place of prostration

Believed to contain a secret paradise.

A symbolic ritual hand gesture

In Hinduism an image

An Arabic word for prayer mat

One who submits to Allah by following the religion of Islam

A narrative used to explain natural events using supernatural language

Hindu term meaning'ultimate reality in sound form'

Indian philosopher (c 150-250 CE) and founder of the Madhyamaka school of Buddhism

Hindu term for name-giving

A Jewish term referring to those matters pertaining to females

The stories of Jesus'birth in Matthew and Luke

Type of philosophy mainly used by Catholic theologians

Initiation ceremony after which children are considered adults in their faith.

The Hindu festival of nine nights of worshipping the mother Goddess

The most sacred Jain prayer

A Hebrew term referring to the perpetual light found in the Jewish synagogue

The Hebrew term referring to the prophetic books of the Bible

The new covenant described in the final 27 books of the Bible

(Pali) the Buddhist word for enlightenment

Creed drawn up in 325 AD by the Council of Nicaea to defend the faith against Arianism

A brown bird which sings beautifully in the night time. Baha’u’llah calls himself a “Nightingale of Paradise”, giving out beautiful teachings from His prison cell.

(Sanskrit) the Buddhist word for enlightenment

The Sikh flag flown at the Gurdwara

One of the major patriarchal figures of the Bible

The teachings of the Buddha, declared to lead to the cessation of suffering and Enlightenment. The factors are right view, intention, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, concentration, knowledge and liberation

Christian denominations that have split from the Anglican communion

The idea, popularised by scientist Stephen Jay Gould, that science and religion deal with completely different areas of experience: “The magisterium of science covers the empirical realm: what is the universe made of (fact) and why does it work this way (theory). The magisterium of religion extends over questions of ultimate meaning and moral value.”

One of the five books of the Pentateuch to be found in the Bible

Followers of ‘secret’ learning

The name given to someone trained and qualified to conduct (or officiate at) humanist baby-namings, weddings, civil partnerships and funerals. Also called a “celebrant”.

Middle Persian for Avestan Ahura Mazda.

The first 39 books of the Bible

AUM - Sound heard in deepest meditation - sacred symbol used as a chant in meditation

A free and democratic society, in which all can participate and flourish.

The period before the writing of the Gospels when the tradition (kerygma) was passed on by word of mouth

To be officially admitted to holy orders in a faith tradition

A belief in non-violence

Special white clothes worn by the priest, including cap&mask.

Primary collection of sacred texts written originally in the Iranian language

The standard collection of scriptures of Theravadin Buddhism preserved in the Pali language

Referring to the Five Loved Ones at the institution of the Sikh Khalsa

Commony described as an earthly story with a heaveny meaning

Term denoting a change in basic assumptions

A Buddhist word for the final passing of the Buddha or any arahat

Geographical and ecclesiastical areas which divide dioceses

Describing the period of the breaking of the kingdom into temporal time

Early followers of Zoroaster.

Eight day Jain Shvetambara festival of forgiveness

A word used to describe the events surrounding the death and resurrection of Jesus

The Theravadin code of monastic discipline consisting of 227 rules for monks and 311 for nuns

A five pointed star

A word usually used of charismatic churches

Ancient ceremonial capital of the Persian Empire.

Founded around 550 BCE by Cyrus the Grit, and lasting for approximately 200 years.

An alternative term in Judaism for Passover, the festival of unleaven bread

Many groupings

An organised massacre

Belief in many gods

Leader of worldwide Catholicism

Referring to individualism of truth, cross-cultural interactions, scepticism of objectivity and global intersectionalism

The full moon day where Buddhists typically visit temples, listen to dharma talks etc. Particularly important in Theravadin countries

Son of a demon king who worshipped Vishnu

An ancient language of India, and language of Jain scriptures

The present head of the BAPS Swaminarayan movement

Hindu term meaning'Going towards'

An image that leads to (God)

Jain prayer ritual to destroy sins and negative karmas

a text used in a church showing the orders of service and containing prayers for many occasions

Extempore and set conversations with God

Minister to a congregation

Important parable of Luke - chapter 15 verse 11ff

Major denomination of Christianity

General term for writer of the Psalms in the Old Testament

Hindu, Jain and Buddhist term for worship

An area of North West India from where Sikhism originated

A part of Mahayana Buddhism mainly practised in China and Japan. It is believed that Nirvana has become too difficult to achieve through meditation, therefore devotion to Amitabha will lead to being reborn in his heavenly pure land, from which enlightenment can be achieved

A Jewish festival celebrating Esther who saved the Jews in Persia

Tale of Sonja - see Sonja

The direction wall of a mosque facing the holy city of Makkah

The sacred text of Islam and believed by Muslims to be the word of God revealed to the Prophet

In Islam referring to the spiritual proximity to God

In Judaism, a teacher

The seventh incarnation of Vishnu

The Islamic month of fasting

Hindu saint, (1836-86) Claimed God could be experienced through many different religions

A modern Sage who lived in Southern India and was immersed in Self-Knowledge

In the context of religion, rationalism involves a reliance on evidence and reason and a rejection of religion and superstition on the basis that they depend on faith rather than evidence and reason.

A new incarnation/embodyment of the person

The cycle of rebirth

The idea that something can “true for you, but not for me” or that there are different kinds of truth. Humanists are usually empiricists, and tend not to be relativist about knowledge – they do not think that that simply believing things makes them true, or that metaphors should be treated as if they were literally true, or that individual subjective interpretation of experience is reliable. They would use the word “faith” for ideas which are not backed up by empirical evidence. Neither do they tend to be moral relativists; rather, they tend to believe that certain core moral values are universal

Referring to those experiences seemingly and often described as deriving from God

Zoroastrian-The end of the world when all will be resurrected.

Referring to the collective and individual raising from the dead of humans and for Christians, Jesus

God disclosing Himself in history and people

Last book of New Testament, apocalyptic in nature

word used to describe a priest

A design often worn on a finger ring

A person who experiences God (or Spirit) from‘Drish’ which means to experience

Ceremonies which celebrate transitions e.g. birth, adolescence, marriage and death

A cloth covering placed over the Sikh Guru Granth Sahib

Major denomination of Christianity with the Pope as its head

The occupying power of Palestine at the time of Jesus and an important book of the New Testament written by Paul to the Roman church

The Jewish New Year festival

Hebrew term for wind or spirit

Legendary hero and role model.

One of most important women characters to be found in the Bible

Soul

Referring to a holy day, usually in Judaism and Christianity

Giving on behalf of to the betterment of others

An Arabic word referring to Islamic charity

In Islam, the companions of the Prophet

Having holy qualities

Mahayana Buddhist title for the Buddha

The obligatory Friday Prayers

An Arabic word referring to Islamic prayers

In Buddhism, a concentration of the mind achieved through calm meditation

Jain 48 minute daily meditation ritual

The eternal cycle of rebirth and death

In Hinduism, Rites of passage or religious ceremonies marking entry into different stages of life

Jewish prophet

A term used to illustrate the importance of life

Very distinguished New Testament scholar

A term referring to the congregation in the Sikh Gurdwara

The community of Buddhist monks and nuns

A parse refugee fleeing persecution from Persia.

An Indian language -means polished; it is the mother of Indo-European langauges

Seven Steps

Female style of dress worn by women in India

One of the Buddha’s closest disciples, an arahat known particularly for his wisdom

The site of the Buddha’s first sermon

Historical period of time within Iran c224 - 652 CE.

The Hindu term for Truth

Islamic Fasting

Muslim biographies relating to the prophet

In the context of religion, scepticism means doubting the truth of religious claims, on the basis that there is no good evidence for them.

In Judaism the man who is ritual slaughterer of animals

Albert Schweitzer, doctor, musician and theologian

Science is really a process, based on scientific method – hypothesis, observation, testing and prediction.

Word used to decribe sacred texts

A small group holding diverse and often disparate views from the main group

Without reference to the sacred

A Gnostic text

In Judaism, the The Holy Torah

A discourse delivered to the congregation and based upon a portion of sacred text

Encapsulation of the teaching of Jesus in Matthew's gospel - chapters 5 to 7

Referring to either an act of worship or working for a cause

The Hindu term for service to God in man

The weekly celebration of the Jewish Sabbath; Friday sunset till Saturday sunset

Jewish morning prayers

Literally'Book of Kings'; religious text.

The declaration of the truth in Islam that Allah is one and Muhammad is his messenger

Followers of the Hindu God-head Shiva

Devotees of the Mother Goddess

Power

Literally clear path, or Islamic Law based on the Qu’ran and the Prophet’s Sunnah

Referring to the Jewish festival of Weeks

A faction of Islam

In Judaism, a period of mourning

The central prayer outlining the beliefs of Judaism; Deuteronomy 6 v4-9

Undeveloped Old Testament term for the after-life

The seven blessings at a Jewish wedding ceremony

The roof that houses the central part of the temple or Mandir in Hinduism

The Islamic concept of idolatry

Scriptures of authority in Hinduism

In Judaism a school, also a synonym for the synagogue and thus denoting the importance of learning at the synagogue

Sect of Jainism where monks and nuns wear white

The birth name of the historical Buddha. The name is made up of two Sanskrit words, siddha (gotten) and artha (meaning) – ie ‘one who has found meaning’

A term referring to virtue, morality, good conduct, or moral-discipline. Refers to the Buddhist principles of ethical behaviour

In Judasim rejoicing in the Law Feast

Term describing the separation of humanity from God caused by disobedience to God

Referring to the mountain upon which Moses received the Law

The name given to all male Sikhs, literally meaning'lion'

Title use of Jesus to demonstrate his divinity

Saviour

Word referring to that part of the human which is shared with the sacred

Conventionally used to mean ‘Holy Spirit’.

The pointed architectural feature of a church within which are housed the bells

A word with many religious connotations, often used to describe a multiplicity of phenomena that would include inner, reflective or emotional experiences, and those aspects of life that give it meaning and depth or which are profoundly moving or aesthetic.

The fourth of the evangelists or Gospel writers

The third of the evangelists or Gospel writers

The first written and shortest of the four Gospels

The first book of the New Testament and although commonly thought not to be the first written

Major figure in the development of the theology and growth of the early church

Often have stories on them from the Bible, as well as symbols, saints and secular figures of note

Borrowing rather than owning

A sect of Jainism

A chamber or mound containing relics of the Buddha or saints

Sacred shirt given/received during initiation and worn throughout a follower's life.

Prayers involving the sacred Sure and Kits received during initiation.

The universal condition of humankind, partly caused by the impermanence of all things

A mystical movement within Islam. When explaining His teachings to Sufis, Baha’u’llah used their ideas as a starting point.

The pure land of Amitabha Buddha

Referring to the Jewish festival of Tabernacles

Christian holy day, so chosen as Jesus was resurrected on this day

The traditions of the Prophet Muhammad including his sayings, deeds and approval of practices

A faction of Islam which constitutes the majority of Muslims

The concept of emptiness, particularly emphasised in Mahayana Buddhism where all phenomena are seen to be empty of inherent Self-existence. Seeing all phenomena as empty is an important part of cultivating insight

Sanskrit word for canonical teachings of the faith - more often relating to the Buddha, literally thread but used also in Jainism

(Pali) Buddhist word for canonical teachings of the Buddha, literally thread

One who has mastered himself (a term reserved for a Hindu monk)

A modern Saint of India

In Hinduism, first hand experience

Ancient Aryan Hindu and Jain symbol representing the Good luck, but adopted by Adolf Hitler in the Second World War

A Jewish place of worship and study

A special prayer uses by Baha’is to commemorate an anniversary associated with one of the central figures of their Faith

One of the branches of philosophic texts of Hinduism

Roman Catholic inspired ecumenical movement in France

The throne upon which the Sikh Guru Granth Sahib rests

The prayer shawl used by Jewish males in worship

The traditions or Jewish explanations of the Torah

An Islamic greeting

Literally ‘thus gone’, a name often used by the Buddha to describe himself

Thou Art That (essential nature of everyone is Spirit)

In Islam referring to unity

in Judaism, signs illustrating how the Torah scroll should be read

Small containers for Jewish prayers, worn on the forehead and the arm

The ten training rules for Buddhists novice monks and nuns

Referring to the sacred writings of Judaism, the Law, Prophets and Writings

a sect of Jainism

In Judaism, the four consonants YHWH – referring to the holy name of G-d

A teacher(1819-1850) who came just before Baha’u’llahUnified All as one

The study of disciplines associated with God

Literally ‘Teaching of the Elders’, the southern school of Buddhism and distinct from Mahayana. Often thought to reflect Buddhism as it would have been at the time of the Buddha

The physical characteristics of a Buddha or a wheel turning king

Archbishop of Canterbury 1532 and writer of the Book of Common Prayer

Three marks of existence: anicca (impermanence), dukkha (suffering) and anatta (not-Self)

The Buddha, the Dharma, the Sangha; formulaically taking refuge in these is a defining Buddhist characteristic

The Jewish concept of care for the world and the environment

an Indian term for the marking on the forehead of Hindu devotees

A Hindu term meaning'Bridge'– or crossing over place – a term reserved for places of pilgrimage

In Jainism, literally ‘ford-makers’ or those who have achieved wisdom, a prophet

The religious injunction to give 10% of income to God's work

In Judaism, the Law or the first five books of the Bible

That which refers to the metaphysical world rather than the physical

In Eastern religions, referring to the journey of the soul after death into another body

An extension of Mahayana Buddhism involving esoteric methods to ‘short-cut’ to enlightenment. The teachings are usually only transmitted through teacher-pupil communications

Three fold belief in God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit

A way of referring to the three refuges: the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha

Opposing forces found at the centre of the created world.

A tithing almsgiving meaning righteousness

Fire temple in village of Udvada, Gujarat.

Relating to the Islamic concept of a Brotherhood

Those questions of being referring to God, humanity and the world

In Islam, belonging to the wider community

Love which has no conditions attached to it

Referring to the nature of the church for all people

The idea that values or ideas (such as human rights) or human nature are universal, rather than unique to one culture or group. This is an idea that appeals very much to humanists.

The Hindu term for the sacred thread ceremony

Hindu texts meaning ‘if you come close to them they will destroy your delusion’

Weekly Buddhist celebration based on the lunar calendar

Room outside of the Temple where priests perform rituals.

The idea, systemised and defended by the philosopher John Stuart Mill, that actions are right if they tend to promote happiness and wrong if they tend to cause suffering, and that the aim of morality should be the “greatest happiness of the greatest number”.

Hindu term for the followers of the Hindu deity Vishnu

A Hindu place of pilgrimage on the banks of the River Ganges

Religion put into practise after taking into account the age and aptitude

Scriptures of authority of Hindus from Vid –means to know

The annual Buddhist festival celebrating the birth, death, enlightenment and parinirvana of the Buddha. It is based on the lunar calendar, but usually falls in April or May in the Gregorian calendar

Clergy garments

Word used to describe a priest

Hindu term meaning'to Know'

In Hinduism, the victory on the tenth day (the day when the mother Goddess killed a demon)

The framework for the sangha to live and operate. Part of the Vinaya Pitaka, one of the three baskets particularly emphasising discipline

A major Hindu deity

The Path to Purity, Theravadin Buddhism commentary written by Buddhaghosa in c 430 CE

in hinduism, Marriage ~ Literally meaning bearing burden

(1863-1902) Contemporary Hindu personality

Having a sense of calling to service by God

Good mind

Promises made usually in the context of religion

Hindu pilgrimage centre where Krishna played as a youth

a Hindu term meaning ‘compiler’ the name given to the author of many Hindu texts

The upstairs gallery for women in the Jewish synagogue

German theologian who first proposed the four strand hypothesis behind the Pentateuch

A symbol of Ahura Mazda.

Term often used to describe holy scripture

The offering of praise and reverence to God via a religious service

An individual’s destiny

Indivuidual's task in life, assigned by God.

A silver pointer used to follow readings of the Torah scrolls in Jewish worship

A small skull cap used in by Jewish males in worship

Religious text containing, amongst others, the Gathas.

A Hindu term meaning Pilgrimage

Friday, the special day of worship in Islam, literally, the day of Friday

In Judaism referring to doing good intentions in life

In Judaism referring to bad intentions in life

from Yuj meaning Join together. Means to join with our essential nature (Atman) in recent times the word is used loosely to mean Physical and Mental exercises.

The Jewish Day of Atonement

A Hindu term referring to using rationality

Referring to the Islamic religious tax or almsgiving

Anniversary of the death of Zoroaster.

One of the twelve minor prophets of the Bible

Prophet/founder of Zoroastrianism.

Ancient times (in Iran) when Zoroastrian beliefs were predominant.