Glossary
- Abstract Ideals
- Definition:Religions that focus on sacred principles and thoughts which guide our lives and typically have no divine beings in charge of the world and universe.
- Agnostic
- Definition:A person who does not know if a god or gods exist.
- Animism
- Definition:This classification of religion does not believe in gods, but focuses on good or evil spirits which inhabit animals, rocks and/or people and animals.
- Atheist
- Definition:A person who does not believe in a god or gods.
- Buddhism
- Definition:An abstract ideals religion founded in 520 BC in India which believes that humanity's purpose is to gain enlightenment and avoid suffering through a process of rebirth.
- Christianity
- Definition:A monotheistic religion founded in 30 AD in Israel, which is based on the teaching, miracles, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth.
- Church
- Definition:A sect that has gained numerous followers and has become highly bureaucratized.
- Cohabitation
- Definition:When couples choose to live together without marrying.
- Common law marriage
- Definition:A union of two people not formalized in the customary manner as prescribed by law but created by an agreement to marry followed by cohabitation.
- Conflict theory
- Definition:Theory that social institutions are originally organized to meet basic social needs; however, this theory does not believe that social institutions work for the common good of everyone in society.
- Cult
- Definition:A newer religion with few followers whose teachings are perceived to be at odds with the dominant culture and religion.
- Ecclesia
- Definition:Religious organizations which have grown to be large and are integrated with government and other social institutions.
- Egalitarian
- Definition:A marriage and family pattern giving equal power to both spouses and/or parents.
- Extended family
- Definition:A family composed of more than two generations of family members.
- Family of orientation
- Definition:The family a person is born into.
- Family of procreation
- Definition:A family established upon marriage.
- Functionalist theory
- Definition:Theory that social institutions exist because they perform five essential tasks: 1) replacing members 2) teaching new members 3) producing, distributing, and consuming goods and services 4) preserving order and 5) providing and maintaining a sense of purpose.
- Hinduism
- Definition:A polytheistic religion of India; followers of this religion believe that humans are in bondage to ignorance and illusion but are able to escape; the purpose is to gain release from rebirth.
- Homogamy
- Definition:The tendency to pair off with another person who is similar to us.
- Islam
- Definition:A monotheistic religion founded in 622 AD based on the revelations of Muhammad in the 600s, which were later recorded in their holy book called the Qur’an; they practice the Five Pillars of Faith.
- Judaism
- Definition:Monotheistic religion founded in 1300 BC as the faith of the Hebrews that believes that followers should obey God's commandments, live ethically. Focus is more on this life than the next.
- Marriage
- Definition:The social institution under which two people establish their decision to live together as spouses by legal commitments or religious ceremony.
- Matriarchy
- Definition:A form of social organization in which the mother is the head of the family, and which descent is reckoned in the female line.
- Monogamy
- Definition:The marriage form permitting only one spouse.
- Monotheistic
- Definition:Religions that have one single all powerful God.
- Nuclear family
- Definition:A family structure composed of one or both parents and children.
- Patriarchy
- Definition:A form of social organization in which the father is the supreme authority in the family, tribe or clan, and descent is reckoned in the male line.
- Polyandry
- Definition:A marriage form permitting more than one husband at the same time.
- Polygamy
- Definition:A marriage form permitting more than one spouse at the same time.
- Polygyny
- Definition:A marriage form permitting more than one wife at the same time.
- Polytheistic
- Definition:Refers to religions with multiple Gods.
- Primary relatives
- Definition:An individual’s closest relatives.
- Secondary relatives
- Definition:The primary relatives of an individual’s primary relatives.
- Sect
- Definition:A type of religious group that is distinguished by having broken away from a larger organization, usually a church; they tend to be nonconformist in relation to other religious organizations but less at odds with the dominant culture than cults.
- Simple Supernaturalism
- Definition:This classification of religion does not believe in gods, but focuses on human and non-human supernatural forces which influences us for better or worse.
- Social institution
- Definition:A set of organized beliefs and rules that establishes how a society will attempt to meet its basic social needs.
- Tertiary relatives
- Definition:The primary relatives of an individual’s secondary relatives.
- Theistic
- Definition:This classification of religion has divine beings which are deities or gods.
- Traditional family
- Definition:The more common name for Talcott Parsons’ contemporary nuclear family, consisting of a breadwinner husband, a homemaker wife and their children.
- Unchurched
- Definition:Describes people who consider themselves spiritual but not religious and who often adopt aspects of various religious traditions.
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