Expanded Key Terms

A religion that believes in the ability of non-human entities to have spiritual and divine power.

Animism focuses on individual organisms or beings that can occupy power and, therefore, can be worshiped. Examples of non-human entities that can have spiritual and divine power include the earth, nature, and more.

A disbelief or total lack of belief in a divine and/or spiritual being and, therefore, lack of belief or disbelief in religion and religious organizations. 

Atheism is the term that refers to the disbelief or total lack of belief in divine and/or spiritual beings and, therefore, religious organizations as well. Atheists simply do not believe in the presence of a higher being, and view everything as the result of natural order and natural occurrence in society.

A group of set followers who share the same ideologies and practices, under a singular leader. 

Cults often masquerade as religions because they practice rituals and share specific spiritual beliefs. However, cults are unique from religions and do not have a set hierarchical structure, which can lead to distressing social norms and behaviors for followers who congregate under a singular ruler. It is important to note that all religions start as a cult.

A specific group of individuals within a religious organization who occupies a place in society.

Denominations are ways to categorize slight differences between various individuals under the same macro category. There can be many denominations within one religion, as is true in the example of Catholicism and Christianity. Denominations help identify differences in ideological beliefs and religious practices among the larger umbrella, religious identity.

The combination of religious principles and political ideologies or campaigns to attempt to cause social change. 

Liberation theology can be used for good or bad social change, although this is often indicative of how you choose to view social change related to each ideal. Liberation theology is utilized across the globe, and in all forms of political races, and is paired with all different kinds of religious beliefs, although Christianity is the stereotypical assumption when a person hears the term liberation theology.

A bureaucratic organization with a large number of members who controls societal power, influence, and ideologies. 

Megachurches are popular around the globe with all sorts of religious denominations that are often criticized due to the money and influence they can have on an entire community. Megachurches also receive criticism in their ability to project false and factually incorrect messages on a larger scale than other churches or organizations.

A form of religion in which members believe in and worship only one god or God.

Monotheism is derived from the Latin prefix mono-, which means one. Examples of monotheistic religions are Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and more.

A form of religion in which members believe in and worship more than one god or God.

Polytheism is derived from the Latin prefix poly-, which means more than one. Examples of polytheistic religions include Hinduism, Shintoism, Taoism, and more.

All of the beliefs and practices related to spiritual and sacred concerns in life.

Religions can occupy many forms, functions, and roles in society, but all generally relate to spiritual and sacred concerns and/or ideologies. Religions are different from spiritual beliefs in the sense that spiritual beliefs are not organized and officially led through a hierarchical power structure like religion is. A religion is anything that believes in and worships a god or gods and higher power(s) — such examples include Christianity or Islam. A spiritual belief or way of life can include Buddhism, which does not believe in a god or worship a god but rather focuses efforts on the improvement of the self.

An idea, belief, or value that individuals hold to be true related to spiritual and sacred concerns.

Religious beliefs, or beliefs within organized religions, and our ideas or tenets that the religion holds to be true or core to its function, purpose, and/or identity.

An action that is completed to hold a specific symbolic value and purpose.

Rituals are important in religions and spiritual practices as they occupy specific, spiritual, and sacred means, and the action itself can also uphold or remind of a specific important practice. Rituals can be as dramatic as the heart removal scene in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, or they can be as common as the Eucharist in Catholic mass. Rituals can be conducted outside of religious content, like reading a book before bed or having a drink at the end of the workweek.

A generalized belief in power and spiritual presence within nature and organic life.

Totemism is a generalized belief in the power and spiritual presence within nature and organic life that all individuals who practice totemism agree to protect and worship. Totemism often views this natural and sacred power to be present in almost all entities. Examples of such entities include the land, sea, earth, air, and more. Animism also focuses on a general holistic attempt to live in harmony with natural life and protect and view all natural life, wherever it originates from, as sacred, just as you are sacred. An example of a group who practices totemism is the Australian Aborigines.