Glossary

‘Reasonings’

ALTERNATIVE SPELLINGS: Groundings

DEFINITION: The primary means of Rastafari philosophical consideration. A ceremony in which participants orally contemplate cosmological and theological aspects of the movement. This is often accompanied with the ritual smoking of ganja. These meetings can feature prayer and scriptural readings.

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‘The good life’

ALTERNATIVE SPELLINGS: Good life

DEFINITION: The idea of a life that is worth living, is meaningful, full of happiness, and for most people has a positive impact on other people. For example, Humanists believe there is only one life, no after-life, and so this life should be meaningful and purposeful.

Find out more about Non-religious worldview traditions

5 K’s

ALTERNATIVE SPELLINGS: 5 Ks, Panj Kakke, Panj Kakka

Sikhs who are members of the Khalsa, Amritdhari Sikhs, that have promised to wear the 5 K’s or Panj Kakke to show their identity:

Kesh: uncut hair, which refers to a person’s freedom from worldly fashion. This shows respect for the body.

Kangha: a wooden comb, which shows social responsibilities, such as cleanliness, as important.

Kirpan: a small, sheathed sword. Kirpan literally translates as ‘sword of mercy’. It is worn diagonally on the torso. This reminds a person of their responsibilities to the community, and to protect the vulnerable, working against injustice.

Kachera: these are loose, cotton undershorts which symbolise modesty and purity.

Kara: a steel bangle, representing the infinity and eternal presence of God, without beginning or end.

Find out more about Sikhi worldview traditions

5 Khands

ALTERNATIVE SPELLINGS: Five Khands, Panj Khand

DEFINITION: These are also known as the 5 stages of liberation, or five stages of spiritual progress towards mukti. They include righteous action, knowledge, spiritual endeavour, grace and truth.

Find out more about Sikhi worldview traditions

Abdu’l-Bahá

ALTERNATIVE SPELLINGS: Abdul Baha, Abdu l Baha

DEFINITION: A title meaning “Servant of Bahá’u’lláh”. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá (1844-1921) was the eldest son of Bahá’u’lláh, and his appointed successor. Bahá’u’lláh instructed all after his passing to turn to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, not only as the authorized interpreter of the Bahá’í Writings but also as the perfect exemplar of the Faith’s spirit and teachings. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá devoted his ministry to furthering his Father’s faith and to promoting the ideals of peace and unity. He encouraged the establishment of local Bahá’í institutions, and guided nascent educational, social and economic initiatives.

Find out more about Baha’i worldview traditions

Acharya

ALTERNATIVE SPELLINGS: Acharya, Acharaya

DEFINITION: An acharya is teacher or spiritual guide, one learned in the religious tradition and its texts.

Find out more about Jain worldview traditions

Adam

DEFINITION: The first human being, according to Genesis – a book in the Old Testament of the Bible.

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Adhan

ALTERNATIVE SPELLINGS: Azaan, Athan

The call to prayer recited by a muezzin to announce the time for the obligatory daily prayers:

Allahu Akbar (four times) – God is most great.

Ashhadu an la ilaha illa- Allah (once) – I witness that there is no god except God.

Ashhadu anna Muhammadan rasula- Allah (once) – I witness that Muhammad (pbuh) is the messenger of God.

Hayya ala-s-salah (twice) – Come to prayer.

Hayya ala-l-falah (twice) – Come to salvation.

Allalhu Akbar(twice) – God is most great.

La ilaha-illa-Allah (once) – There is no god except God.

Find out more about Muslim worldview traditions

Adharma

ALTERNATIVE SPELLINGS: Adharm

DEFINITION: Going against dharma (duty).

Find out more about Hindu worldview traditions

Adi Granth

Guru Nanak collected texts of mystics, added his own hymns and later, Gurus added further writings. They were then collected in one volume – a granth. This text was compiled by Guru Arjan and became the Adi Granth.

This was then added to by the ninth Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur. This then went on to be finalised as the Guru Granth Sahib.

Find out more about Sikhi worldview traditions

Adonai

DEFINITION: A Hebrew word meaning, ‘My Lord’.

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Advaita

ALTERNATIVE SPELLINGS: Advait, advaitha

DEFINITION: The philosophy of non-dualism, monist, where the soul, God and matter are considered to be one.

Find out more about Hindu worldview traditions

Advent

The four Sundays leading up to Christmas. This means coming or arrival, and it is a time of preparation, reflection and prayer leading up to the celebration of the birth of Jesus 

The season leading up to Christmas. The word comes from Latin and means arrival.

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Advent Calendar

DEFINITION: A calendar with one door for the 24 days leading up to Christmas day. Traditionally, behind each door there would be a picture of part of the story of the birth of Jesus and a Bible quote. Nowadays, Advent Calendars are much more varied, from chocolate to coffee, beauty to beer, and have little to do with the Christian preparation for Christmas.

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Advent candle

DEFINITION: Advent wreaths are made up of five candles, one for each Sunday of Advent and one which is only lit on Christmas day. Some families have an advent candle that is marked out with the 24 days leading up to Christmas day. They light the candle for a short time each day as they prepare to mark the birth of Jesus.

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Agape

DEFINITION: Self-sacrificial or unconditional love, particularly for the weak and vulnerable. This is not to be confused with romantic love. This originally referred to the common meal of the first Christians: a Love Feast. People demonstrate agape when they forgive someone for the wrongs they have done against them, or when they do without something in order to give to other people.

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Agnostic

DEFINITION: A person who believes we do not or cannot know whether there is a god or gods.

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Agnosticism

DEFINITION: The belief that we do not or cannot know whether there is a god, are gods or are no gods at all.

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Ahimsa

ALTERNATIVE SPELLINGS: Ahinsa

Non-violence. The belief that we should not cause harm to any living creature. This is a guiding principle, from the Bhagavad Gita.

It was ​​used by the 20th Century Hindu reformer Mahatma Gandhi.

Find out more about Hindu worldview traditions

Ahimsa

ALTERNATIVE SPELLINGS: Ahinsa

DEFINITION: Non-violence. The belief that we should not cause harm to any living creature. This is a guiding principle used by the 20th Century Hindu reformer Mahatma Gandhi.

Find out more about Jain worldview traditions

Ahura Mazda

DEFINITION: The Wise Lord, the one God, for those who follow Zoroastrianism. Ahura Mazda is all good and he created the world which is therefore also good. This was taught by the Prophet Zarathustra, Zoroaster in Greek. Ahura Mazda has a series of attributes which those who follow Zoroastrianism are taught to try and emulate such as the good mind, justice and truth.

Find out more about Zoroastrian worldview traditions

Akhand Paath

ALTERNATIVE SPELLINGS: Akhand Path

DEFINITION: A continuous reading of the Guru Granth Sahib, which takes place over 48 hours. A reading could be to celebrate a wedding, or to mark a death, or for a particular festival. The readings are done by several different people.

Find out more about Sikhi worldview traditions

Akhirah

ALTERNATIVE SPELLINGS: Akhirat

DEFINITION: The belief in life after death. A core belief of most Muslims is that life on earth is a test, and Allah will decide whether people go to Jannah (Jannah) on the day of judgement.

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Allah

The name for God in the Arabic language and used in preference to the word God because this Arabic term is singular, has no plural, and is not associated with masculine or feminine characteristics. Muslims believe that Allah is the only God and is the Creator of all.

According to tradition there are 99 ‘beautiful names’ of Allah, such as ‘the All Merciful’ (ar-Rahman) and ‘the Creator’ (al-Khaliq).

Find out more about Muslim worldview traditions