Many times people will ask me a question or definition, and I have taken to adding it to this list when they do. This is not restricted to Pagan terms or phrases. Note: These definitions are from my own research in discussion, books and online, often compiled from several sources.
If you would like to know about a word or concept that is not on this list, or to request that I expand my explanation of one of these terms, please send me a request by e-mail. Thanks!
BELIEFS OF PRESENT-DAY CHRISTIAN DENOMINATIONS
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Foundation:1831 in the USA
Split from:
Supreme Leader:
Presiding Body: General Conference
Prophet(s): Ellen G. White
Sacred Text(s): OT, NT, White's writings
Local Religious Leader:
Doctrinal Family: Adventist
Doctrine(s) Held:Fundamentalism, Trinitarianism, Original Sin, Redemption through Christ's Sacrifice, Resurrection of Christ, Resurrection of the Dead (Second Coming), Angels as Active Guides, Personal Worship, Communal Worship, Evangelicalism, Symbolic Eucharist, Humans as Adopted Children of God, "Remnant", Baptism by Immersion, Active Spiritual Gifts, Justification by Faith, Evening-to-evening Sabbath, Modesty, Tithe, Temperance, No Interfaith Marriage, Divorce only for Adultery, Christ's Preparation for the Second Coming Began in 1844, Apocolyptic Millenium, Second Resurrection of the Sinful and Cleansing of the New Earth, Footwashing
African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.)
Foundation:
Split from:
Supreme Leader:
Presiding Body:
Sacred Text(s):
Local Religious Leader:
Doctrinal Family: Reformed-Methodist
Doctrine(s) Held:
Amana Society, Community of True Inspiration
Foundation: 1714, Germany; in Amana, Iowa since 1842
Split from: Protestantism
Supreme Leader: none
Presiding Body: none
Sacred Text(s):
Local Religious Leader:
Doctrinal Family:
Doctrine(s) Held:Communistic
Amish
Foundation:
Split from: Anabaptist
Supreme Leader:
Presiding Body:
Sacred Text(s): OT, NT
Local Religious Leader:
Doctrinal Family:Anabaptist (Believer Baptism)
Doctrine(s) Held: Pacifism, Nonparticipation in Civil Government, Simple Living, No Musical Instruments, Modesty, Woman's Veiling (Head Covering), Fundamentalism, Apostolic Tradition, Justification by Faith, Kingdom of Satan on Earth Opposes God's Kingdom in Heaven
Hutterites
Foundation: John Hutter
Split from: Calvinist Reformed
Supreme Leader:
Presiding Body:
Sacred Text(s):
Local Religious Leader:
Doctrinal Family: Anabaptist (Believer Baptism)
Doctrine(s) Held: Adult Baptism
Foundation: 1521-1539 by Henry VIII of England, peaked in 17th century CE
Split from: Roman Catholic
Supreme Leader: Archbishop of Canterbury
Presiding Body:
Sacred Text(s): OT, NT, Book fo Common Prayer, early Christian commentary and Councils
Local Religious Leader: Priest
Doctrinal Family: Western Liturgical
Doctrine(s) Held:Rejects Papal authority, Divorce is allowed, Promotion of a more elaborate liturgy and an aesthetic that valued visual representation and beauty in church architecture, art and furnishings
Aphthartodocetae
Foundation:
Split from:
Supreme Leader:
Presiding Body:
Sacred Text(s):
Local Religious Leader:
Doctrinal Family:
Doctrine(s) Held:
Aquarians, Hydroparastatae
Foundation:
Split from:
Supreme Leader:
Presiding Body:
Sacred Text(s):
Local Religious Leader:
Doctrinal Family:
Doctrine(s) Held:
Assembly of God
Foundation:
Split from:
Supreme Leader:
Presiding Body:
Sacred Text(s):
Local Religious Leader:
Doctrinal Family:
Doctrine(s) Held:
Assyrian Christians, Nestorians
Foundation:
Split from:
Supreme Leader:
Presiding Body:
Sacred Text(s):
Local Religious Leader:
Doctrinal Family:
Doctrine(s) Held:
Baptist, Landmark
Anabaptist (Believer Baptism)
Baptist, Particular
Foundation:
Split from:
Supreme Leader:
Presiding Body:
Sacred Text(s):
Local Religious Leader:
Doctrinal Family:
Doctrine(s) Held:
Foundation:
Split from:
Supreme Leader:
Presiding Body:
Sacred Text(s):
Local Religious Leader:Minister (Reverend)
Doctrinal Family:
Doctrine(s) Held:
Cainites
Foundation:
Split from:
Supreme Leader:
Presiding Body:
Sacred Text(s):
Local Religious Leader:
Doctrinal Family:
Doctrine(s) Held:
Cathar Church, Assembly of Good Christians
Foundation:
Split from: Maintained early Church traditions while the R.C.C. split away
Supreme Leader:
Presiding Body: General Conference
Sacred Text(s):
Local Religious Leader:
Doctrinal Family: Anabaptist, House Church Movement
Doctrine(s) Held: Pacifism, Nonresistance, Nonparticipation in Civil Government, non-Evangelical, Simple Living, Apostolic Fellowship
Reformed Church, Calvinist
Foundation:
Split from: Lutheran
Supreme Leader:
Presiding Body:
Sacred Text(s):
Local Religious Leader: Minister (Reverend)
Doctrinal Family: Reformed-Presbyterian
Doctrine(s) Held: Predestination
Christadelphians
Foundation: ca. 1849 as a grassroots movement by John Thomas
Split from: Protestant
Supreme Leader: none
Presiding Body: none
Sacred Text(s): OT, NT
Local Religious Leader: Administrator elected by the Ecclesia
Doctrinal Family: House Church Movement
Doctrine(s) Held:Apostolic Fellowship, Fundamentalism, Symbolic Eucharist, Original Sin, Resurrection of Christ, Baptism, Justification by Faith, Resurrection of the Dead, Unitarianism, Anti-Human Soul Immortality, Anti-Spiritual Gifts, Anti-Reprobation, Anti-Heaven Afterlife, Anti-Satan, Evangelism, Jesus as Human, Believer Baptism by Immersion, Second Coming of Christ, Pacifism
Christian Science
Foundation:
Split from:
Supreme Leader:
Presiding Body:
Sacred Text(s):
Local Religious Leader:
Doctrinal Family: Chrsitian Science-Metaphysical
Doctrine(s) Held:
Foundation:
Split from: Judaism
Supreme Leader:
Presiding Body:
Sacred Text(s):
Local Religious Leader:
Doctrine(s) Held:
Church of God in Christ
Foundation:
Split from:
Supreme Leader:
Presiding Body:
Sacred Text(s):
Local Religious Leader:
Doctrinal Family:
Doctrine(s) Held:
Congregationalist
Foundation:
Split from:
Supreme Leader:
Presiding Body:
Sacred Text(s):
Local Religious Leader:
Doctrinal Family: Reformed-Presbyterian
Doctrine(s) Held:
Coptic Orthodox, Assyrian Orthodox
Foundation:
Split from:
Supreme Leader:
Presiding Body:
Sacred Text(s):
Local Religious Leader: Priest
Doctrinal Family: Western Liturgical
Doctrine(s) Held:
Donatism
Foundation:
Split from:
Supreme Leader:
Presiding Body:
Sacred Text(s):
Local Religious Leader:
Doctrinal Family:
Doctrine(s) Held:
Dunkers
Anabaptist (Believer Baptism)
Doukhobors
Foundation:
Split from:
Supreme Leader:
Presiding Body:
Sacred Text(s):
Local Religious Leader:
Doctrinal Family:
Doctrine(s) Held: Pacifism
Eastern Orthodox
Foundation:
Split from:
Supreme Leader:
Presiding Body:
Sacred Text(s):
Local Religious Leader:
Doctrinal Family: Western Liturgical
Doctrine(s) Held:
Foundation:
Split from:
Supreme Leader:
Presiding Body:
Sacred Text(s):
Local Religious Leader:
Doctrinal Family: Western Liturgical
Doctrine(s) Held:
Ethiopian Church
Foundation:
Split from:
Supreme Leader:
Presiding Body:
Sacred Text(s):
Local Religious Leader:
Doctrinal Family:
Doctrine(s) Held:
Evangelical United Brethren Church
Foundation:
Split from:
Supreme Leader:
Presiding Body:
Sacred Text(s):
Local Religious Leader:
Doctrinal Family: Anabaptist (Believer Baptism)
Doctrine(s) Held:
Free Church Federal Council
Foundation:
Split from:
Supreme Leader:
Presiding Body:
Sacred Text(s):
Local Religious Leader:
Doctrinal Family:
Doctrine(s) Held:
Free Methodists, Wesleyans (see also United Methodist)
Foundation:
Split from:
Supreme Leader:
Presiding Body:
Sacred Text(s):
Local Religious Leader:
Doctrinal Family: Pietist-Methodist
Doctrine(s) Held:
Gnostic
Foundation:
Split from:
Supreme Leader:
Presiding Body:
Sacred Text(s):
Local Religious Leader:
Doctrinal Family:
Doctrine(s) Held:
Hesychasm
Foundation:
Split from:
Supreme Leader:
Presiding Body:
Sacred Text(s):
Local Religious Leader:
Doctrinal Family:
Doctrine(s) Held:
Holiness Churches (see also Nazarene, Church of the)
Foundation:
Split from:
Supreme Leader:
Presiding Body:
Sacred Text(s):
Local Religious Leader:
Doctrinal Family:
Doctrine(s) Held:
Huguenot Church
Foundation:
Split from:
Supreme Leader:
Presiding Body:
Sacred Text(s):
Local Religious Leader:
Doctrinal Family:
Doctrine(s) Held:
Jehovah's Witness, Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, International Bible Students
Foundation:
Split from:
Supreme Leader:
Presiding Body:
Sacred Text(s):
Local Religious Leader:
Doctrinal Family:
Doctrine(s) Held:
Jews for Jesus
Foundation:
Split from:
Supreme Leader:
Presiding Body:
Sacred Text(s):
Local Religious Leader:
Doctrinal Family: Messianic Judaism
Doctrine(s) Held:
Foundation: 1517 by Martin Luther during Protestant Reformation
Split from: Roman Catholic
Supreme Leader: National Bishops
Presiding Body: Synod, elected delegates
Sacred Text(s): OT, NT
Local Religious Leader: Pastor
Doctrinal Family: Lutheran
Doctrine(s) Held: Justification by faith alone (not works)
Malabar Christians, Thomas Christians
Foundation:
Split from:
Supreme Leader:
Presiding Body:
Sacred Text(s):
Local Religious Leader:
Doctrine(s) Held:
Mandaeans
Foundation:
Split from:
Supreme Leader:
Presiding Body:
Sacred Text(s):
Local Religious Leader:
Doctrine(s) Held:
Mennonite, Church of the Brethren, Church Amish
Foundation:
Split from:
Supreme Leader:
Presiding Body:
Sacred Text(s): OT, NT, Schleitheim Confession
Local Religious Leader:
Doctrinal Family: Anabaptist (Believer Baptism)
Doctrine(s) Held:Trinitarian, Jesus Was Fully Human and Fully Divine, Believer Baptism, Woman's Inferiority and Veiling (Head Covering), Nonresistance, Nonparticipation in Civil Government, Justification by Faith and Works, Evangelism, Symbolic Eucharist, No Interfaith Marriage, Bi-Gender Marriage, No Oaths, Pacifism, Resurrection of the Dead, Resurrection of Christ, Footwashing, Life Begins at Conception, Anti-Contraception, Anti-Euthanasia, Anti-Abortion, Pro-Organ/Body Donation, No Divorce, Celibate Separation, Remarriage of Widows, Homosexulaity as Sin, Simple Living
Messianic Judaism
Foundation:
Split from: Judaism
Supreme Leader:
Presiding Body:
Sacred Text(s):
Local Religious Leader:
Doctrine(s) Held:
Moravian (Bohemian) Brethren
Foundation: The Bohemian Brethren tradition was 'renewed' in 1722 under th guidance of Count Zinzendorf
Split from: Lutheran
Supreme Leader:
Presiding Body:
Sacred Text(s):
Local Religious Leader:
Doctrinal Family: Anabaptist (Believer Baptism)
Doctrine(s) Held: some elements of Pietism
Mormans, LDS, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
Foundation: In 1830, Joseph Smith met the angel, Moroni, on Hill Cumorah in Palmyra NY and was revealed the Book of Mormon
Split from: Protestant
Supreme Leader: President
Presiding Body:
Sacred Text(s): OT, NT, Book of Mormon
Local Religious Leader:
Doctrine(s) Held: Adventist, Post-Resurrection ministry in North America by Jesus, the post-apocalyptic city of Zion will be built in the western hemisphere.
Muggletonians (extinct since 1979)
Foundation: Around 1651 by Ludowicke Muggleton and his cousin
Split from: Protestant
Supreme Leader: unknown
Presiding Body: unknown
Sacred Text(s): OT, NT
Local Religious Leader: unknown
Doctrine(s) Held:Unitarianism, Jesus was fully divine, During the time God was incarnated in Jesus, Elijah ran the divine 'government' in his place.
NOTE: This list only contains present day Christian denominations, but I ran across this group in my studies and I just had to include it because of the name. Weasley the King!
Nazarene, Church of the (see also Holiness Churches)
Foundation:
Split from:
Supreme Leader:
Presiding Body:
Sacred Text(s):
Local Religious Leader:
Doctrine(s) Held:
Pentacostals
Foundation:
Split from:
Supreme Leader:
Presiding Body:
Sacred Text(s):
Local Religious Leader:
Doctrine(s) Held:
Foundation:
Split from:
Supreme Leader:
Presiding Body:
Sacred Text(s):
Local Religious Leader:
Doctrine(s) Held:
Protestant
Foundation:
Split from: Roman Catholic
Supreme Leader:
Presiding Body: Synod
Sacred Text(s): OT, NT
Local Religious Leader: Pastor
Doctrine(s) Held:
Quakers, Society of Friends, Friends of Truth
Foundation:
Split from:
Supreme Leader:
Presiding Body:
Sacred Text(s):
Local Religious Leader:
Doctrinal Family: Anabaptist (Believer Baptism)
Doctrine(s) Held:George Fox
Ranters
Foundation: 17th century (now extinct)
Split from: Roman Catholic or Protestant
Supreme Leader: none
Presiding Body: none
Sacred Text(s): none
Local Religious Leader: self-regulated
Doctrinal Family:Doctrine(s) Held: Inward experience of Christ is paramount, denial of Scripture, the Creeds, and official church hierarchy
NOTE: This list only contains present day Christian denominations, but I ran across this group in my studies and it intrigued me because it shares so many characteristics with Paganism. So I included it. "It's good to be the King."
Reformed Episcopal
Foundation:
Split from:
Supreme Leader:
Presiding Body:
Sacred Text(s):
Local Religious Leader:
Doctrinal Family:
Doctrine(s) Held:
Reformed Presbytery
Foundation: By dissent in 1690, then organized in 1743, many congregations joined the Free Church of Scotland in 1876 but some remained independent
Split from: Presbyterian Church of Scotland
Supreme Leader:
Presiding Body: Presbytery
Sacred Text(s): Old and New Testament
Local Religious Leader:
Doctrinal Family: Calvinist
Doctrine(s) Held:
Roman Catholic
Foundation: Codified in the 4th century
Split from: Judaism
Supreme Leader: Pope (Rome, Italy)
Presiding Body: Enclave of Cardinals ??
Sacred Text(s): OT, NT, Papal writings, Writings of Saints
Local Religious Leader: Priest, Canon, Deacon
Doctrinal Family: Western Liturgical
Doctrine(s) Held:Infallibility of the Pope, Trinitarian, Resurrectino of the Dead, Resurrection of Christ, Justification by Faith and Works, Intercession for Forgiveness of Sin, Blessed Virgin Mary, Celibate Clergy, Non-Married Clergy, Monasticism, Seven Sacraments, Transubstatiation in Eucharist, Annual Eucharist
Salvation Army
Foundation:1865 for the purpose of evangelism through social work
Split from: Evangelical Protestantism
Supreme Leader: General
Presiding Body:
Sacred Text(s): OT, NT
Local Religious Leader:
Doctrinal Family:
Doctrine(s) Held:Evangelism, Rejection of all Sacraments
Seekers
Foundation: early 17th century
Split from: Puritans
Supreme Leader:
Presiding Body:
Sacred Text(s):
Local Religious Leader:
Doctrinal Family: Anabaptist (Believer Baptism)
Doctrine(s) Held: No true Christian Church has existed since the Antichrist became uppermost in the Church, God will "in his own time" ordain new Apostles or Phrophets to found a new Church.
Shakers
Foundation:
Split from:
Supreme Leader:
Presiding Body:
Sacred Text(s):
Local Religious Leader:
Doctrinal Family: Anabaptist (Believer Baptism)
Doctrine(s) Held:
Tunkers
Foundation:
Split from:
Supreme Leader:
Presiding Body:
Sacred Text(s):
Local Religious Leader:
Doctrine(s) Held:
Unitarian Universalist
Foundation:
Split from:
Supreme Leader:
Presiding Body:
Sacred Text(s):
Local Religious Leader:
Doctrine(s) Held:
United Church of Christ, Disciples of Christ
Foundation:
Split from:
Supreme Leader:
Presiding Body:
Sacred Text(s):
Local Religious Leader:
Doctrinal Family:
Doctrine(s) Held:
United Free Church
Foundation:
Split from:
Supreme Leader:
Presiding Body:
Sacred Text(s):
Local Religious Leader:
Doctrine(s) Held:
Foundation:
Split from:
Supreme Leader:
Presiding Body:
Sacred Text(s):
Local Religious Leader:
Doctrinal Family:
Doctrine(s) Held:
Sources: Dictionary.com, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church, Religioustolerance.org
BELIEFS OF OTHER WORLD RELIGIONS
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Hinduism is a diverse body of religious beliefs, philosophical beliefs and cultural practices native to India, and practiced widely in India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal.
It is characterized by a belief in reincarnation that helps you move up (or down) through the traditional castes, by a belief in a Supreme Being of many forms and natures (see henotheism), by the view that opposing theories are aspects of one eternal truth, and by a desire for liberation from earthly evils through purification and elimination of personal identity. Modern India is attepting to make the caste system a social construct only, instead of part of the legal code.
The sacred writings of Hinduism include the Vedas (which contain the Upanishads) and the Bhagavad Gita. Buddhism and Jainism are offshoots of this religion.
Judaism
Karaites reject the Rabbinical tradition of scholarly interpretation. They are the fundamantalists of Judaism.
The Sanhedrin was essentially the parliament and supreme court of the Jewish and Palestinian people from before the rise of the Roman empire until the early centuries of the Common Era. They settled disputes within the Jewish world, collected taxes, and acted as the civil court of Jerusalem.
A modern religious tradition that requires adherents to seek only self-service. It is a response to Christianity. There is a modern Church of Satan, guided by the works of author Anton Lavey. The basic theology expresses a paleo-Gnostic worldview, where Satan (also known as Lucifer the Light Bringer) is actually trying to free mankind from the Creator.
Some Satanists still include forms of violence and aggression such as killing animals and using the symbols of other religions in negative ways. Others are peaceful and not easily recognized. A good overview is at http://altreligion.about.com/library/faqs/bl_satanism.htm
Taoists believe that the Tao a formless, unchanging and self-sufficient form of energy, which was present before the universe existed, and continues to be present in all things. This is immanence.
Zoroastrianism, Avesta
Sources: Dictionary.com, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church, Religioustolerance.org
BELIEFS OF PAGAN TRADITIONS (DENOMINATIONS)
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Alexandrian Wicca
Asatru
Druidism, Druidry
This term describes a person who does not follow any one system of philosophy or religion, but selects and uses what are considered the best elements of all systems. The resulting "eclectic" system often derives from a wide range of historic periods, the concept or element in each instance often being chosen for its appropriateness to personal tradition, geography, purpose, and/or cultural background.
Eclecticism can function within any religion, to varying degrees of acceptance, but is especially common in "modern" religions like Neopaganism. Some who have maintained their affiliative (meaning, from childhood or family) faith tradition do not view such "buffet" practices as valid. On the other hand, Neopagans would point out that outdated, useless and potentially psychologically harmful doctrines should be shed or ignored.
Magical practitioners who focus primarily on aligning actions with these Elements are called Elementalists, of which I am one. Many Neopagans include Spirit as a fifth element. Kabbalists (Jewish magical philosophic tradition) would also add Matter as the sixth Element.
Goddess Worship (general)
According to many sources, a "hedge witch" is a person who does not automatically equate witchcraft with worship of Goddess and God. Hedge witches are generally solitaries who eschew public displays. Hedge witches favor divination, helping others, herbology, and often use elemental and shamanistic bits in their Craft. I am a hedge witch who seeks to lead others. Go figure.
Gardnerian Wicca
Neo-Paganism, Paganism
Neo-Paganism, or just "Paganism," is a modern religion. Just as in the other major world religions there is a wide variety of denominations, called "traditions" or "trads" within the larger umbrella of Paganism.
Most Neo-Pagan traditions have many of the following factors in common:
- their faith was almost or completely wiped out in the past and has since been reconstructed from ancient information sources.
- a duotheistic or polytheistic belief system (they recognize a Goddess and God, and/or believe in many deities).
- many followers are solitary practitioners.
- others are involved in small groups, which various traditions call circles, covens, garths, groves, hearths, kindreds, etc.
- they celebrate four main seasonal days of celebrations each year, associated with the equinoxes and solstices.
- many also celebrate four additional days, each between a solstice and equinox.
- they prefer to conduct their religious rituals outdoors where practical.
- many do not practice their religion publicly because of the danger of abuse from very devout but misinformed Christians who have associated them with an evil and non-existent form of Satanism.
- they have a minimal or no hierarchical structure.
- they have a concern for the environment.
- They feel close to nature and its cycles.
- They follow a behavioral code that requires them to avoid hurting themselves or others.
Seax
Shamanism
Wicca is a modern religion (i.e., based on experience rather than dogma) originated by Gerald Gardner in the British Isles in 1950. Rather quickly, splinter groups began forming, or "hiving off," resulting in myriad "traditions" or "trads" within Wicca and Neopaganism in general. Many books that have been published in the last fifty years (see web sites for Llewellyn, Weiser, New Page) are about Eclectic Wicca and becoming a magical practitioner. Gardner mingled theology and magical science in his tradition. Recently there has been a great deal of debate, and many Eclectic and/or Solitary Neopagans feel that use of magic is a skill, and should not presuppose belief in the God/Goddess polarity (see Bitheism, above).
Sources: Dictionary.com, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church, Religioustolerance.org
