RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: GLOSSARY OF TERMS The South Gloucestershire SACRE has prepared this glossary as a reference aid to the teaching of RE and the use of the new Agreed Syllabus. It may appear cumbersome as a result of our desire to make it as comprehensive as possible. The information contained here has been gathered from a variety of sources and we cannot accept responsibility for the content. 1 CONTENTS Baha’i 3 – 12 Buddhist 13 -24 Christian 25 – 37 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) 38 – 58 Confucianism 59 – 69 Ethics 70 – 81 Hinduism ` 82 – 89 Humanism 90 – 92 Islam 93 – 103 Jain 104 - 116 Jehovah’s Witnesses 117 - 124 Judaism 125 - 129 Pagan 130 - 137 Philosophy of Religion 138 - 142 Rastafarianism 143 - 149 Science and Religion 150 - 157 Shintoism 158 - 162 Sikhism 163 - 166 Taoism 167 - 168 Zoroastrianism 169 - 182 2 GLOSSARY OF BAHA’I TERMS Guide to Persian Names In the time of the Báb and Bahá'u'lláh, Persians did not use family names. To help distinguish one Alí from another, they used a system of honorifics added to the names. Family names eventually came into widespread use, but many of these honorifics can still be added to a person's name. Once they came into use, family names were frequently formed from place names. This was often done by adding an "í" to the end of the name of the town or region where the family lived. For example, a family from the city of Shiráz might have adopted a family name of Shirází. (The same construction used in forming words such as "Bábí" and "Bahá'í.") Here's a list of honorifics and what they mean: Áqá: A title of respect denoting the eldest son of a family; translated as "Master" in references to 'Abdu'l-Bahá. Effendi: A title of respect; "sir". Can be used following a name or alone as a form of address. Hájí: One who has made the pilgrimage to Mecca. Khánum: Placed after the name; "Lady". Mírzá: Used in front of the name, it designates one who can read and write, and is roughly equivalent to "Mister." Used after the name, it designates a prince. Mullá: A Muslim priest. Navváb: A title of respect used by a man to refer to his wife; English "nabob" is a cognate. Shaykh: A learned man, similar to a professor or other scholar. Siyyid: A descendant of the Prophet Muhammad. 'Abdu'l-Bahá (1844 - 1921): The name by which Bahá'u'lláh's son and appointed successor Abbas Effendi is commonly known. "'Abdu'l-Bahá" means "Servant of Bahá." He was designated by Bahá'u'lláh as the "Centre of the Covenant" towards whom all Bahá'ís should turn, the authorised interpreter of His Father's Writings, and the perfect exemplar of Bahá'í life. Abhá: Most glorious. "Bahá" means glory, and "abhá" is its superlative form. Both are titles of Bahá'u'lláh and of His Kingdom. Ablutions: The ritual washing of the hands and face in preparation for prayer. Bahá'u'lláh requires ablutions as part of the daily obligatory prayer. See also: Obligatory Prayer Administrative Order: Collectively, the institutions that administer the affairs of the Bahá'í Faith. The administrative order was created by Bahá'u'lláh, and certain of its elements were further elaborated by 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Shoghi Effendi, and the Universal House of Justice. See also: Auxiliary Board, Continental Board of Counsellors, Guardian, Hand of the Cause of God, House of Justice, Spiritual Assembly 3 Afnán: The relatives of the Báb. Literally, "twigs." Aghsán: The relatives of Bahá'u'lláh. Literally, "branches." 'Akká: The prison-city near Haifa (in modern-day Israel) where Bahá'u'lláh was imprisoned from late August, 1868 through June, 1877. See also: Bahjí, Mazra'ih, Most Great Prison 'Alá: "Loftiness," the nineteenth month in the Bahá'í calendar. 'Alá is also the month during which the 19-day Fast is observed. See also: The Fast Alláh-u-Abhá: A form of the Greatest Name, literally meaning "God, the All- Glorious." It is often used by Bahá'ís as a greeting. See also: Greatest Name, Ya Bahá'u'l-Abhá Ancient of Days: A title of God. In the Bible it appears in the Book of Daniel. It also appears frequently in the Bahá'í Holy Writings. Ancient Beauty: A title of Bahá'u'lláh The Arc: The collection of administrative buildings at the Bahá'í World Centre on Mt. Carmel, Israel. The buildings on the Arc include the Seat of the Universal House of Justice, the International Teaching Centre, the International Archives, and the Centre for the Study of the Sacred Texts. Ascension of Abdu'l-Baha celebration of the rising of the spirit of Abdu'l- Baha to the heavenly dwelling. Ascension of Baha'u'llah recollection of the death of Baha'u'llah, the founder. Observed by prayers and readings. Work is suspended. Asmá': "Names," the ninth month in the Bahá'í calendar. Auxiliary Board: An appointed administrative body created by the Universal House of Justice to take over and extend the functions of the Hands of the Cause of God. (The House does not have the power to appoint new Hands of the Cause.) Auxiliary Board members are appointed on the basis of their spiritual knowledge and primarily act as advisors to the Local Spiritual Assemblies and individuals in their areas. See also: Continental Board of Counsellors, Hand of the Cause of God, International Teaching Centre Ayyam-i-Há: Literally, "the days of Há" (Há being a letter in the Arabic alphabet associated with God). A four-day period (five in leap years) of charity, gift-giving and celebration that immediately precedes the period of fasting. 'Azamat: "Grandeur," the fourth month in the Bahá'í calendar. The Báb (1819 - 1850): Literally, "the Gate." The title of Hájí Siyyid Mírzá Alí Muhammad Shirazi, the Prophet-Founder of the Bábí Faith and "Herald" of the Bahá'í Faith. During His brief mission, the Báb called upon the people to purify themselves in preparation for the coming of "Him whom God will manifest." He ministry ended with His public execution on July 9, 1850 in Tabríz, Persia. Bábí: A follower of the Báb. Upon Bahá'u'lláh's declaration of His mission most of the Bábís accepted Him and became Bahá'ís. Badi Calendar: A solar calendar used by Bahá'ís, comprised of 19 months each having 19 days, and four intercalary days (five in leap years) inserted between the 18th and 19th months. Bahá: "Splendour," the first month in the Bahá'í calendar. Bahá'u'lláh (1817 - 1892): Literally, "the Glory of God." The title by which is known Mírzá Husayn Alí Nuri, the Prophet-Founder of the Bahá'í Faith. He spent His 40-year ministry in prison and in exile. In spite of great hardships 4 and his being opposed by the most powerful people in the Islamic world, He persisted in spreading His message of unity and peace, authored the equivalent of 100 volumes (which form the core of the Bahá'í Holy Writings), and called upon the world's leaders to reconcile their differences and establish true justice in the world. Bahá'í: A follower of Bahá'u'lláh; the faith which grew out of the Islamic movement, led by Baha'u'llah, in Persia, now Iran. Bahjí: The house near 'Akká where Bahá'u'lláh was allowed to spend His final years (1879 - 1892). He is buried in a shrine at Bahjí, the holiest spot on Earth for Bahá'ís. See also: 'Akká, Mazra'ih, Most Great Prison Bayán: The most important Book written by the Báb, in which His laws are revealed. Birth of the Bab honouring of the founder of the Babi religion, forerunner to Baha'u'llah and the Baha'i faith. Birth of Baha'u'llah celebration of the birth of their founder and teacher. Refrain from work. Camphor Fountain: A symbol used in the Qur'án indicating the Word of God. ("The righteous shall drink of a cup tempered at the camphor fountain." Qur'án 76:5) A similar image occurs in the Bible, where Jesus refers to "the living water" (John 4:4-42). Continental Board of Counsellors: An appointed administrative body created by the Universal House of Justice to take over and extend the functions of the Hands of the Cause of God. (The House does not have the power to appoint new Hands of the Cause.) The Counsellors are appointed on the basis of their spiritual knowledge and primarily act as advisors to the National Spiritual Assemblies in their areas. Covenant: In the general religious sense, a covenant is an agreement between God and humanity. In Bahá'í terms, two covenants are recognised: the Greater Covenant and the Lesser Covenant. The Greater Covenant is an element of every religion, and provides God's assurance that He will send another Manifestation of God in the future. The Lesser Covenant is specific to the Bahá'í Faith and involves Bahá'u'lláh's assurance that the unity of His followers will be maintained. See also: Greater Covenant, Lesser Covenant Creative Word: The Word of God, which is the agent of creation. The term is only applied to those Holy Writings that can be authenticated as being the actual words of a Manifestation of God. Practically speaking, these are the Qur'án, the Writings of the Báb, and the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh. See also: Manifestation of God Day of the Covenanti celebration of the covenant given in the last will and testament of Baha'u'llah Declaration Card: A document (usually about the size of an index card) used to formally register a person in a Bahá'í community.