Glossary terms for Study Area Religion and Spirituality
abortion
level: Basic (2) [order by level]
The premature expulsion or removal of a foetus from the womb to prevent its development and survival.
active euthanasia
level: Basic (2) [order by level]
The intentional and direct action to end the life of a suffering individual by such means as a lethal injection or a lethal overdose of drugs.
agnostic
level: Introductory (1) [order by level]
One who is uncertain about the existence of gods or deities.
anthropomorphism
level: Introductory (1) [order by level]
The attributing of human characteristics to a divine being, an animal, or an object.
atheistic
level: Overview (0) [order by level]
Devoid of belief in deities.
autonomous person
level: Introductory (1) [order by level]
One who is in a position to make freely reflective and informed choices about life and is critically reflective about the outcomes of those choices.
autonomy
level: Introductory (1) [order by level]
Self government; personal freedom.
Contingency Argument
level: Comprehensive (3) [order by level]
Philosophical idea that everything in existence depends on something else for its existence, but that nothing has a reason for its existence contained within it.
cosmological
level: Comprehensive (3) [order by level]
Name used to describe the argument for God's existence which posits that there must have been a First Cause of all things.
divinity
level: Comprehensive (3) [order by level]
That which is posited to make sense of the things in life that the human cannot.
dualism
level: Introductory (1) [order by level]
The concept of human life as separated into distinct entities of body and soul or mind and body.
empirical
level: Comprehensive (3) [order by level]
That which is observable by experiment, not accepted as simply a theory.
euthanasia
level: Basic (2) [order by level]
The act of ending a life of one who has no hope of recovery from a terminal and extremely painful illness.
fideism
level: Comprehensive (3) [order by level]
The idea that God can only be known through faith, and not through rational inquiry.
God of the gaps
level: Comprehensive (3) [order by level]
The expression used to describe the process of assigning to God all mysteries that remains unsolved by rational inquiry. As human knowledge progresses and natural explanations are possible for aspects of existence that were once inexplicable and supernaturally explained, so the role of God diminishes or changes radically.
indirect euthanasia
level: Basic (2) [order by level]
The act of hastening death as a side-effect of medical treatment.
karma
level: Introductory (1) [order by level]
The eastern religious "law" of action and reaction, cause and effect, by which an individual's actions combine to produce related results for that individual in the present and future lives.
life-stance
level: Comprehensive (3) [order by level]
The particular interpretation placed on life by an individual or a number of like-minded individuals, and the living of life accordingly.
metaphysical
level: Comprehensive (3) [order by level]
That which is beyond the physical and empirical.
metaphysics
level: Comprehensive (3) [order by level]
The branch of philosophy that is concerned with what is beyond physics -- and therefore beyond any empirical evidence.
monism
level: Introductory (1) [order by level]
The concept of human life as an integrated whole, without division into body and soul.
natural selection
level: Comprehensive (3) [order by level]
Biological term referring to constant adaptation through the process of evolution.
naturalistic
level: Overview (0) [order by level]
Devoid of belief in anything supernatural.
non-voluntary euthanasia
level: Basic (2) [order by level]
The act of ending the life of an individual who has not expressed any wish to die, perhaps because he or she is not physically or mentally capable of doing so.
occam's razor
level: Comprehensive (3) [order by level]
Expression referring to the principle articulated by fourteenth-century English philosopher William Occam, who said that when given a choice of explanations, the one containing the fewest possible assertions is the best.
ontological
level: Comprehensive (3) [order by level]
Name used to describe the argument for God's existence which posits that there must be some kind of being that is greater than anything we can imagine, and that this being is God.
panentheism
level: Comprehensive (3) [order by level]
The belief that the divine is in all things and all things are in the divine, but the divine is greater than all things.
passive euthanasia
level: Basic (2) [order by level]
The withholding of treatment so that a patient is allowed to die naturally.
reincarnation
level: Introductory (1) [order by level]
The belief that a deceased individual will return to life on earth as a new person or an animal.
religion
level: Overview (0) [order by level]
Belief in supernatural ideas and phenomena that lie outside the human realm, such as god, afterlife, reincarnation, heaven, hell, and miracles, and any combination of such supernatural aspects that combine to inform a particular religion or religious sect.
spirituality
level: Overview (0) [order by level]
That which is experienced when an individual is moved to the heights or depths of his or her being in positive and meaningful ways.
supernaturalism
level: Comprehensive (3) [order by level]
That which is above and beyond the laws of nature; that which is magical or mystical.
teleological
level: Comprehensive (3) [order by level]
Name used to describe the argument for God's existence which posits that the world is characterized by such a degree of planning that there must have been a supreme designer.
theism
level: Introductory (1) [order by level]
Belief in one or more personal gods or goddesses.
theist
level: Introductory (1) [order by level]
Person who believes in one or more personal gods or goddesses.
theists
level: Introductory (1) [order by level]
People who believe in one or more personal gods or goddesses.
theology
level: Comprehensive (3) [order by level]
The study of theistic religion.
voluntary euthanasia
level: Basic (2) [order by level]
The act of individual who, under no pressure from any persons whatsoever, decides that the termination of his or her life is the best option, and requests assistance in dying.