An Introductory Dictionary of
Theology and Religious Studies
An Introductory
Dictionary of Theology and
Religious Studies
Edited by
Orlando O. Espín and James B. Nickoloff
A Michael Glazier Book
LITURGICAL PRESS
Collegeville, Minnesota
www.litpress.org
A Michael Glazier Book published by Liturgical Press.
Cover design by David Manahan, o.s.b. Cover symbol by Frank Kacmarcik, obl.s.b.
© 2007 by Order of Saint Benedict, Collegeville, Minnesota. All rights reserved. No part
of this book may be reproduced in any form, by print, microfilm, micro­fiche, mechanical
recording, photocopying, translation, or by any other means, known or yet unknown, for
any purpose except brief quotations in reviews, without the previous written permission
of Liturgical Press, Saint John’s Abbey, P.O. Box 7500, Collegeville, Minnesota 56321-7500.
Printed in the United States of America.
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2
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
An introductory dictionary of theology and religious studies / edited by
Orlando O. Espín and James B. Nickoloff.
p. cm.
“A Michael Glazier book.”
ISBN-13: 978-0-8146-5856-7 (alk. paper)
1. Religion—Dictionaries. 2. Religions—Dictionaries. I. Espín, Orlando O.
II. Nickoloff, James B.
BL31.I68 2007
200.3—dc22
2007030890
We dedicate this dictionary to Ricardo and Robert,
for their constant support over many years.
Contents
List of Entries ix
Introduction and Acknowledgments xxxi
Entries 1
Contributors 1519
vii
List of Entries
AARON
“AD LIMINA” VISITS
ALBIGENSIANS
ABBA
ADONAI
ALBRIGHT, WILLIAM FOXWELL
ABBASIDS
ADOPTIONISM
ALCUIN
ABBEY
ADORATION
ALEGRE, FRANCISCO XAVIER
ABBOT/ABBESS
ADULTERY
ALEXANDER OF ALEXANDRIA
ABE, MASAO
ADVAITA
ALEXANDER OF HALES
ABELARD, PETER
ADVAITA VEDANTA
ALEXANDER THE GREAT
ABHIDHARMA/ABHIDHAMMA
PITAKA
ADVENT
ALEXANDRIAN THEOLOGY
ADVENTISTS
AL-FaTIHAH
AESTHETICS
AL-GHAZALI
AETERNI PATRIS
AL-HALLAJ
AETIOLOGY/ETIOLOGY
ALI
AFRICAN AMERICAN
­THEOLOGY
ALIYAH
AFRICAN CHRISTIANITY
ALLEGORY (MEDIEVAL)
ABSOLUTE
AFRICAN THEOLOGIES
ALLEGORY IN JUDAISM
ABSOLUTION
AFRICAN TRADITIONAL
­RELIGIONS
ALLELUIA
(in christianity)
AFRO-LATIN RELIGIONS
ALLELUIA IN JUDAISM
ABUNA
AGAPĒ
AL-MATURIDI
ACCIDENT
AGGADAH
ALONSO-SCHOEKEL, LUIS
ACOLYTE
AGGIORNAMENTO
ALPHONSUS LIGUORI
ACTA APOSTOLICAE SEDIS
AGNI
al-qaeda
ACTA SANCTORUM
AGNOSTICISM
ALTAR
ACTS OF THE APOSTLES
AGRICOLA, JOHANN
ALTHUSSER, LOUIS PIERRE
ADAM (AS PROPHET OF ISLAM)
AHIMSA
ALTIZER, THOMAS, J. J.
ADAM, KARL
AHL AL-KITaB (“People of
the Book”)
ALUMBRADOS/ILUMINATI
AHMADIYYA
AMALADOSS, MICHAEL
ADAM/EVE (IN THE BOOK OF
GENESIS)
AHRIMAN
AMATERASU
AHURA MAZDA
AMBROSE OF MILAN
ADAM’S SIN
AL-ASH<ARI/ASH<ARISM
AMBROSIAN RITE
ADDAI
ALAYA VIJnANA
AMBROSIASTER
AD GENTES
ALBERT THE GREAT
AMERICANISM
ABHISHEKA
ABHISHIKTANANDA, SWAMI
ABJURATION
ABORTION
ABRAHAM
ABRAHAM OF ECCHEL
(OR OF HEKEL)
ABSTINENCE
ABU BAKR
ADAM/EVE (IN CHRISTIAN
TRADITION)
ALLAH (ISLAM)
ALVES, RUBEM
ix
List of Entries
AMITABHA/AMIDA
APOLLINARIANISM
ASBURY, FRANCIS
AMRAM BEN SHESHA ­HAGAON
APOLLINARIS OF LAODICEA
ASCENSION
AMULET
ASCETICAL THEOLOGY
ANABAPTISTS
APOLOGETICS
(PATRISTIC PERIOD)
ANALECTS
APOLOGISTS
ASHARIYYAH (TWELVERS)
ANALOGIA ENTIS
(ANALOGY OF BEING)
APOPHATIC THEOLOGY
ASHKENAZIM
APOPHTHEGM
ASHRAM
ANALOGIA FIDEI
(ANALOGY OF FAITH)
APOSTASY
ASHRAMA (life stages)
APOSTLE
ANALOGICAL IMAGINATION
ASHRAMA/ASHRAM
APOSTLES’ CREED
ANAMNESIS
ASH WEDNESDAY
APOSTOLIC
ANAPHORA
APOSTOLICAM ACTUOSITATEM
asian (christian)
­theologies
ANATHEMA
APOSTOLIC CONSTITUTION
ASOKA/ASHOKA
ANATMAN DOCTRINE
APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION
ASPERGES
ANAWIM (POOR OF ­YAHWEH)
APOSTOLIC FATHERS
ASSEMANI
ANCESTORS, CHINESE
APOSTOLICITY
ASSEMBLIES OF GOD
ANCHORITES
APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION
ASSMANN, HUGO
ANCIENT CHURCHES OF THE
EAST
APPARITIONS
ASSUMPTION OF MARY
ANDEAN/AYMARA/QUECHUA
TRADITIONAL RELIGION
AQUINAS, THOMAS, ST.
ASTARTE
AQUINO, MARÍA PILAR
ASTROLOGY
ARAHANT
ASURA
ARAMAIC
ATATÜRK, MUSTAFA KEMAL
ARAMAIC MATTHEW
ATHANASIAN CREED
ARBA<AH TURIM
ATHANASIUS, PATRIARCH OF
ALEXANDRIA
ANDREW OF ST. VICTOR
ANGEL
ANGLICAN COMMUNION
ANGLICAN ORDERS,
­CONTROVERSY OVER
ARCHBISHOP
ANGRA MAINYU
ARCHDIOCESE
ANICCA/ANICCHA
ARCHIMANDRITE
ANIMISM
AREOPAGUS
ANITYA
ARIANISM
ANKH
ARISTOTELIANISM
ANNULMENT
ARISTOTLE
ANNUNCIATION
ARIUS
ANOINTING OF THE SICK,
­SACRAMENT OF
ARJUNA
ANONYMOUS CHRISTIANITY
ARK OF THE COVENANT
ANSELM OF CANTERBURY
ARMENIAN CATHOLIC
CHURCH
anthropology,
­theological
ARK OF NOAH
ARMINIANISM
ASCETICISM/ASCETIC
ATHARVA VEDA
ATHEISM
ATHENAGORAS
ATMAN
ATONEMENT, CHRISTIAN
ATONEMENT, HEBREW
ATTRITION
AUGSBURG CONFESSION
AUGUSTINE OF CANTERBURY
AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO
AUGUSTINIANISM
AUROBINDO, SRI
AUTHORITY
AUTOCEPHALOUS CHURCHES
ANTHROPOMORPHISM
ARMINIUS, JACOB
ANTICHRIST
ANTINOMIANISM
ARNAULD, ANGÉLIQUE AND
ANTOINE
ANTIOCHENE THEOLOGY
ARNOBIUS OF SICCA
AVALOKITESHVARA
ANTIPOPE
ARON HAKODESH
AVATARA/AVATAR
ANTI-SEMITISM
ART, LITURGICAL
AVERROES
ANTONY OF EGYPT
ARTHA
AVERROISM
APOCALYPSE
ARTICLES OF FAITH
AVESTA
APOCATASTASIS
ARYAN
AVICENNA
APOCRISIARIOS
ARYA SAMAJ
AVIGNON (PAPACY AT)
APOCRYPHA
ASANGA
AVOT
AUTO DE FE
AUTO SACRAMENTAL
List of Entries xi
AYA
BEATITUDES
BLONDEL, MAURICE
AYATOLLAH
BEDE THE VENERABLE
B<NAI BRITH
AZTEC TRADITIONAL RELIGION
BEGUINES
BODHI
BEIT DIN
BODHISATTVA
BAAL
BEIT HAMIKDASH
BODY
BAAL SHEM TOV
BELLAH, ROBERT N.
BABEL, TOWER OF
BELLARMINE, ROBERT
BODY OF CHRIST (IN CHURCH
USE)
BABYLON
BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY
BENEDICTINE RULE
(RULE OF ST. BENEDICT)
BODY OF CHRIST
(in scripture)
BAHA<I
BENEDICTINES
BOEHME, JACOB
BAHA<U<LLAH
BENEDICTION WITH BLESSED
SACRAMENT
BOETHIUS
BENEDICT OF NURSIA
BOFF, LEONARDO
BALAAM
benedict xvi, pope
BOGOMILS
BALDACHINO
BERENGAR OF TOURS
BALFOUR DECLARATION
BERGER, PETER L.
BOHEMIAN BRETHREN/­
MORAVIANS
BALTIMORE, COUNCILS OF
BERGSON, HENRI
BONAVENTURE
BÁÑEZ, DOMINGO
BERKELEY, GEORGE
BONHOEFFER, DIETRICH
BAPTISM BY BLOOD
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX
BONIFACE VIII, POPE
BAPTISM/CONFIRMATION
BÉRULLE, PIERRE DE
BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER
BAPTISM IN THE SPIRIT
BEZA, THEODORE
BORNKAMM, GÜNTHER
BAPTISM OF DESIRE
BHAGAVAD GITA
BORROMEO, CHARLES
BAPTIST CHURCHES/BAPTIST
CONVENTIONS
BHAGAVATAM
BOSSUET, JACQUES BÉNIGNE
BHAGAVATA PURANA
BRAHMA
BAPTIST THEOLOGY
BHAKTI
BARAKA/BARAKAH
BHAKTIVEDANTA, SWAMI
BAR/BAT MITZVAH
BHAKTI-YOGA
BARCELONA, CIRILO DE
BHIKSHU/BHIKSHUNI
BARDO
BIBLE
BAR KOCHBA
BIBLE (VERSIONS)
BARK OF PETER
BIBLICAL CRITICISM
BARNABAS, LETTER OF
BIBLICAL REFERENCES
BAROQUE
BIBLICAL THEOLOGY
BARRETT, C. K.
BINGEMER, MARIA CLARA
BREAKING OF BREAD
(IN CHRISTIANITY)
BARTH, KARL
BIOETHICS
BRIT
BARTHES, ROLAND
BIRKATH HAMINIM
BRIT MILAH
“BASIC” ECCLESIAL
­COMMUNITIES
BIRTH CONTROL
BROWN, RAYMOND E.
BROWN, ROBERT Mcafee
BASILICA
BISHOP (AUXILIARY,
­SUFFRAGAN)
BASILIDES
BISHOP (EPISCOPACY)
BRUNNER, EMIL
BASIL THE GREAT
BISHOP (ORDINARY)
BRUNO, GIORDANO
BASLE-FLORENCE-FERRARA
(COUNCILS OF)
Bishop of Rome
BUBER, MARTIN
BLACK CHRIST, THE
BUCER, MARTIN
BAUER, BRUNO
BLACK ELK
BUDDHA
BAUM, GREGORY
BLACK THEOLOGY
BUDDHAGHOSA
B.C./A.D.
BLASPHEMY
BUDDHISM
BEA, AUGUSTINE
BLESSING (CHRISTIANITY)
BULGAKOV, SERGEI
BEATIFICATION
BLESSING (JUDAISM)
BULL
BEATIFIC VISION
BLOCH, ERNST
BULTMANN, RUDOLF
BAIUS, MICHEL
(MICHEL DE BAY)
BOFF, CLODOVIS
BRAHMACHARIN
BRAHMAN
BRAHMANA
BRAHMANA/BRAHMIN
BRAHMA SUTRAS
BRAHMIN
BRAHMO SAMAJ
BREAD, UNLEAVENED
BREAKING OF A GLASS
BROWNSON, ORESTES
xii List of Entries
BURIAL (IN CHRIstianity)
CARR, ANNe
CHAPEL
BURIAL (IN JUDAISM)
CARRASCO, DAVID
CHAPTER (RELIGIOUS)
BURIAL MOUND
CARROLL, JOHN
CHARACTER (­SACRAMENTAL)
BUSHIDO
CARTHUSIANS
CHARISMATIC MOVEMENT
BUSHNELL, HORACE
CASSIAN, JOHN
CHARISM/CHARISMATIC
BUTSUDAN
CASSIODORUS
CHARITY
BYZANTINE CATHOLIC
CHURCHES
CASSIRER, ERNST
CHARLEMAGNE
CASTE
CHARM OR SPELL
BYZANTIUM/BYZANTINE
CASTES, SCHEDULED
CHARVAKA
CASUISTRY
CHASTITY
CADBURY, HENRY J.
CATACOMBS
CHÁVEZ, CÉSAR
CAESAROPAPISM
Catechesis/Catechetical
Chazzan
CATECHISM
CH’ENG HUANG
CATECHUMEN
CHENU, MARIE DOMINIQUE
CATECHUMENATE
CHERUBIM
CATEGORICAL IMPERATIVE
CHESTERTON, GILBERT KEITH
CAHILL, LISA SOWLE
CAITANYA/CHAITANYA
CAITYA
“CAJETAN,” THOMAS DE VIO
CAKRA/CHAKRA
CALENDAR (LITURGICAL)
CALIPH (KALIPHA)/­
CALIPHATE
CATHARS
CATHEDRAL
CATHERINE OF GENOA
CALLISTUS II OF ROME
CATHERINE OF SIENA
CALUMET
CATHOLICITY
CALVIN, JOHN
CATHOLIC REFORMATION
CALVINISM
CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING
CAMUS, ALBERT
CATHOLIC TRADITION
CANAAN
CAUSALITY
CÁNCER DE BARBASTRO, LUIS
C.E./B.C.E.
CANDLES, LIGHTING OF
CELAM
CANDOMBLÉ
CELEBRATION
CANDRAKIRTI
CANISIUS, PETER
CANNON, KATIE GENEVA
CANO, MELCHOR
CANON, BIBLICAL
CANON, literary
CANONICAL CRITICISM
CANONICAL FORM
(OF MARRIAGE)
CANONIZATION
CELIBACY
CELSUS
CENTESIMUS ANNUS
CHADO
CHADOR
CHALCEDON, COUNCIL OF
CHALCEDONIAN CHRISTIANS
CHALCEDONIAN DEFINITION
CHALDEAN CATHOLIC
CHURCH
CHEVRA KADESHA
CH’I
CHILDREN OF ISRAEL
CHILIASM/CHILIASTIC
CH’ING MING
CHOL HAMOED
CHORiEPISKOPOS
Chosen People
CHOU DYNASTY
CHRISM
CHRIST
CHRISTENDOM
CHRISTIAN
CHRISTIANITY
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE CHURCH
CHRISTMAS
CHRISTOCENTRIC
CHRIST OF FAITH
CHRISTOLOGY
CHRIST THE KING
CHRISTUS DOMINUS
CHUANG TZU
CHALICE
CHU HSI
CHUNG YUNG
CANTERBURY, SEE OF
CHALLENGE OF PEACE:
GOD’S PROMISE AND OUR
RESPONSE
CANTOR (IN CHRISTIANITY)
CHAN
CHUPUNGCO, ANSCAR
CANTOR (IN JUDAISM)
CHANCELLOR
CHURCH
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
CHANCERY
CAPPADOCIANS
CHANGING WOMAN
CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF
LATTER-DAY SAINTS
CARDINAL
CHANT (IN CHRISTIANITY)
CISTERCIANS
CARGO CULTS
CHANT (NATIVE AMERICAN)
CITTAMATRA
CARMELITES
CHANTWAY
CIVIL RELIGION
CANON LAW
CANON OF THE MASS
CHUN-TZU
CHUPPAH
List of Entries xiii
CLAN BUNDLE
CONFLICT
COSMOGONY
CLARE OF ASSISI
CONFUCIANISM
COSMOLOGICAL ARGUMENT
CLARK, J. (JOHN) MICHAEL
CONFUCIUS
COSTAS, ORLANDO E.
CLASSISM
CONGAR, YVES
COUNCIL, ECUMENICAL
CLAVIGERO, FRANCISCO
XAVIER
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES
COUNCIL OF CHURCHES
(WORLD, NATIONAL)
CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA
CONGREGATIONAL
­THEOLOGIES
CLEMENT OF ROME
CONGREGATIONS (ORDERS)
CLERGY
CONSCIENCE
COUNTER-REFORMATION/
CATHOLIC REFORMATION
CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION
COVENANT IN CHRISTIANITY
CONSECRATION (CHRISTIAN)
COVENANT in judaism
CONSERVATIVE JUDAISM
COX, HARVEY
CONSISTORY
CRANMER, THOMAS
CLERICALISM
CLOISTER
CLOVIS
CLOWN SOCIETIES
CLUNY, ABBEY OF
COCHISE
CODEX
COHEN GADOL
COLERIDGE, SAMUEL TAYLOR
CONSTANCE, COUNCIL OF
CONSTANTINE I THE GREAT
CONSTANTINOPLE, FIRST
COUNCIL OF
COUNSELS (OF PERFECTION)
CREATION
CREATIONISM
CREED/SYMBOL OF FAITH
CRITICAL THEORY
CONSTANTINOPLE, SECOND
COUNCIL OF
CROCE, BENEDETTO
CONSTANTINOPLE, SEE OF
CROSS, THEOLOGY OF THE
CROSS, VENERATION OF THE
COMENIUS, JOHANNES AMOS
CONSTANTINOPLE, THIRD
COUNCIL OF
COMMANDMENT IN JUDAISM
constructive theology
CRUSADES
COMMANDMENTS
CONSUBSTANTIATION
CULLMANN, OSCAR
CONTEMPLATION
CULT, LITURGICAL
CONTEMPLATIVES
CULTS
CONTEXTUALIZATION
CULTURE
CONTEXTUAL THEOLOGY
CULTURE HERO
COLLEGIALITY
colonization
COMBLIN, JOSEPH
COMMANDMENTS OF THE
CHURCH
COMMON GOOD
COMMUNICATIO IDIOMATUM
COMMUNION
(­ECCLESIOLOGICAL)
CONTINENTAL THEOLOGY
CROSS, SIGN OF THE
CRUCIFIXION
CURATE
CURIA, CONGREGATIONS OF
THE (ROMAN)
COMMUNION (LITURGICAL)
CONTINGENT
COMMUNION OF SAINTS
COMPARATIVE RELIGION
CONTRACEPTION/
BIRTH CONTROL
COMPLUTENSIAN POLYGLOT
CONTRITION
CURRAN, CHARLES E.
COMPOSTELA
CONVENIENCE, ARGUMENT
FROM
CURSES (IN JUDAISM)
CURSILLO MOVEMENT
CONCELEBRATION
CONVENT/CONVENTUAL
CYCLE/CYCLICAL
CONCILIARISM
CONVERSION
CYPRIAN OF CARTHAGE
CONCLAVE
CONVERSION IN JUDAISM
CYRIL AND METHODIUS
CONCORD, FORMULA AND
BOOK OF
CONVOCATIONS OF
­CANTERBURY
CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA
CONCORDANCE
CONZELMANN, HANS
CONCORDAT
COOKe, BERNARD J.
D’AILLY, PIERRE
CONCUPISCENCE
COPELAND, M. SHAWN
DALAI LAMA
CONE, JAMES H.
COPTIC CATHOLIC CHURCH
DALIT
CONFESSING CHURCH
DALY, MARY
confession
COPTIC MONOPHYSITE
CHURCH
CONFESSION OF FAITH
CORNELIUS A LAPIDE
DAMNATION
CONFESSOR
CORNELIUS OF ROME
DANIÉLOU, JEAN
confirmation
CORPUS CHRISTI
dao
COMTE, AUGUSTE
CURIA, ROMAN
CYRIL OF JERUSALEM
DAMASUS I OF ROME
xiv List of Entries
daodejing
DE NOBILI, ROBERTO
DIOCLETIAN
DAOISM
DENOMINATION
DIOGNETUS, LETTER TO
DAR AL-HARB
DENZINGER, THE
DAR AL-ISLAM
DEONTOLOGICAL
DIONYSIUS THE AREOPAGITE
(PSEUDO)
DAR AL-SALAM
DE PAUL, VINCENT
DIRECTIONAL SPIRITS
DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL
DEPOSIT OF FAITH
DISCERNMENT
DARSHANA (philosophy)
DERRIDA, JACQUES
DISCIPLE
DARSHANA/DARSHAN
DERVISH (DARWISH)
DISCIPLESHIP
DARWIN, CHARLES
DE SALES, FRANCIS
DARWINISM
DESCARTES, RENÉ
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST/
CHURCHES OF CHRIST
DAVID
DESCENT INTO HELL
DAVIES, WILLIAM D.
DETERMINISM
Davis, Cyprian
DEUS ABSCONDITUS
DAY, DOROTHY
DEUS EX MACHINA
DAYANANDA, SWAMI
DEUS OTIOSUS
DAY OF JUDGMENT (IN ISLAM)
DEUS PRO NOBIS
DAY OF THE LORD/DAY OF
YAHWEH
DEUTEROCANONICAL
DAY OF YAHWEH
DEUTERONOMIC THEOLOGY
DEACON
DEVA/DEVI
DEACONESS
DE VAUX, ROLAND
DEAD SEA SCROLLS
DEATH (CHRISTIAN)
DEVELOPMENT OF DOGMA/
OF DOCTRINE
DEATH (IN JUDAISM)
DEVIL
DOCETISM
DEATH OF GOD THEOLOGY
DEVOTIO MODERNA
DOCTORS OF THE CHURCH
“DE AUXILIIS” CONTROVERSY
DEVOTIONS
DOCTRINE
DEBORAH
DE WETTE, W.M.L.
DOCTRINE OF THE MEAN
DECALOGUE
DEWEY, JOHN
DODD, CHARLES HAROLD
DECLARATION (DOCUMENT)
DHARANI
DOGEN
DECONSTRUCTION
DHARMA (in buddhism)
DOGMA
DECRETALS
DHARMA (IN HINDUISM)
DOGMATIC THEOLOGY
DEER DANCE
DHARMADHATU
DöLLINGER, JOHANN J.
DEFENSE
DHARMAKAYA
DOME OF THE ROCK
DE FIDE
DHIKR
DOMESTIC CHURCH
DEFINITION (of doctrines)
DHIMMI
DOMINICANS
DE FOUCAULD, CHARLES
DHUODA OF SEPTIMANIA
DOMINIC DE GUZMÁN
DEGANAWIDAH
DHYANA
DONATION OF CONSTANTINE
DEIFICATION
DIAKONIA
DONATISM
DEI FILIUS
DIASPORA
DOSTOYEVSKY, FEODOR M.
DEISM
DIBELIUS, MARTIN F.
DOUBLE EFFECT
DEI VERBUM
DIDACHE, THE
DOUBT
DE LA CRUZ, JUANA INÉS
DIDASCALIA APOSTOLORUM,
THE
DOUGLAS, MARY
DE LUBAC, HENRI
DE MARILLAC, LOUISE
DIDYMUS THE BLIND
DRAMA IN CHRISTIANITY
DE MESA, JOSÉ M.
DIGNITATIS HUMANAE
DRAVIDIAN
DEMIURGE
DIGNITY
DREAM DANCE
DEMON (in the bible)
DIN
DREAMS
DEMON (in world religions)
DINNAGA
DREIDEL
DEMYTHOLOGIZATION
DIOCESE/ARCHDIOCESE
DREXEL, KATHERINE
DEUTERONOMIC HISTORY
DISCIPLINE
Discrimination
DISPENSATION (caNONICAL
DOCUMENT)
DISPENSATIONalism
DISSENT
DIVALI/DIWALI
DIVINATION
DIVINIZATION
DIVINO AFFLANTE SPIRITU
DIVORCE (IN CHRISTIANITY)
DIVORCE (IN JUDAISM)
DO
DOXOLOGY
List of Entries xv
DRUM CHIEF
ELDER (in judaism)
ETHICS
DRUMS (IN AFRICAN AND
AFRO-LATIN RELIGIONS)
ELECTION (DOCTRINE OF)
ETHICS, SEXUAL
EL/ELOHIM
ETHICS, SOCIAL
DUALISM/DUALISTIC
ELIADE, MIRCEA
ETHICS OF THE FATHERS
DUALISTIC VEDANTA
ELIJAH
ETROG
DUCHEMIN, THERESA MAXIS
ELIJAH BEN SOLOMON
EUCHARIST
DUCHESNE, LOUIS
ELIZABETH
EUCHARISTIC PRAYER
DUHKHA
ELIZONDO, VIRGILIO
DULIA
EUDOXIA
ELLACURíA, IGNACIO
DULLES, AVERY
EUNOMIANISM
ELLIS, JOHN TRACY
DUNS SCOTUS, JOHN
EURO-AMERICAN THEOLOGIES
ELOHIST SOURCE
DURA EUROPOS
EUSEBIUS OF CAESAREA
ELOISE
DURGA
ELVIRA, COUNCIL OF
EUTYCHES
DURKHEIM, ÉMILE
ELYSIUM
DUSSEL, ENRIQUE
ENCYCLICAL
DVAITA VEDANTA
ENLIGHTENMENT
(IN BUDDHISM)
EARTH DIVER
ENLIGHTENMENT IN WESTERN
HISTORY
EAST, ANCIENT CHURCHES OF
THE
EVANGELICAL
EVANGELICALS
EVANGELICAL THEOLOGY
EVANGELII NUNTIANDI
EVANGELISM
EVANGELIST
ENOCH, BOOKS OF
EVANGELIUM VITAE
EASTER
ENTHUSIASM/ENTHUSIASTIC
EVANGELIZATION
EASTER TRIDUUM
EPARCH
EVANS-PRITCHARD, ­EDWARD E.
EASTERN CATHOLIC
CHURCHES
EPHESUS, COUNCIL OF
EVIL
EPHRAEM OF SYRIA
EVIL, PROBLEM OF
EASTERN CHURCHES
EPICLESIS
EVOLUTION
EPICTETUS OF CORINTH
EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE
EPIPHANY
EXARCH
E.A.T.WO.T.
EBELING, GERHARD
EBIONITES
ECCLESIAM SUAM
ECCLESIASTICAL PROVINCE
ECCLESIOLOGY
ECK, JOHANN OF
ECKHART, J. (MEISTER)
EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Episcopal Conferences
Episkopos
epistemology
EPISTLE
ERASMUS OF ROTTERDAM
EX CATHEDRA
EXCOMMUNICATION
EXEGESIS/EISEGESIS
EXILE
EXISTENTIALISM
EXODUS
ERASTIANISM
EX OPERE OPERANTIS/
EX OPERE OPERATO
ERETZ YISRAEL
EXORCISM
ERIKSON, ERIK H.
EXORCISM (IN CHRISTIANITY)
EXORCISM (IN JUDAISM)
ECONOMY
ESCHATOLOGY
(IN CHRISTIANITY)
ECONOMY OF SALVATION
ESCHATOLOGY (IN JUDAISM)
EXTRA ECCLESIAM NULLA
SALUS
ECSTASY
ESCHATON
EZEKIEL
ECUMENICAL COUNCIL
ESCOBAR, SAMUEL
EZRA
ECUMENICAL MOVEMENT/
ECUMENISM
ESDRAS, BOOKS OF
EZRAT NASHIM
ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH
ESSENCE
FAITH
eddy, mary baker
ESSENES
FALASHAS
EDOT HAMIZRACH
ETERNAL LIFE
FALL, THE
EDWARDS, JONATHAN
ETERNAL LIGHT
FAMILY
EFFICACY, SACRAMENTAL
ETERNITY
FAMILY PURITY
ELDER (in christianity)
ETHERIA (THE PILGRIMAGE OF)
FANA
ECOLOGY
ECONOMIC JUSTICE FOR ALL:
CATHOLIC SOCIAL
­TEACHING AND THE U.S.
ECONOMY
ESPíN, ORLANDO
xvi List of Entries
FANATICISM
FOUR-SOURCE THEORY
(OF SYNOPTICS)
GENUFLECTION
FAQIH
FAQIR
FOUR YOGAS
GERUSHIN
FARLEY, MARGARET A.
FOX, GEORGE
GERUT
FASTS/FASTING
(in christianity)
FRANÇA MIRANDA, MÁRIO DE
GHOSE, AUROBINDO
FRANCISCANS
GHOST DANCE
FASTS/FASTING (IN JUDAISM)
FRANCIS OF ASSISI
GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT
FATE (IN JUDAISM)
FRAZER, SIR JAMES G.
GILGAMESH, EPIC OF
FATHERS/MOTHERS OF THE
DESERT
FREE CATHOLIC CHURCH
GILKEY, LANGDON
FREE CHURCH TRADITION
FATHERS OF THE CHURCH
GILSON, ETIENNE
FREEDOM
FATWA
GLORY/GLORIFICATION
FREE WILL
FEAR OF GOD
GLOSSA ORDINARIA
FREIRE, PAULO
FEAST
GLOSSOLALIA
FREUD, SIGMUND
FEAST OF WEEKS
GNOSIS/GNOSTICISM
FRIARS
FEBRONIANISM
GOD
FRIES, HEINRICH
FELLOWSHIP
GODDESS RELIGION
FROMM, ERICH
feminism
GOGARTEN, FRIEDRICH
FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT
GOIZUETA, ROBERTO
feminist theologies
FUCHS, ERNST
GONZÁLEZ, JUSTO L.
FÉNELON, FRANÇOIS DE
­SALIGNAC DE LA MOTHE
FUCHS, JOSEF
González-Faus, José
­Ignacio
FENG-SHUI
FUNDAMENTALISM (CHRISTIAN
HISTORICAL MOVEMENT)
GOOD WORKS
FUNDAMENTAL OPTION
GORE, CHARLES
FESTIVALS, INTERMEDIATE
DAYS
FUNDAMENTAL THEOLOGY
GOSPEL
FETISH
GADAMER, HANS-GEORG
FEUERBACH, LUDWIG
GOTHIC
GALILEA, SEGUNDO
FICHTE, JOHANN GOTTLIEB
GRACE
GALLICAN ARTICLES
FICINO, MARSILIO
GRAMSCI, ANTONIO
GALLICANISM
FIDEISM
GRANADA, LUIS DE
GALUT
GRATIAN
GAMALIEL
GRAVISSIMUM ­EDUCATIONIS
GANDHI, MOHANDAS K.
GREAT AWAKENING(S)
(­EURO-AMERICAN
­RELIGIOUS ­HISTORY)
FERNÁNDEZ DE ­SOTOMAYOR,
JUAN
FIDES FIdUCIALIS
FIDES QUA/FIDES QUAE
­CREDITUR
FIELD, RACHEL
FILIAL PIETY
FILIOQUE
FUNDAMENTALISM (ATTITUDE)
GERSON, JOHN
GOPI
GOSPELS (TEXTS)
GANESHA
GARDEN OF EDEN
GATHAS
GRECO-ROMAN RELIGION
GREED
FINITUDE
GAUDIUM ET SPES
FIQH
GAYATRI
FIVE PILLARS (IN ISLAM)
GAY THEOLOGY
FLESH/SARX
GEBARA, IVONE
GREGORIAN CHANT
FLORENCE-FERRARA-BASLE
(COUNCILS OF)
GEFFRÉ, CLAUDE
GREGORIAN REFORMS
GEHENNA
GREGORY I THE GREAT, POPE
FLORISTÁN, CASIANO
GELASIUS I OF ROME
GREGORY NAZIANZUS
FORGIVENESS
Gemara
GREGORY OF NYSSA
FORMATION
Gemilut Hasadim
GREGORY OF TOURS
FORM CRITICISM
GENDER
GREGORY PALAMAS
FORNET-BETANCOURT, RAÚL
GENEALOGY
GREGORY THAUMATURGUS
FORTITUDE
GENEALOGY OF JESUS
GREGORY VII, POPE
FOUCAULT, MICHEL
GENTILES
GRIFFITHS, BEDE
GREEK CATHOLIC CHURCH
GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH
List of Entries xvii
GROTIUS, HUGO
HÄRING, BERNARD
HILDEGARD OF BINGEN
GROUND PAINTING
(IN AFRICAN AND
AFRO-LATIN RELIGIONS)
HARNACK, ADOLF VON
HILLEL
HARTSHORNE, CHARLES
HINAYANA
HASIDISM
HINCMAR OF REIMS
HASMONEANS
HINDUISM
HAVDALAH
HIPPOLYTUS OF ROME
HAYES, DIANA L.
HISPANIC
HEAVEN
HISTORICAL CONSCIOUSNESS
HEBREW (LANGUAGE)
HISTORICAL CRITICISM
GROUND PAINTING (IN NATIVE
AMERICAN TRADITIONS)
GUADALUPE, VIRGIN OF
GUARDIAN ANGELS
GUARDIAN SPIRIT
GUARDINI, ROMANO
GUILT
GUNA
GUNKEL, HERMANN
GURU
GUSTAFSON, JAMES M.
GUTIéRREZ, GUSTAVO
HABERMAS, JÜRGEN
HABIT (CLOTHING)
HABIT (ETHICAL)
HADES
HADITH
HAFTARAH
HAGGADAH
HAGIOGRAPHY
haight, roger
HEBREW SCRIPTURES
HEBREW SCRIPTURES, BOOKS
AND THE CANON OF
HECKER, ISAAC
HEGEL, G.W.F.
HEGESIPPUS
HISTORICAL JESUS
HISTORICAL THEOLOGY
HISTORY
HISTORY OF RELIGIONS
HIZBULLAH
HEIDEGGER, MARTIN
HOBBES, THOMAS
HEILSGESCHICHTE
HOLINESS
HELL
HOLINESS/SANCTITY
(in christianity)
HELLENISM/HELLENISTIC
HELOISE
HELVETIC CONFESSIONS
HENGEL, MARTIN
henotheism
HENOTICON, THE
HERDER, JOHANN G.
HERESIARCH
HOLINESS/SANCTITY
(IN JUDAISM)
HOLLENBACH, DAVID
HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION
HOLY LAND
Holy Office
HOLY OF HOLIES
HOLY PEOPLE
HAIL MARY
HERESY
HAJJ
HERETIC/HERETICAL
HAKO
HERMAS
HAL
HERMENEUTICAL CIRCLE
HALAKHAH
Hermeneutical ­Suspicion
HALEVI, SOLOMON
HERMENEUTICS
HALLEL PSALMS
HERMETIC BOOKS
HAMAS
HERMIT (in christianity)
HAMATSA
HEROD
HAMETZ
HERODIANS
HANAFITE
HESCHEL, ABRAHAM JOSHUA
HANBALITE
HESIOD
HANDSOME LAKE
HESYCHASM
HAN FEI TZU
HETERODOX/heterodoxy
homosexuality in
non-christian religions
HANIF
HETERONOMY
HONEN
HANNAH
HEURISTIC
HONORIUS I OF ROME
HANUKKAH
HIERARCHY OF TRUTHS
HOOKER, RICHARD
HANUMAN
HIEROPHANY
HOPE (in christianity)
HAPPINESS
HIGH CHURCH/LOW CHURCH
HORMISDAS
HARAE
HIGH GOD/SUPREME GOD
HOSIUS OF CORDOVA
HARAM
HIGH PRIEST (IN JUDAISM)
HOST
HARE KRISHNA MOVEMENT
HIJRA (IN ISLAM)
HOZHO
HARI‑HARA
HILARY OF POITIERS
HROSWITHA
Holy See
HOLY SPIRIT
HOLY WATER
HOLY WEEK
HOMA
HOMER
HOMILY
HOMOIOUSIOS TO PATRI
HOMOOUSIOS TO PATRI
HOMOPHOBIA
homosexuality
(christian perspectives)
xviii List of Entries
HSIEN
IMAM (THE HIDDEN IMAM)
INTINCTION
HSIN
INVESTITURE CONTROVERSY
HSI WANG-MU
IMITATION OF CHRIST
(BOOK, CONCEPT)
HSUN-TZU
immaculate conception
IRENAEUS OF LYONS
HUA-YEN BUDDHIST SCHOOL
IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY
Isaac
HUGH OF ST. VICTOR
IMMANENCE
ISAIAH
HUGUENOTS
IMMANUEL
ISASI-DíAZ, ADA MARíA
human being
IMMERSION
ISE
human rights
IMMORTALITY
ISHTA-DEVATA
HUMANAE VITAE
IMMORTALS, THE
ISHVARA
HUMANI GENERIS
IMMUTABILITY
ISIDORE OF SEVILLE
HUMANISM
IMPASSABILITY
ISKCON
HUME, DAVID
IMPRIMATUR
ISLAM
HUMILITY (in christianity)
IMPUTATION
HUN
INCARNATION
ISLAMIC RADICALISM
(­FUNDAMENTALISM)
HUS, JOHN
INCENSE
ISMA<ILIS (SEVENERS)
HUSAYN
INCULTURATION
ISRAEL
husserl, edmund
INDEX OF FORBIDDEN BOOKS
ISRAEL, STATE OF
HUSSITES
INDIFFERENTISM
IVO OF CHARTRES
HYBRIS (OR HUBRIS)
INDIGENOUS religious
TRADITIONS
IZANAGI
HYLOMORPHISM
HYMNAL
HYPERDULIA
HYPOSTASIS
HYPOSTATIC UNION
IAMBLICHUS
IBADAT
IBLIS
I-CHING
ICON
ICONOCLASTIC CONTROVERSY
ICONOCLASTS
ICONODULES
ICONOGRAPHY
ICONOSTASIS
IDEALISM, CLASSICAL GERMAN
IDEOLOGY (IDEOLOGIES)
IDOLATRY
IGNATIUS LOYOLA
IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCH
IHRAM/MUHRIM
IJMA
IJTIHaD
ILDEFONSUS OF TOLEDO
IMAGES, VENERATION OF
IPSISSIMA VERBA IESU
IZANAMI
INDISSOLUBILITY
INDRA
JACA, FRANCISCO JOSÉ DE
INDULGENCE
Jacob
Indult
JACOBITE CATHOLIC CHURCH
INERRANCY
JADE EMPEROR
INFALLIBILITY
JAFARI
INFANCY NARRATIVES
JAHILIYYA
INFANT BAPTISM
JAINISM
INFIDELS
JAMES, WILLIAM
INFINITE
JANSEN, CORNELIUS
INFRALAPSARIANISM
JANSENISM
INITIATION (NON-CHRISTIAN)
JAPA
INITIATION
(RITES OF CHRISTIAN)
JASPERS, KARL
INNOCENT I, POPE
INNOCENT III, POPE
INQUISITION
INSPIRATION
INSTITUTES OF THE CHRISTIAN
RELIGION
INSTRUCTION (DOCUMENT)
INTEGRALISM
INTERCESSION
INTERCOMMUNION
intercultural thought
Jassy, Synod of
JATAKA
JATI
JEHOVAH
JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES
JEN
JEREMIAH
JEREMIAS, JOACHIM
JEROME
JERUSALEM (FOR CHRISTIANS)
Jerusalem (For Jews)
INTERDICT
JERUSALEM (FOR MUSLIMS)
IMAGES, WORSHIP OF
INTER MIRIFICA
Jerusalem, Synod of
IMAGO DEI/IMAGE OF GOD
INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR
KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS
JESUS (AS PROPHET OF ISLAM)
IMAM
JESUS OF HISTORY
List of Entries xix
JEWISH AGENCY, THE
JÜNGEL, EBERHARD
KHARIJITES
JEWISH RENEWAL MOVEMENT
JUNGMANN, JOSEF ANDREAS
KIBLA
JIHAD
JUST
KIDDUSH
JIMÉNEZ DE CISNEROS,
­FRANCISCO
JUSTICE
KIERKEGAARD, SØREN
JUSTICE IN THE WORLD
KING, MARTIN LUTHER, JR.
JINA
JUSTIFICATION
KITTEL, GERHARD
JINN
JUSTINIAN
KITTEL, RUDOLF
JIVA
JUSTIN MARTYR
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
JIZO
JUST WAR THEORY
KNITTER, PAUL F.
JnANA
KNOX, JOHN
JnANA-YOGA
KA<BA/KAABA
KOAN
JOACHIM OF FIORE
KABBALAH
KOBO DAISHI
joan of arc
KABBALAT SHABBAT
KOHANIM
JOAN (STORY OF THE POPESS)
KACHINAS
KOHEN
JOCHANAN BEN ZAKKAI
KADDISH
KOINE–GREEK
JODO SHIN SHU
KAFIR
KOINONIA
JODO SHU
KAGURA
KOJIKI
JOHANNINE CORPUS
KÄHLER, MARTIN
JOHN (JUAN) OF AVILA
KOKORO
KAIROS
JOHN CHRYSOSTOM
KORAN
KALAM
JOHN CLIMACUS
KOTEL HAMA<ARAVI
KALI
JOHN DAMASCENE
KOYAMA, KOSUKE
KALPA
JOHN OF DAMASCUS
KAMA
KRISHNA
JohN OF THE CROSS
KAMAKURA PERIOD
JOHN PAUL II, POPE
KAMI
JOHNSON, ELIZABETH A.
KAMIDANA
JOHNSON, SAMUEL
kannon
JOHN THE BAPTIST
KANT, IMMANUEL
JOHN THE EVANGELIST
KARAITES
JOHN XII, POPE
KARBALA
JOHN XXII, POPE
KARMA
JOHN XXIII, POPE
KARMA-YOGA
JOSEPHINISM
KARUNA
JOSEPHUS (FLAVIUS)
KÄSEMANN, ERNST
JOY
KASHRUT
JUAN DE SANTO TOMÁS
KASPER, WALTER
JUBILEES, BOOK OF
KEBLE, JOHN
JUBILEE YEARS
(in christianity)
KEDUSHAH
LAKSHMI
KENOSIS
JUBILEE YEARS (in judaism)
LAMA
KENRICK, FRANCIS P.
JUDAH
LAMB (IN CHRISTIANITY)
KEPAH
JUDAH HALEVI
LAMB (IN JUDAISM)
KERI<AH
LAMBETH CONFERENCES
JUDAH HANASI
KERIAT HATORAH
LAMBETH QUADRILATERAL
JUDAISM
KERULLARIOS, MICHAEL
JUDAIZERS
KERYGMA
LAMENNAIS, FÉLICITÉ ROBERT
DE
JUDAS
KERYGMATIC THEOLOGY
LANFRANC
JULIAN OF NORWICH
KETUBAH
LANKAVATARA SUTRA
JULIAN THE APOSTATE
KETUBAH KIDDUSHIN
LAO-TZU
JUNG, CARL GUSTAV
KHADIJA
LAPSED
KRISHNAMURTI, JIDDU
KSHATRIYA
KUAN-YIN
KUEI
KULTURKAMPF
KUNDALINI
KÜNG, HANS
Laborem Excercens
LACORDAIRE, JEAN-BAPTISTE
HENRI DOMINIQUE
LACTANTIUS
LADINO
LAiNEZ, DIEGO
LAITY
xx List of Entries
LAPSI
LIBERAL THEOLOGY
LUTHERANISM
LAS CASAS, BARTOLOMÉ DE
Liberation Theologies
LUTHERAN THEOLOGY
LAST JUDGMENT
(IN CHRISTIANITY)
LIBERIUS OF ROME
LYONS, COUNCILS OF
LAST JUDGMENT (IN JUDAISM)
LIFE
MA<ARIV
LAST SUPPER
LILA
MAASAWU
LATERAN (COUNCILS OF THE)
LIMBO
MACCABEES
LATERAN (TREATY OF THE)
LIMINAL/LIMINALITY
MACHZOR
LATIMER, HUGH
LINDBECK, GEORGE A.
MACRINA
LATIN AMERICAN
­CATHOLICISM
LINGA
MACUMBA
LATIN AMERICAN
­PROTESTANTISM
LINGAYAT
MADHVA
LINGUISTIC ANALYSIS
LITANY
MADHYAMAKA/MADHYAMIKA
SCHOOL
LITERALISM
MADRASAH/MADRASA
LITERARY CRITICISM
MADURO, OTTO
LITURGICAL MOVEMENT
MAGI
LITURGICAL YEAR
magic
LITURGY (IN CHRISTIANITY)
MAGISTERIUM,
­EXTRAORDINARY
Latin American
­Theologies
LATINO/A
LATINO CATHOLICISM
LATINO PROTESTANTISM
LATINO THEOLOGY (-IES)
LATOURELLE, RENÉ
LATRIA
LAUD, WILLIAM
LAWS OF MANU
LAYING ON OF HANDS
LAY MINISTRY
LAYNEZ, JAMES or DIEGO
LEAH
li-ching
LITURGY (IN JUDAISM)
LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST
LITURGY OF THE HOURS
LITURGY OF THE WORD
LLULL, RAMÓN
Local Church
LOCKE, JOHN
LOCUS THEOLOGICUS
MAGISTERIUM, MINISTRY OF
THE
MAGISTERIUM, ORDINARY
MAHABHARATA
MAHARISHI MAHESH YOGI
MAHAVARA
MAHAVIRA
MAHAYANA buddhism
LEANDER OF SEVILLE
LOGOS (PATRISTIC TIMES)
LEAVENED BREAD
LOGOS SPERMATIKOS
LECTIO DIVINA
LOGOS/WORD
LECTIONARY
Lohan
LECTOR
LOISY, ALFRED
LEFÈVRE D’ÉTAPLES, JACQUES
LOLLARDS
MAJOR ARCHBISHOP
LEGALISM (chinese)
LONERGAN, BERNARD
MAKOTO
LEGALISM (judeo-christian)
LORD/LORDSHIP
MALABAR CATHOLIC CHURCH
LEGION OF MARY
LORD’S PRAYER
LEIBNIZ, GOTTFRIED ­WILHELM
LORD’S SUPPER
MALANKARESE CATHOLIC
CHURCH
LEKHAH DODI
LOSSKY, VLADIMIR
MALCOLM X
LENT
LOTUS SUTRA
MALDONADO, JUAN
LEO, TOME OF
LOVE (IN GENERAL)
MALIKITE
LEO I THE GREAT, POPE
LUCIFER
mana
LEO XIII, POPE
LUCKMANN, THOMAS
MANDAENISM
LEVINAS, EMMANUEL
LUKE/LUKAN
MANDALA
LEVIte
lukumi
MANDATE OF HEAVEN
LÉVI-STRAUSS, CLAUDE
LULAV
MANICHAEISM
LÉVY-BRUHL, LUCIEN
LUMEN GENTIUM
MANITOS
LEX ORANDI, LEX CREDENDI
LUNAR CALENDAR
MANJUSHRI
LI
LURIA, ISAAC BEN ­SOLOMON
ASHKENAZI
MANNA
LIBÂNIO, JOÃO BATISTA
LIBERAL CATHOLIC CHURCH
LUTHER, MARTIN
MANTRA
MAHDI
MAHEO
MAHESH YOGI, MAHARISHI
MAIMONIDES
MAITREYA
MANNHEIM, KARL
List of Entries xxi
MANU, LAWS OF
MAZEL TOV
MIGNE, JACQUES PAUL
MANU SMRITI
MBITI, JOHN S.
MIGUEZ BONINO, JOSÉ
MANUALS, THEOLOGY OF THE
McCORMICK, RICHARD A.
MIHRAB
MANUSCRIPT
McFAGUE, SALLIE
MIKI NAKAYAMA
MAPPO
McNEILL, JOHN J.
MIKVEH
MARA
MECCA/makkah
MILAN, EDICT OF
MARCEL, GABRIEL
Medellín Documents
MILAREPA
MARCELLA
MEDIATOR (in christianity)
MILITARY ORDERS
MARCELLINUS OF ROME
MEDICINE
MILLENARIANISM
MARCELLUS I OF ROME
MIMAMSA
MARCELLUS OF ANCYRA
MEDIEVAL CHRISTIANITY
(IN THE WEST)
MARCIONISM
MEDIEVAL CHURCH
MINBAR
MARCION OF PONTUS
MEDINA
MINCHAH
MARECHAL, JOSEPH
MEDINAT YISRAEL
MINDFULNESS
MARGA
MEDITATION (christian)
MINHAG
MARIANA, JUAN DE
medium
MINISTRY/MINISTERIAL
MARIAN DEVOTIONS
MEGILLAH
MINJUNG THEOLOGY
MARIATEGUI, JOSE CARLOS
MELANCHTHON, PHILIP
Minor Orders
MARIOLOGY
MELAND, BERNARD E.
MINYAN
MARITAIN, JACQUES
MELKITE CATHOLIC CHURCH
MIRABAI
MARK/MARKAN
MENCIUS
MIRACLE
mark of the church
MENDELSSOHN, MOSES
MIRAJ/MI<RAJ
MARONITE CATHOLIC CHURCH
MENDICANTS
MIRIAM
MARRIAGE (IN JUDAISM)
MENNONITES
MISHNAH
MARRIAGE IN Catholic
­PERSPECTIVE
MENORAH
MISHNEH TORAH
MERCY
MISSAL
MARSIGLIO OF PADUA
MERICI, ANGELA
MISSIOLOGY
MARTIN OF TOURS
MERIT
MARTY, MARTIN E.
MISSION (IN JUDAISM)
MERIT (PUNYA)
MARTYR/MARTYRDOM
MISSIONARIES
MERLEAU-PONTY, MAURICE
MARTYROLOGY
MISSION OF THE CHURCH
MERTON, THOMAS
Marx, Karl
MISSIONS
MESSIAH (IN JUDAISM)
Marxism
MISSISSIPPIAN CULTURE
MESSIANIC JUDAISM
MARXSEN, WILLI
MITHRA
MESSIANIC MOVEMENTS
MARYKNOLL
MITHRAISM
MESSIANIC SECRET (IN MARK)
MITZVAH
MARY MAGDALEN
MESTIZAJE
MODALISM
MARY OF NAZARETH
MESTIZO/A
MODERNISM
MASKS/FALSE FACES
METANOIA
MODERNITY
MASS
METEMPSYCHOSIS
MOGILA, PETER
MASS MEDIA
METHOD IN THEOLOGY
MOHISM
MATER ET MAGISTRA
METHODIST CHURCHES
MOIRANS, EPIFANIO DE
MATERIALISM
METHODIST THEOLOGY
MOKSHA
ma-tsu
METHOD OF CORRELATION
MOLINA, LUIS DE
MATSURI
METROPOLITAN
MOLINOS, MIGUEL DE
MATTHEW/MATTHEAN
METZ, JOHANN
MOLTMANN, JÜRGEN
MATZAH
MEZUZAH
MONARCHIANISM
MAXIMUS THE CONFESSOR
MIDEWIWIN
MONASTERY
MAYA
MIDRASH
maya traditional religion
MIDWINTER CEREMONY
MONASTICISM
(OUTSIDE CHRISTIANITY)
MINARET
xxii List of Entries
MONASTICISM IN EASTERN
CHRISTIANITY
MUFTI
NEO-CONFUCIANISM
MUHAMMAD
NEO-ORTHODOX THEOLOGY
monasticism in western
christianity
MUHARRAM
NEOPHYTE (in christianity)
MUJADDID
NEOPLATONISM
Mujerista Theology
NEO-SCHOLASTICISM
MUJTAHID
NER TAMID
MULATAJE
NESTLE, EBEHARD
mulatez
NESTORIANISM
MULATO/A
NESTORIUS
MULLAH
NEUSNER, J.
muratorian canon
NEW AGE MOVEMENT
MURJI<AH
NEW ISRAEL
MURRAY, JOHN COURTNEY
NEWMAN, JOHN HENRY
MUSAF
NEW RELIGIONS
MUSHIN
NEW TESTAMENT
MUSLIM
NEW TESTAMENT CANON
MONSTRANCE
MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD
NEW TESTAMENT LETTERS
MONTALEMBERT, CHARLES
RENÉ
mu<tazilites
NICAEA, FIRST COUNCIL OF
MYSTAGOGY
NICAEA, SECOND COUNCIL OF
MONTANISM
MYSTERY
NICENE CREED
MONTANUS
MYSTERY RELIGIONS
NICHIREN
MONTECASSINO, ABBEY OF
MYSTICAL BODY OF CHRIST
NICHOLAS OF CUSA
MONTESINOS, ANTONIO
MYSTICISM/MYSTICS
(IN CHRISTIANITY)
NIEBUHR, H. RICHARD
MYSTICISM/MYSTICS
(IN JUDAISM)
NIETZSCHE, FRIEDRICH
MYSTICISM/MYSTICS
(IN WORLD RELIGIONS)
NIHILISM
MONICA
MONOGAMY
MONOGENESIS
MONOGENISM
MONOLATRY
MONO-NO-AWARE
MONOPHYSITISM
MONOTHEISM
(IN CHRISTIANITY AND
ISLAM)
MONOTHEISM (In Judaism)
MONOTHELITISM
MONSIGNOR
MONTSERRAT, MONASTERY OF
MONTSERRAT, VIRGIN OF
MORAL THEOLOGY/­
CHRISTIAN ETHICS
MORE, THOMAS
MORMON, BOOK OF
MORMONS
myth
NIEBUHR, REINHOLD
NIGHT CHANT
NIHIL OBSTAT
NIHONGI
NABI (IN ISLAM)
NIMAN KACHINA
NAFS
NINETY-FIVE THESES
NAGARJUNA
NIRGUNA BRAHMAN
MOSES
NAG HAMMADI
NIRVANA
MOSES BEN MAIMON
NOBLE EIGHTFOLD PATH
MOSES DE LEON
NAHUA TRADITIONAL
­RELIGION
MOSES THE BLACK
NAKA IMA
NOMINALISM
MOSLEM
NAME/NAMING (IN ISRAEL)
MOSQUE/MASJID
NAMES OF GOD (IN JUDAISM)
NON-CHALCEDONIAN
CHURCHES
MOTHER EARTH
NANABOZHO
NONDUALISM/NONDUALISTIC
MOTHER OF GOD/THEOTOKOS
nanak
NORITO
Motu Proprio
NARRATIVE CRITICISM
mo-tzu
NARRATIVE THEOLOGY
NORMATIVE
(in christianity)
MOUNT ATHOS
NATARAJA
NORTHERN BUDDHISM
MOURNING IN JUDAISM
NATION OF ISLAM
NOSTRA AETATE
MOZARABIC CHURCH AND
RITE
NATIVE AMERICAN CHURCH
NOTES OF THE CHURCH
NATURALISM
NOTH, MARTIN
MUDRA
NATURAL LAW
NOVATIANISM
MUENZER, THOMAS
NATURE, HUMAN
NOVATIAN OF ROME
MUEZZIN/MU<ADHDIN
NEMBUTSU
NOVENA
MORNING STAR
MORTIFICATION
NOMBRE DE DIOS MISSION
List of Entries xxiii
NOVICE
ORIGINAL JUSTICE
PASSION NARRATIVES
NOVITIATE
ORISHA
PASSOVER
numinous
ORTEGA Y GASSET, JOSÉ
PASTOR
NUN
ORTHODOX CHURCHES
PASTOR AETERNUS
NUNCIO
ORTHODOX CONFESSION
PASTORAL
NYGREN, ANDERS
ORTHODOX JUDAISM
Pastoral Letter
ORTHODOX THEOLOGY
PASTORAL THEOLOGY
PATANJALI
OBEDIENTIAL POTENCY
orthodoxy
(in christianity)
OCHINO, BERNARDINO
ORTHODOXY, THE FEAST OF
PATRIARCH
OCKHAM, WILLIAM OF
ORTHOLALIA
Patriarchy
OCTAVE, LITURGICAL
ORTHOPRAXIS
PATRIPASSIANISM
OCTOGESIMA ADVENIENS
osama bin laden
PATRISTICS/PATROLOGY
ODES OF SOLOMON
OTTO, RUDOLF
PAUL
ODO OF CLUNY
OTTOMAN
PAULA OF ROME
oduyoye, mercy amba
OUSIA
PAULINE CORPUS
OFFERTORY
OXFORD MOVEMENT
PAULINE PRIVILEGE
OBEDIENCE
OHRMAZD
PATH
PAULINE THEOLOGY
OLD CATHOLICS
PACEM IN TERRIS
PAULINUS OF NOLA
OLD TESTAMENT
PACHOMIUS
PAULIST FATHERS
OLÓDÙMARÈ
PACIFISM
PAUL OF SAMOSATA
OM
PAGANISM/PAGANS
PAUL VI, pope
OMAR
PAHO
PAX CHRISTI
OMEN
PALI
PEACE
OMNIBENEVOLENCE
PALI CANON
PÉGUY, CHARLES
OMNIPOTENCE
PALIMPSEST
PELAGIANISM
OMNIPRESENCE
PALO MAYOMBE
PELAGIUS
OMNISCIENCE
PANENTHEISM
PELAGIUS I OF ROME
ONTOLOGICAL ARGUMENT
PANIKKAR, RAIMUNDO
PELIKAN, JAROSLAV
Option for the Poor
PANNENBERG, WOLFHART
OPUS DEI (INSTITUTION)
pantheism
PEÑAFORT (or PENYAFORT),
RAMÓN DE
oracle
PAPACY/PAPAL
PENITENTIALS
ORAIBI
PAPYRUS
PENTATEUCH
ORANGE, COUNCILS OF
PARABLE
PENTECOST (IN CHRISTIANITY)
ORATORY/ORATORIANS
PARACLETE
PENTECOSTALISM
ORDAINED MINISTRIES,
­SACRAMENT OF
PARADISE (IN JUDAISM)
PARADOSIS
PENTHEKTE COUNCIL,
OR SYNOD
PEOPLE OF GOD
ORDER OF CHRISTIAN
­INITIATION OF ADULTS
PARAMITA
ORDERS, RELIGIOUS
PARINIRVANA
ORDINARY (caNONICAL)
PARISH
ORDINARY, LITURGICAL
PARITTA
ORDINATION
PARKER, MATTHEW
ORENDA
PAROUSIA
ORICHA
PARVATI
ORIENTAL CHURCHES
PASCAL, BLAISE
ORIENTALIUM ­ECCLESIARUM
PASCHAL
ORIGEN
PASCHAL CANDLE
PERSECUTION
(IN CHRISTIANITY)
ORIGENISM
PASCHAL MYSTERY
person
PARENESIS
PEOPLE OF THE BOOK
PERFECTAE CARITATIS
PERFECTION
PERFECTION OF WISDOM
SUTRAS
PERICHORESIS
PERICOPE
PERPETUA
PERRIN, NORMAN
xxiv List of Entries
PERSONALISM
PNEUMA
PREDESTINATION (IN ISLAM)
PERSON/PROSOPON
PNEUMATOLOGY
PREFECTURE, APOSTOLIC
PERUSHIM
PNEUMATOMACHIANS
PREJUDICE
PESACH
P’O
PRELATE
PESHITTA
POIESIS
PRELATURE
PETER
PRESBYTERAL COUNCIL
PETER CHRYSOLOGUS
POLISH NATIONAL ­CATHOLIC
CHURCH
PETER DAMIAN
POLITICAL THEOLOGY (-IES)
PRESBYTERIAN THEOLOGY
PETER LOMBARD
POLITICS
PRESBYTERORUM ORDINIS
PETER MARTYR (REFORMER)
POLYCARP OF SMYRNA
PETER OF ALCÁNTARA
POLYGENESIS
PRESBYTEROS (IN THE NEW
TESTAMENT)
PETER OF SPAIN
POLYTHEISM
PRETERNATURAL GIFTS
PETER THE CHANTER
PONTIFF
PRIESTHOOD
petrine ministry
PONTIFICAL
PRIEST IN JUDAISM
PETRINE PRIVILEGE
PONTIFICAL UNIVERSITY
PRIESTLY SOURCE
PEYOTE
PONTIUS PILATE
primacy
phan, peter c.
POPE
primal religions
PHARAOH
POPULAR CATHOLICISM
PRIMATE/PRIMATIAL SEE
PHARISEES
POPULAR RELIGIONS
primitive religions
PHELPS, JAMIE T.
POPULAR RELIGIOSITY
PRISCILLIANISM
PHENOMENOLOGY
POPULORUM PROGRESSIO
PRISCILLIAN OF AVILA
PHILARET, DROZDOV
PORPHYRY
PRIVATIZATION OF RELIGION
PHILARET, THEODORE
­NIKITICH ROMANOV
positive theology
PROBABILIORISM
POSITIVISM
PROBABILISM
PHILO OF ALEXANDRIA
POSSESSION
PROCESSIONS (DEVOTIONAL)
PHILOSOPHICAL THEOLOGY
postcolonianism
PROCESS THEOLOGY
PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION
POSTLAPSARIANISM
PROFESSED
POSTMODERNITY
PROFESSION OF FAITH
POTLATCH
PROLEPSIS/PROLEPTIC
POVERTY
PROMISE
POVERTY (RELIGIOUS VOW)
PROPHECY
PRABHUPADA
PROPHET DANCE
PRACTICAL THEOLOGY
PROPHETIC BOOKS (IN THE
OLD TESTAMENT)
PHOTIUS OF CONSTANTINOPLE
PHYSIS
PICO DELLA MIRANDOLA,
GIOVANNI
PIDYON HABEN
PIETISM
PIETY
PILATE, PONTIUS
PILGRIMAGE
PILLARS OF ISLAM
PIR
PIRKE AVOT
PISA, COUNCIL OF
PIUS V, pope
PIUS IX, POPE
PIUS X, POPE
PIUS XI, POPE
PIUS XII, POPE
PLATO
PLATONISM
PLOTINUS
PLURALISM
PRAGMATISM
PRAJnA
PRAJnAPARAMITA LITERATURE
PRAKRIT
PRAKRITI
PRANA
PRASADA
PRATITYASAMUTPADA
PRATYEKABUDDHA
PRAXIS
PRAYER
PREACHING (in catholicism)
PRECEPTS (BUDDHIST)
PREDESTINATIONISM
(caLVINIST)
PREDESTINATION
(IN CHRISTIANITY)
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES
PROPHETISM (IN WORLD
­RELIGIONS)
Prophets (in Christianity)
PROPHETS/NEVI<IM
(IN ISRAEL)
PROPITIATION
PROPORTIONALISM
PROSELYTISM
PROSPER OF AQUITAINE
PROTESTANTISM/­PROTESTANT
PROVIDENCE
PROVINCE
PRUDENCE
PRUDENTIUS
PRZYWARA, ERICH
PSALM(S)/PSALTER
List of Entries xxv
PSALTER (CHRISTIAN)
RAMAYANA
PSEUDO-DIONYSIUS
RAMOS, SAMUEL
REPENTANCE (IN CHRISTIAN
PERSPECTIVE)
PSYCHOLOGY OF RELIGION
RAMSEY, ARTHUR MICHAEL
REPENTANCE (IN JUDAISM)
PUBLICAN
RAMSEY, PAUL
RERUM NOVARUM
Puebla Document
RANKE, LEOPOLD VON
RESPONSA LITERATURE
PUJA
RAPTURE (IN AMERICAN
­PROTESTANTISM)
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
PULCHERIA
PULPIT
PURANA
PURDAH
PURE LAND BUDDHISM
PURGATORY
PURIM
PURITANISM
PURUSHA
PUSEY, EDWARD BOUVERIE
QI
qibla
QIYAS
Q SOURCE
QUADRAGESIMO ANNO
QUADRILATERAL
(IN METHODIST/WESLEYAN
THEOLOGY)
RASHI (R. SHLOMO BEN
YITZCHAK)
RAS SHAMRA TABLETS
RASUL
RATIONALISM
RATZINGER, JOSEPH
RAUSCHENBUSCH, WALTER
RAV
RAVANA
rcia
REAL PRESENCE
REBBE
REBECCA
RECEPTION OF DOCTRINE
RECONCILIATION
RECONCILIATION, SACRAMENT
OF
RECONSTRUCTIONIST ­JUDAISM
QUAKERS
RECTIFICATION OF NAMES
QUALIFIED NONDUALISM
RECTOR
QUIETISM
RECTORY
QUIMBANDA
REDACTION CRITICISM
QUIÑONES, FRANCISCO DE
Redemption, Christian
QUIROGA, VASCO DE
REFORMATION
QUMRAN
REFORMED CHURCHES
QUR<AN
REFORMED THEOLOGY (-IES)
QURAYSH
REFORM JUDAISM
REFUGE, THREEFOLD
RESURRECTION
(IN CHRISTIANITY)
RESURRECTION (IN JUDAISM)
RESURRECTION (OUTSIDE
JUDEO-CHRISTIAN
­TRADITIONS)
Resurrection of Christ
RESURRECTION OF THE BODY
REVELATION
REVELATION (IN BAHA<I)
REVELATION (IN CHRISTIAN
PERSPECTIVE)
REVELATION (IN ISLAM)
REVELATION (IN JUDAISM)
REVELATION (IN OTHER
­RELIGIONS)
REVIVALISM
RHETORIC
RIBEIRO DE OLIVEIRA, PEDRO
RICCI, MATTEO
RICOEUR, PAUL
RIGHTEOUS GENTILES
RIGHTEOUSNESS (IN
­CHRIS­TIAN PERSPECTIVE)
RIGHTEOUSNESS (IN JUDAISM)
RIGORISM
RIG VEDA
RINZAI
RIPALDA, JUAN MARTÍNEZ DE
RISHI
RABANUS MAURUS
REGULA FIDEI
RABBI
REIGN OF GOD
RABBINIC JUDAISM
REINCARNATION
RITES OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION
(RCIA)
RACHEL
RELIC (IN CHRISTIANITY)
RITSCHL, ALBRECHT
RACISM
RELIC (OUTSIDE CHRISTIANITY)
ritual
RADHA
RELIGION
ROBINSON, J.A.T.
RADHAKRISHNAN,
­SARVEPALLI
RELIGION, CRITIQUE OF
ROEST CROlLIUS, ARIJ
RELIGION, FREEDOM OF
ROHATSU
RAHNER, KARL
RELIGION, THEORIES OF
ROIG, ARTURO ANDRÉS
RAJA-YOGA
RELIGIOUS (VOWED)
roman catholic church
RAMA
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
ROMANESQUE
RAMADAN
RELIGIOUS STUDIES
ROMANTICISM
RAMAKRISHNA, SRI
RENAISSANCE
rome, see of
RAMANA MAHARSHI
RENEWAL MOVEMENT
romero, oscar arnulfo
RAMANUJA
REPARATION
ROSARY
RITA
xxvi List of Entries
ROSCÍO, JUAN GERMÁN
SAMSARA
SCHLEIERMACHER, ­FRIEDRICH
ROSH HASHANAH
SAMSKARA (dispositions)
SCHMAUS, MICHAEL
ROSH HODESH
SAMSKARA (rituals)
schmemann, alexander
ROSHI
SAMSON RAPHAEL HIRSCH
SCHNACKENBURG, RUDOLF
ROY, RAM MOHAN
SAMURAI
SCHNEIDERS, SANDRA
RUAH
SANCTIFICATION
(IN CHRIS­TIANITY)
SCHOLASTICISM
SANCTIFICATION (IN JUDAISM)
SCHREITER, ROBERT
RUFINUS OF AQUILEIA
SANCTUARY (PLACE)
RUH
SANCTUARY MOVEMENT
SCHÜSSLER FIORENZA,
­ELISABETH
RULE (MONASTIC/RELIGIOUS)
SANDOVAL, ALONSO DE
SCHWEITZER, ALBERT
RULE OF FAITH
SANGHA
SCHWEIZER, EDUARD
RUMI, JALAL AL-DIN
SANHEDRIN
SCIENCE, AUTONOMY OF
RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH
SANKHYA
science and theology
RUTHENIAN CATHOLIC
CHURCH
SAN MIGUEL DE GUADALUPE
SCIENTOLOGY, CHURCH OF
SANNYASA
SCOTTUS ERIUGENA, JOHN
RUYSBROECK (RUUSBROEC),
JAN VAN
SANNYASI
SCRIPTURES (GENERIC)
SANNYASIN
SCRUPLES
SANSKRIT
SCRUPULOSITY
SANTERÍA
SCRUTINY
SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA
SEABURY, SAMUEL
SANTIDEVA/SHANTIDEVA
SEAL OF CONFESSION
Santo Domingo Document
SECULAR CLERGY
SANZEN
SECULAR INSTITUTES
SARAH
SECULARISM
SARASVATI
SARTRE, JEAN PAUL
secularization/­secular/
secularized
SARVASTIVADIN SCHOOL
SEDER
SATAN
SEE
SAT-CHIT-ANANDA
SEFER TORAH
SATI
SEFIRAT HAOMER
SATISFACTION
segovia, fernando f.
SATORI
SEGUNDO, JUAN LUIS
saturnalia
SEMANTICS
SATYAGRAHA
SEMI-ARIANISM
SAUL
SEMINARY
SAVITA
SEMIOTICS
SAVONAROLA, GIROLAMO
SEMI-PELAGIANISM
SAWM
SEMITIC
SCANNONE, JUAN CARLOS
SEN, KESHAB CHANDRA
SAINT-CYRAN, ABBOT OF
SCAPULAR
SENSES OF SCRIPTURE
SAINTS (CHRISTIAN),
­DEVOTION TO
SCHEEBEN, MATHIAS ­JOSEPH
SCHELER, MAX
SENSUS FIDELIUM/SENSUS
FIDEI
SALAT
SCHELLING, FRIEDRICH
­WILHELM VON
SEPHARDIM
SALESIANS
SALVATION
SCHILLEBEECKX, EDWARD
SERGEI OF RADONEZH
SAMADHI
SCHISM
SERIPANDO, GIROLAMO
SAMARITANS
SCHISM, GREAT EASTERN
SERMON
SAMA VEDA
SCHISM, GREAT WESTERN
SESSHIN
Ruether, Rosemary
­Radford
RYOBU
SAADYA GAON
SABAOTH
SABATIER, (LOUIS) AUGUSTE
SABBATH (IN CHRISTIANITY)
SABELLIANISM/SABELLIUS
SACCIDANANDA
SACRAMENT
SACRAMENTALS
SACRAMENTAL THEOLOGY
SACRAMENTARY
SACRED HEART OF JESUS
SACRED/SACRAL/SACRALIZED
SACRIFICE
SACRIFICE OF THE MASS
SACRILEGE
SACROSANCTUM ­CONCILIUM
SADDUCEES
SADHANA
SADHU
SAGUNA/SAGUNA ­BRAHMAN
SAINT
SCHOONENBERG, PIET
SEPTUAGINT
List of Entries xxvii
SETON, ELIZABETH ANN
SHRUTI
SOLOMON
SEVENERS (IN ISLAM)
SHUDRA
SOLOMON BEN ISAAC
SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS
SHULCHAN ARUCH
SOMA (drink)
SEVERUS OF ANTIOCH
SHUNYATA/sunya/­shunya
SOMA (greek)
SEXISM
SIBYLLINE ORACLES
SON OF GOD
SEXUALITY
SIDDHA
SON OF MAN
SHABBAT
SIDDUR
SOTERIOLOGY
SHABBATAI TZVI
SIGHTS, FOUR PASSING
SOTO
SHACHARIT
SIGN
SOTO, DOMINGO DE
SHAFI<TE
SIGNS OF THE TIMES
SOUL
SHAHADAH
SIKHISM
SOUL (IN JUDAISM)
SHAIVA
SILA/SHILLA
SOURCE CRITICISM
SHAKTA
SIMEON STYLITES
SOUTHERN BUDDHISM
SHAKTI
SIMHAT TORAH
SPINOZA, BENEDICT (­BARUCH)
SHALOM
SIMONY
SPIRIT
SHAMAN
SIMUL IUSTUS ET ­PECCATOR
SPIRITISM
SHAMMAI
SIN (IN JUDAISM)
SPIRITUAL DIRECTION
SHANG DYNASTY
Sin (Social, Structural)
SPIRITUAL EXERCISES
SHANG-TI
SIN, ORIGINAL
SPIRITUAL FRANCISCANS
SHANKARA
SIN, PERSONAL
SPIRITUALITY
SHANTI
SINAI
SHANTIDEVA
SINS, SEVEN DEADLY
SPIRITUALS, AFRICAN
­AMERICAN
SHARIA/SHARI<A
SITZ IM LEBEN
STANTON, ELIZABETH CADY
SHAVUOT
STARETZ
SHAWNEE PROPHET
SIX SYSTEMS OF HINDU
­PHILOSOPHY
SHAYKH
SKANDHA
STATIONS OF THE CROSS
SHAYTAN
SKHAK
ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA
SHEKINAH
SLAVERY
STEIN, EDITH
SHEMA
SMARTA
STEPHEN I OF ROME
SHEMINI ATZERET
SMITH, WILFRED CANTWELL
STEWARDSHIP
SHEMONAH ESREH
SNAKE-HANDLING
STIGMATA
SHEN
SOBORNOST
STOICISM
SHEOL
SOBRINO, JON
STRUCTURALISM
SHEPHERD OF HERMAS
SOCIAL GOSPEL
SHEVA BERAKHOT
ST. THOMAS CHRISTIANS
Socialism
SHI>A/SHI>I/SHI>ITE/SHI>ISM
STUPA
SOCIALIZATION
SHILA
SUÁREZ, FRANCISCO
Social Justice
SHINGON
SUBLAPSARIANISM
SOCIETY
SHINRAN
SUBORDINATIONISM
SOCIETY OF JESUS
SHINTO
SUBSIDIARITY
SOCINIANISM
SHIRK
SUBSTANCE
SOCINUS, FAUSTO
SHIVA
SUCCAH
SOKA GAKKAI
SHIVAH
SUCCOT
SOLA FIDE
SHLOMO BEN YITZHAK
SUFFERING
SOLA GRATIA
SHOFAR
SOLA SCRIPTURA
SUFFERING SERVANT OF
­YAHWEH
SHOTOKU
SOLESMES, ABBEY OF
SUFFRAGAN BISHOP/­DIOCESE
SHRADDHA
SOLIDARITY
SUFI/sufism
SHRAMANA
SOLIPSISM
SUICIDE
SHRINE
SOLLICITUDO REI SOCIALIS
SUKHAVATI
STAR OF DAVID
xxviii List of Entries
SUKKAH
Tamez, Elsa
THEODORE OF STUDIOS
SUKKOT
TANAK
SULPICIUS SEVERUS
TANG DYNASTY
THEODORET, BISHOP OF
­CYRRHUS
SULTAN
TANTRA
SUMMA CONTRA GENTILES
TANTRIC BUDDHISM
SUMMA THEOLOGIAE
TANTRIC HINDUISM
sun dance
TAO
SUNDAY
taoism
SUNNA/SUNNi/SUNNiSM
TAO SHIH
SUPERNATURAL
TAO TE CHING
SUPERNATURAL EXISTENTIAL
TAPAS
SUPRALAPSARIANISM
TARA
SURA
TARGUM
SUTRA
TARYAG MITZVOT
SUTRA PITAKA
TATHAGATA
SUZUKI, DAISETSU TEITARO
SUZUKI, SHUNRYU
TATHAGATAGARBHA
­DOCTRINE
SWEDENBORG, EMANUEL
TAT TVAM ASI
THIRD WORLD
SYLLABUS OF ERRORS
TAWHID
Third World Theologies
SYMBOL
TE
THIRTY-NINE ARTICLES
SYMBOLICS
TE DEUM
THOMAS, GOSPEL OF
SYNAGOGUE
teilhard de chardin,
pierre
THOMAS AQUINAS, ST.
TELEOLOGICAL ARGUMENT
TEMPERANCE
THOMISM/TRANSCENDENTAL
THOMISM
TEMPLE
THRONE OF GOD
TEMPLE (IN JUDAISM)
t’ien
SYRIAC VERSIONS OF THE
BIBLE
TEMPLE (OF JERUSALEM)
t’ien ming
TEMPTATION
t’ien tai
SYRIAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
TEN COMMANDMENTS
TIKKUN OLAM
SYRO-MALABAR CATHOLIC
CHURCH
TENDAI
TILLICH, PAUL
TENRIKYO
TIME (SACRED)
SYSTEMATICS/SYSTEMATIC
THEOLOGY
TEPEYAC
TIRTHANKARA
TEPHILLIN
TISHAH B<AV
TERTIAN
TITHES/TITHING
TERTIARY
TOKUGAWA PERIOD
TABERNACLES, FEAST OF
TERTULLIAN
TOLEDO, COUNCILS OF
TABOO OR TABU
TESTAMENT
TOLERANCE (VIRTUE)
tabu
TOLERATION
TACHRICHIN
TESTAMENTS OF THE TWELVE
PATRIARCHS
TAHARAH
TESTEM BENEVOLENTIAE
TONSURE
TAHARAT HAMISHPACHAH
TETRAGRAMMATON
TORAH
T’AI CHI
TEXT CRITICISM
TORAH SHEBAL<PEH
TAIZÉ
THEISM/THEISTIC
TORAH SHEBIChTAV
TALAQ
THEOCENTRIC
TORII
TALLIT
THEOCRACY
TORQUEMADA, JUAN DE
TALMUD
THEODICY
TORQUEMADA, TOMÁS DE
TAMA
THEODORA
TOSEFTA
Tamayo Acosta, Juan José
THEODORE OF MOPSUESTIA
totem/totemism
SYNCRETISM
SYNODAL POLITY
SYNODS
SYNOPTIC GOSPELS
SYNOPTIC PROBLEM
TABERNACLE (CHRISTIAN
­LITURGICAL)
theological
­anthropology
THEOLOGICAL VIRTUES
THEOLOGOUMENON
theology
THEOLOGY OF RELIGIONS
THEONOMY
THEOPASCHITES
THEOPHANY
THEORY
THERAVADA BUDDHISM
the three chapters
THIELICKE, HELMUT
THIRD ORDERS
THOMAS CHRISTIANS
TOME OF LEO
List of Entries xxix
TRACTARIANISM
TWO-SOURCE THEORY
(OF SYNOPTICS)
VALUES
TRADITIO-HISTORICAL
­CRITICISM
TYNDALE, WILLIAM
VARNA
TYPE/TYPOLOGY
VARUNA
TRADITION (IN CHRISTIANITY)
TYRRELL, GEORGE
VASCONCELOS, JOSÉ C.
TRADITION AND TRADITIONS
TZEDAKAH
VASUBANDHU
TRACY, DAVID
TRADITION CRITICISM
VARELA, FÉLIX
VATICAN
trance
UBIQUITARIANISM
TRANSCENDENTALISM
UKRAINIAN CATHOLIC
CHURCH
VATICAN, first council of
the
ULAMA/ULEMA
VATICAN, second ­council
of the
TRANSCENDENTALS
ULPHILAS
VEDANTA
TRANSFIGURATION
ULTRAMONTANISM
VEDAS
TRANSFINALIZATION
UMAR
VEGETARIANISM (IN INDIA)
TRANSIGNIFICATION
UMAYYADS
veneration
TRANSMIGRATION
UMBANDA
VERA CRUZ, ALONSO DE LA
TRANSUBSTANTIATION
UMMA
TRAPPISTS
UNAM SANCTAM
VERIFICATION/FALSIFICATION
AND THEOLOGY
TREF
UNAMUNO, MIGUEL DE
vERITATIS SPLENDOR
TRENT, COUNCIL OF
UNCTION
VERNACULAR
TRICKSTER
UNIATES
VESTMENTS, LITURGICAL
TRIDENTINE
UNIFICATION CHURCH
TRIDENTINISM
UNIFORMITY, ACTS OF
VETUS LATINA (VERSION OF
THE BIBLE)
UNITARIANISM
VÉVÉ
TRIMURTI
UNITATIS REDINTEGRATIO
VIA CRUCIS
TRINITY/TRINITARIAN
­THEOLOGY/TRINITARIAN
PROCESSIONS
UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
VIA ILLUMINATIVA
UNITY
VIA NEGATIVA
UNIVERSALISM
VIA PURGATIVA
TRIPITAKA
UNIVERSALS
VIATICUM
TRISAGION
UNIVERSITY
VIA UNITIVA
TRITHEISM
UNIVERSITY, CATHOLIC
VICAR
TROELTSCH, ERNST
UNTOUCHABLES
VICARIATE, APOSTOLIC
TRULLO, SYNOD OF
UPANISHADS
VICARIOUS SUFFERING
TRUSTEEISM
UPAYA
VICAR OF CHRIST
TRUTH
URIM AND THUMMIM
VICAR OF PETER
TRUTHS, FOUR NOBLE
U.S.C.C.B.
VICE
TSAO CHUN
USURY
VICO, GIOVANNI BATTISTA
TÜBINGEN SCHOOL
UTHMAN
VICTIM
TU B<SHEVAT
UTILITARIANISM
VICTIM (BIBLICAL)
TULKU
UTOPIA
VIEIRA, ANTONIO
TÚPAC AMARU, JOSÉ ­GABRIEL
UTRECHT, SEE OF
VIGIL
TRANSCENDENTAL
­MEDITATION
TRIKAYA (DOCTRINE OF)
VIGILIUS OF ROME
TURNER, VICTOR
t’u ti kung
VAISHNAVA
VILNA GAON
TUTU, DESMOND
VAISHYA
VIMALAKIRTI
TWELVE, THE
(IN ECCLESIOLOGY)
VAJRAYANA BUDDHISM
VINAYA
VALDÉS, JUAN DE
VINAYA PITAKA
TWELVE, THE (IN SCRIPTURE)
VALENTINUS
VIncentian Fathers
TWELVERS (IN ISLAM)
VALIDITY, SACRAMENTAL
VINCENT OF LÉRINS
TWICE BORN
VALLABHA
VIPASHYANA/VIPASSANA
xxx List of Entries
VIRGINAL CONCEPTION
(­biblical theology)
WEIL, SIMONE
YAD HAHAZAKAH
WESLEY, CHARLES
YAHRZEIT
VIRGIN BIRTH
WESLEY, JOHN
YAHWIST SOURCE
VIRGINITY
west, cornel
YAJnA
VIRGINITY OF MARY
(biblical theology)
WESTERN CATHOLIC
CHURCHES
YAJUR VEDA
VIRGINITY OF MARY
(systematic theology)
WESTERN THEOLOGY
YAMA (practice)
WHIRLING DERVISHES
YANTRA
WHITEHEAD, ALFRED NORTH
YARLMULKA
VISHNU
WIDOWS (IN THE EARLY
CHURCH)
YELLOW TURBANS
vision quest
wisdom
VISIONS
(IN CHRISTIAN MYSTICISM)
WISDOM LITERATURE
VITA
WITNESS/WITNESSING
VIRTUE
VISHISHTADVAITA VEDANTA
WITCHCRAFT
VITORIA, FRANCISCO DE
WITTENBERG
VIVEKA
WITTGENSTEIN, LUDWIG
VIVEKANANDA, SWAMI
WOMANIST THEOLOGY
VIVES, JUAN LUIS
WOMEN, ORDINATION OF
VOCATION
WORD OF GOD
VODOUN
WORK/EMPLOYMENT
VON BALTHASAR, HANS URS
WORLD (IN THE NEW
­TESTAMENT)
VON RAD, GERHARD
VOWS
VOWS (RELIGIOUS)
VRATA
VULGATE
WAHHABI
WAHHABIYA
WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES
(WCC)
WORLD JEWISH CONGRESS
WORLDVIEW
WORMS, CONCORDAT OF
WORMS, DISPUTATION OF
WORSHIP
YAMA (deity)
YHWH
YIDDISH
YIHUD
YIN AND YANG
YISRAEL
YIZKOR
YOGA
YOGACHARA
YOM HAATZMAUT
YOM HASHOAH
YOM KIPPUR
YUGA
YUGEN
ZAKAT
ZAZEN
ZEA, LEOPOLDO
ZEALOTS
ZEN
WRATH OF GOD
ZHOU DYNASTY
ZION
WALDENSIANS
WRITINGS/KETUVIM
(IN HEBREW SCRIPTURES)
ZIONISM
WANG YANG-MING
WU-HSING
ZOHAR
WAR
WU-WEI
ZOMBI (or ZOMBIE)
WARD, MARY
WYCLIFF, JOHN
ZOROASTER
WAILING WALL
WEBER, (KARL EMIL
­MAXIMILIAN) MAX
WEIGEL, GUSTAVE
ZOROASTRIANISM
XIMÉNEZ DE CISNEROS,
­FRANCISCO
ZUBIRI, XAVIER
ZWINGLI, ULRICH
Introduction
and
Acknowledgments
College professors of religion have been discovering over the past two decades
that their students are frequently unfamiliar with ideas, terms, historical events,
or persons deemed important in the study of religion. An Introductory Dictionary
of Theology and Religious Studies intends to provide basic definitions and background information on concepts, persons, objects, and events that seem to be
important or useful for the academic study of the world’s major religions. It is
further intended for students at colleges and universities where the academic
study of religion is part of the undergraduate curriculum.
This dictionary is not meant to take the place of the professor, or of the professor’s classroom explanations, or of other required reading. It is simply intended
to provide a source of information with which students may initiate or enrich
their study.
The dictionary is purposely introductory. The entries included in this volume
were not written in order to break new scholarly ground or to disseminate recent
research results. The authors were asked simply to present the subject matter in
synthetic form, explaining what is commonly held by mainstream specialists in
the field, in language understandable to beginners.
The dictionary is not intended, furthermore, for catechesis or religious education, although it might prove helpful in those contexts as well. We have kept the
college religion course in mind, and not the parish, as the primary context in
which this volume might be used.
Although the dictionary reflects the Catholic heritage of many of the authors,
a significant portion of entries was written by scholars from other religious traditions or from none. We hope the dictionary will be useful to students in institutions public and private, denominational and secular.
xxxi
xxxii Introduction and acknowledgments
We have attempted to be as ecumenical, multicultural, and international as
possible. In order to achieve this aim, we have made the following decisions:
• We have tried to reflect developing-nation and U.S. minority perspectives
in the list of entries, alongside European and Euro-American perspectives.
• We have included entries on U.S. Latino/a, Latin American, African American, African, and Asian theologians, besides the expected ones on Europeans
and Euro-Americans.
• We added entries on religions present in the United States but usually absent
from American introductory dictionaries (for example, Umbanda, Condomblé, Santería, Vodoun, native religions from the Americas, and so on).
• We also represented European countries usually ignored in American dictionaries (for example, Spain, Portugal, Russia, and Greece).
To achieve the preceding four goals, as well as to make sure that women from
across the world were included, we chose to have entries on scholars and religious leaders still living, working, and writing.
The emphasis of this dictionary is on mainstream Christianity, in particular
“Catholic” Christianity, broadly understood. At the same time, we have acknowledged Protestant, Anglican, and Orthodox Christianity and have included as
many entries as possible on every one of the world’s other great religions. Specialists in these other traditions, often members thereof, authored the many entries on Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Santería, and so forth.
This is the first edition of the dictionary. With suggestions from professors and
students, the subsequent editions can be improved, enlarged, new entries included, and others deleted. This introductory dictionary is intended as a real
teaching tool for the academic study of Christian theology and world religions.
We hope that it will serve its purpose well.
We also acknowledge that this first edition is not perfect. Choices were made
on what to include and what to exclude, and others might agree or disagree with
these choices. The students’ and professors’ feedback will be of great help to us
in the preparation of future editions of the dictionary.
We would like to thank all the authors who wrote the entries included in this
volume. Our colleagues at the College of the Holy Cross and at the University
of San Diego generously participated in the long process that has finally led to
the publication of this dictionary. Their support of this project, over many years,
is deeply appreciated. We also thank Mark Twomey, former editorial director
at Liturgical Press, and project editor Aaron Raverty, o.s.b., for their patient
and gentle prodding. And we also thank the director, Peter Dwyer, and the staff
of Liturgical Press for believing in this project and for shepherding it to
conclusion.
Introduction and acknowledgments xxxiii
We especially want to explicitly thank Professor Patricia Plovanich, of the
University of San Diego, who first suggested the need for this project, and who
worked with us during early editorial stages. She has remained as author of a
significant number of entries.
Through the years that it took to produce this dictionary, many colleagues and
friends have provided suggestions and offered support. We would like to mention in particular the help of Professors Gary Macy, Justo González, Lance Nelson,
and Alana Cordy-Collins. Professor Tony Harvell (now at the University of California, San Diego) and the research librarians at the University of San Diego
proved indispensable to the coeditors and to many of the authors. Finally, we
offer a special word of thanks to Mary Tracy for her help at a crucial stage of this
project.
Orlando O. Espín, University of San Diego
James B. Nickoloff, College of the Holy Cross
July 2007
A
AARON
The brother of Moses, the son of Amram
(Exod 6:20) and the sister of Miriam who
was the ancestor of the Aaronide priests
who dominated the priesthood in Israel
from the period of the Babylonian Exile
on. The descendants of Aaron, usually
called the “sons of Aaron,” are presented
as descended from Levi, one of the twelve
sons of Jacob (Exod 6:16). The meaning
of the name is uncertain.
Russell Fuller
ABBA
Recent christologies propose Jesus’ use
of abba to speak about God to indicate his
unique sense of and special relationship
to God. The usage derives from J. Jeremias
who interpreted the term as a familial
usage (“daddy”) unknown to the Judaism
of the era, thus unique to Jesus and sug­
gestive of his novel teachings about God
in The Prayers of Jesus (1967). Jeremias
abandoned the interpretation, but the
usage gained credence in many recon­
structions of the historical Jesus, as in
M. Borg’s Jesus: A New Vision (1987). The
reading allows the methodological pos­
sibility of linking the Gospels’ implicit
christologies to the explicit christology of
dogma. Recent biblical scholarship does
not support this interpretation of the word,
and feminist exegetes have noted its pa­
triarchal implications, but the christo­
logical application persists. It is an instance
of a (possibly unrecognized) dogmatic
interest at work in the interpretation of
Scripture.
Patricia Plovanich
See also christology.
ABBASIDS
The ruling dynasty of the Islamic world
(749–1258 c.e.) that came to power with
the fall of the first dynasty (the Umayyads)
and ended with the invasion of the ­Muslim
empire by the Mongols. The dynasty is re­
ferred to as a caliphate because its leaders
were considered spiritual and political
successors of Muhammad (570–632 c.e.),
Islam’s founder and Prophet. The Abbasids
are credited with integrating non-Arab
Muslims, most notably the Persians, into
the spiritual, intellectual, and political
leadership of the Islamic empire. The
­Abbasids are also remembered for mak­
ing their capital, Baghdad, a center of
culture and learning where art, medicine,
literature, and science flourished. Though
the Abbasid caliphate was not able to
­exercise complete political dominance
over the entire Islamic world during its
Abbey
five-hundred-year existence, it remained
a symbol of the unity and universality of
Islam throughout the period. After
­Baghdad was sacked by the Mongols in
1258, Abbasids continued to reside in
Egypt but without any significant politi­
cal or military power. This last vestige of
the once-great dynasty was conquered by
the Ottomans in 1517.
Ronald A. Pachence
See also caliph (khalipha)/caliphate;
ottoman; umayyads.
ABBEY
Traditional term for an autonomous
­monastery under the authority of an
abbot or abbess. If the leader is referred
to as prior or prioress, the monastery is
called a priory.
Mary Anne Foley, c.n.d.
See also abbot/abbess; convent/
conventual; monastery.
ABBOT/ABBESS
The title given to the leader of monaster­
ies of men (abbot) or women (abbess) in
Benedictine and most other monastic
­orders. The term “abbot” is derived from
the Hebrew word for father, and the clas­
sical model for an abbot can be found in
the second chapter of the Rule of St. Benedict, where it is suggested that his role is
to act in the place of Christ, caring like a
father for those in the monastery. During
the Middle Ages, both abbots and abbesses
often wielded great ecclesiastical and po­
litical authority, answerable only to the
pope rather than to the local bishop.
Mary Anne Foley, c.n.d.
See also abba; benedictine rule (rule
of st. benedict); benedictines;
­monastery; monasticism in western
christianity; ­orders (religious).
ABE, MASAO (1915– )
Contemporary Japanese philosopher and
teacher and currently professor emeritus
at Nara University in Japan. Abe is one of
the lead­ing representatives of the Kyoto
school of philosophy and leading inter­
preter of Zen for the West since the death
of D. T. Suzuki. He has taught extensively
in the West at Columbia, Princeton,
­Chicago, and other places, and has also
become one of the primary synthesizers
of Eastern and Western philosophy. His
major writings include Existential and
­Ontological Dimensions of Time in Heidegger
and Zen and Western Thought.
G. D. DeAngelis
See also suzuki, daisetsu teitaro; zen.
ABELARD, PETER (ca. 1079–1142/4)
As a young man, Abelard devoted his
life to the pursuit of knowledge, leaving
his home near Nantes to seek out the
best teachers he could find. He studied
philosophy under Roscelin of Com­
piègne and William of Champeaux be­
fore teaching philosophy himself at
Melun, Corbie, and finally at Paris. Hav­
ing mastered philosophy, Abelard turned
to theology, studying under Anselm of
Laon. As he had earlier with William of
Champeaux, Abelard soon set himself
up as a rival to Anselm, and by 1113
Abelard was teaching theology in Paris.
Fulbert, a canon of the cathedral of Notre
Dame in Paris, hired Abelard to tutor his
niece, Heloise. Abelard and Heloise soon
fell passionately in love, secretly mar­
ried, and produced a son, Astralabe.
Fulbert, enraged by this turn of events,
hired thugs who castrated Abelard. Abe­
lard met this ­humiliation by joining the
Benedictine abbey of St. Denis and by
insisting that Heloise enter the convent
of Argenteuil.
ABHISHEKA Abelard’s theology also came under at­
tack, and in 1121 he was forced by the
Council of Soissons to burn his book now
known as the Theologia “Summi Boni.”
Unable to get along with the monks at
St. Denis, Abelard received permission to
retire to his own oratory which he en­titled
the Paraclete. Soon a thriving school grew
up at the Paraclete, but once again Abelard
was forced by his enemies to retire. He
spent several unsuccessful years as abbot
of St. Gildas in Brittany, eventually return­
ing to Paris to teach. In the 1130s Abelard
produced a new book of theology as well
as his most famous book, The Ethics. Led
by William of St. Thierry and Bernard of
Clairvaux, opposition again arose against
Abelard’s theology. His teaching con­
demned at the Council of Sens in 1141,
Abelard retired to the monastery of Cluny.
He died sometime between 1142 and 1144
at a priory attached to Cluny. Abelard was
buried at the ­Paraclete where he was joined
in death around 1163/4 by his wife, Helo­
ise. The two lovers are now buried together
in Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris.
Brilliant, exasperating, and charismatic,
Abelard, more than any other medieval
figure, has symbolized the use of logic
and dialectic to challenge existing author­
ity. Certainly his works, especially the Yes
and No (Sic et Non) and The Ethics, greatly
influenced later thought in this regard.
Yet, he was also a devout monk and con­
cerned spiritual director as his sermons,
hymns, and other writings demontrate.
In the popular imagination, however,
Abelard is best known for his relation­
ship with Heloise. Their passionate affair
is chronicled in Abelard’s The History of
My Calamities. Moving letters exchanged
between Heloise and Abelard also exist,
although doubts have been raised about
their authenticity.
Gary Macy
See also bernard of clairvaux;
­ eloise; medieval christianity (in
h
the west); monasticism in western
christianity; scholasticism.
ABHIDHARMA/ABHIDHAMMA
PITAKA
The collection of the early Indian Buddhist
canon in which the teachings are arranged
by various detailed schema. As designated
by the Abhidharma’s meaning, “advanced
teachings,” early scholastic monks col­
lected listings of religious terms, psycho­
logical designations, and analytic
elaborations of phenomena to demon­
strate the application of the doctrine to
all spheres of reality. By 300 c.e. numer­
ous Abhidharmas were organized by
monks in every major school to advance
their understanding and presentation of
the logical extensions of the Buddha’s
teachings. Only the Theravada canon
­exists in its entirety; various Sanskrit
­Abhidharmas endure in Chinese, Tibetan,
or Korean translations. The commentary
by the scholar Vasubandhu, the Abhidharmakosha, was the greatest, comprising a
compendium of early Buddhist thought
written from the Sarvastivadin school’s
doctrinal system.
Todd T. Lewis
See also buddhaghosa; dharma
(in buddhism); pali canon;
­sarvastivadin school; tripitaka/
tipitaka; vasubandhu.
ABHISHEKA
In Hinduism, abhisheka (Sanskrit, sprin­
kling) is a ritual of anointing, sprinkling
with water, or bathing, especially as part
of the coronation rites of a king or the con­
secration of an image of a deity in a temple.
In the case of a temple icon, the ritual of
consecration is said to invoke the living
ABHISHIKTANANDA, SWAMI
presence of the deity in the image. In
Buddhist countries, kings and temple im­
ages are typically consecrated in similar
ceremonies.
Lance E. Nelson
See also avatara/avatar; buddhism;
hinduism; images, worship of.
ABHISHIKTANANDA, SWAMI
(1910–73)
Swami Abhishiktananda was the reli­
gious name adopted by Henri Le Saux, a
French Benedictine monk and priest who
lived in India from 1948 until his death.
Although he never abandoned his iden­
tity and faith as a Christian, Le Saux ac­
knowledged a considerable spiritual debt
to Hindu teachers, in particular the
­f amous South Indian saint, Ramana
Maharshi. As part of his spiritual quest,
he took on the dress and the ascetic mode
of life of a Hindu sannyasin, as well as his
Hindu-style monastic name, meaning
“the bliss of the Anointed One” (that is,
of Christ). With Fr. Jules Monchanin and
Fr. Bede Griffiths, Abhishiktananda was
an important early pioneer of HinduChristian dialogue.
Lance E. Nelson
See also griffiths, bede; sannyasa.
ABJURATION
The term indicates the 1917 Code of Canon
Law’s requirement that prospective con­
verts or Catholics returning to the church
make a formal, public rejection (before a
church authority) of anything believed
contrary to official Roman Catholic doc­
trine. The gesture is no longer required,
for the new baptismal ritual for adults
incorporates it in a general way.
Patricia Plovanich
ABORTION
An abortion is an intentional medical
procedure to terminate a pregnancy and
bring about the death of a human fetus.
There has been a generally negative evalu­
ation of this practice throughout the his­
tory of the Judeo-Christian tradition. The
reasons for this negative evaluation and
the circumstances in which it has been
applied, however, have been varied. For
example, the contemporary Roman Catho­
lic teaching sees any direct action taken
against the progress of a pregnancy—from
the moment of conception—as a very grave
offense because it deprives an ­innocent
human person of the right to life. In the
Middle Ages, however, only the abortion
of a fully formed fetus was considered to
be a homicide; earlier abortions were con­
sidered sinful because they were usually
procured to obscure a sexual misdeed.
Cultural developments and new biologi­
cal insights have influenced church teach­
ing on abortion, an issue where volatile
concerns about homicide, sexual moral­
ity, and gender roles intersect.
Contemporary Concerns
After the Second World War, many per­
sons in western Europe and North America
argued for access to abortion, particularly
for those cases where a new child would
impose an emotional, physical, or financial
hardship on the mother. Starting in the
1960s, many nations liberalized their abor­
tion laws, and in 1973 the U.S. Supreme
Court ruled in Roe v. Wade that laws forbid­
ding abortion were unduly interfering in
the privacy rights of women.
Since Roe and the resulting liberaliza­
tion of abortion policy in the U.S., abortion
has developed into one of the most con­
tentious and divisive social issues of the
period. It figures prominently in local and
national elections as well as in the process
ABoRTION of nominating and approving candidates
for the judiciary; both sides of the debate
have been effective at developing grass­
roots protests and sophisticated political
action organizations. At times, the contro­
versy grows violent with abortion facili­
ties bombed and abortion providers
assassinated. The debate about the moral­
ity and legality of abortion focuses on the
status of the fetus and on the moral auton­
omy of women. Thus, it is not a theo­logical
debate in its essence. Although Evangeli­
cal opponents of abortion may advance
scriptural arguments, Roman Catholic op­
position is based on natural law, which is
presumed to be accessible and persuasive
to all rational persons of good will.
Those in the U.S. opposed to abortion
generally refer to themselves as “pro-life,”
while those who favor liberalized abortion
policies refer to their cause as “pro-choice.”
Pro-life advocates argue that because fetal
life is, in fact, human life it must be accorded
the rights ascribed to persons, principally
the right to life. Because the innocent may
not be unjustly deprived of their lives, all
abortion should be forbidden. Some prolife advocates are willing to make excep­
tions, however, in cases of rape, incest, and
threat to the mother’s health, despite the
apparent inconsistency. In addition, pro-life
advocates make a “slippery slope” argu­
ment, claiming that liberalization of abor­
tion policy undermines the sanctity of life
at all stages of existence.
Although the moral status of the fetus
is not the central issue for abortion rights
advocates, they respond to the assertions
of pro-life supporters in this regard by
arguing that fetuses are not persons, that
fetuses do not fulfill the criteria of person­
hood. Such criteria can include one or
more of the following: consciousness, selfdirection, communication skills, or reason­
ing ability, although some of these
standards might exclude infants from per­
sonhood. The fetus, they argue, is “part”
of the mother, and the right to bodily in­
tegrity supports the right to terminate a
pregnancy. Any clash between the “rights”
of a fetus and the mother’s rights ought
to be decided in favor of the existing per­
son from this perspective. Pro-choice ad­
vocates in the U.S. attempt to build a
positive case for abortion rights by appeal­
ing to deeply held beliefs about the free­
dom of conscience and the right to make
private choices without government in­
terference. Further, they argue that unless
women have control over their reproduc­
tive capacities, their moral and social au­
tonomy is effectively undermined.
Religious Perspectives
The pro-life movement in the U.S. re­
ceives strong support from those Roman
Catholics and Evangelical/fundamental­
ist Christians who tend to favor tradi­
tional family relations and gender roles.
Official teaching in those communities is
solidly pro-life. Mainstream Protestant
views on abortion are varied. While gen­
erally negative toward abortions, most
denominations acknowledge that there
are circumstances (pregnancies resulting
from rape or incest, danger to the life or
health of the mother, severe hardship
caused by the birth of a child, or gross
fetal deformity) that can justify an abor­
tion. Thus, they support legal access to
abortion. In this way, their views mirror
the views of most Americans who do not
support “abortion on demand” but do
acknowledge circumstances where it is
appropriate to end fetal life.
Brian F. Linnane, s.j.
See also contraception/birth
­ ontrol; ethics, sexual; evangelium
c
vitae; natural law; sexuality.