Anencephalic -- medical condition in which a child is born without a portion of the skull and brain, having the capability of only very basic functions such as breathing, and living only a very short time before death.
Ark of the Covenant -- the sacred large chest of the Old Testament containing the tablets of the Mosaic Law, kept in the most sacred portion of the Temple in Jerusalem.
Artificial Insemination -- the injection of semen into the vagina or uterus by means of a syringe or other instrument
Auricular Confession -- Confession of sins "out loud" to another person
Autocephalous -- having its own head and not subordinate to another authority, but still in communion with other Churches
Baptism -- a ceremonial application of water as a rite of initiation or cleansing
Brain death -- a state where there is clear medical evidence that all significant portions of the brain have permanently stopped functioning and begun decaying. External medical equipment may make it appear that the person is still alive.
Canon Law -- the body of codified ecclesiastical law
Canon of Scripture -- the listing of books considered as Sacred Scripture by a religious group
Charismatic -- relating to Christians of various groups who seek an ecstatic religious experience, often including speaking in tongues and instantaneous healing
Communion -- referring to receiving the Eucharist or to the elements themselves, or to one group of persons or religious bodies being "in Communion" and professing a shared belief with others
Congregational (structure) -- a form of church government in which each local group acts as a self-governing body
Consistory -- a church council or tribunal for the formal meeting of those charged with organizational or spiritual decision-making
Denomination -- a name or designation for a group of local churches sharing a common identity and profession of belief
Diocese -- a district under the jurisdiction of a bishop, usually geographical
Ecumenical -- ("worldwide") referring to an action or structure broader than the local church or denomination, ordinarily referring to Christian groups
Episcopal (structure): using a system of bishops for governing and church order above the local congregation
Eucharist -- literally the "Thanksgiving to God" Christian meal also called "Holy Communion" or the "Lord's Supper" and also referring to the consecrated (blessed) elements, usually bread and wine. Different religious groups consider it either a sacrament or ordinance, and vary widely on the meaning, sacredness, and manner of celebration.
Excommunication -- the act or state of being formally declared "out of communion" with the other members of a religious group.
Fundamentalism -- a movement that sees itself opposed to Modernism, stressing the infallibility of the Bible in both religious matters and historical accuracy
Glossolalia -- incomprehensible speech occurring in trance or religious ecstasy, often seen by charismatics as a sign of faith or the presence of the Holy Spirit
Hymnology -- the study or use of hymns or sacred music
Indulgence -- a lessening of what is owed to a superior. In theology, a partial remission of the temporal punishment that is still due for sin after absolution. More broadly, this can relate to the injustice caused by my sin and the obligation to seek to repair the damage that has been done both to myself and to others.
Inerrancy -- free from error, especially applying to the Bible
Infallibility -- exempt from error in matters of faith or morals
Interfaith -- involving persons or groups of different religions (as opposed to ecumenical)
In Vitro Fertilization -- fertilization of an egg with sperm "in the dish" and subsequently implanted into the uterus
Laity -- those who have not been initiated into a specialized group, such as clergy
Litany -- a form of prayer consisting of a series of short invocations or requests, each followed by a short response
Liturgy -- a form of public worship, often following a written, set design
Metropolitan -- the head of an ecclesiastical province (larger than a Diocese)
Millennial -- of or pertaining to the millenium (1000 year period) especially the period of Christ's rule after the Second Coming
Modernism -- an ill-defined and shadowy theological movement in the 20th century claimed to distort doctrine by examining it using modern philosophy and science.
Nonsectarian -- not affiliated with or limited to a specific denomination
Ordinance -- an ritual action or worship service seen as ordered by God, without the status of a sacrament
Patriarch -- the "father figure" of a major central Church seen as having historically given rise to other Churches since the earliest days of Christianity
Polity -- the organization or structure used by a religious group
Premillennial -- referring to a theory that Christ will come to bind Satan before Christ's millenial (one thousand year) reign on earth with his saints.
Presbyteral (structure) -- organization and spiritual decision-making by a council or board of elders (presbyters)
Purgatory -- temporary state or process of "cleansing" after death in preparation for Heaven
Reconsecration -- process of "ordaining again" a bishop
Relic -- an object associated with a saint, martyr, or Christ which is preserved and seen as worthy of special honor and reverence
Revival -- a Christian service(s) or movement seeking the reawakening of religious fervor and faith
Sabbath -- the day of religious observance, Saturday for Jews and some Christians, Sunday (the day of the Resurrection) for most others
Sacrament -- a rite seen as established by Christ and serving as a means of grace and faith
Schismatic -- of or in a condition of being "split off" from a larger or earlier religious group
See -- the jurisdiction or office of a bishop
Surrogate Mother -- a person who acts in the place of another as mother. Biologically, a woman who is inseminated with the man's sperm on behalf of another woman, then either donating the embryo for transfer to the other person's uterus or carrying it herself to term.
Synod -- an assembly of church leaders or delegates that discusses and decides upon church affairs
Tradition -- "tradition" (in lower case) as a customary or handed-on way of thinking or acting, "Tradition" (in upper case) as one or more teachings or understandings of the faith "from the beginning" seen as indispensable for a true understanding of Scripture.
Trinitarian -- of or referring to the Trinity, the union of three persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) in one nature as God
Vernacular -- of or referring to the use of the native, common language of a place, as opposed to a special or "sacred" language for religious rites and prayers
Vestments -- official or distinct ceremonial clothes used during a religious service
Page was last updated on 08/14/00