Polytheism

Belief in many or multiple gods

Vishnu

Preserver of the world

Brahma

Creator of the world

Shiva

destroyer of the world

Untouchables

Lowest level of Indian society (Not even part of caste)

Karma

Affect's pf a persons actions

Meditation

Focus of attention to clear one's mind

Caste system

Hindu social class system

Enlightment

A movement in the 18th century that advocated the use of reason in the reappraisal of accepted ideas and social institutions.

Reincarnation

Rebirth of a soul in a new body

Nirvana

The state of englightenment for Buddhists.

Vedas

Ancient Sanskrit writings that are the earliest sacred texts of Hinduism

Siddhartha Guatama

most commonly referred to as the Buddha ("the awakened"), was a wandering ascetic and religious teacher who lived in South Asia

Buddha

Means "Enlightened One." He is said to have found a path for overcoming suffering.

4 noble truths

Core of Buddha's doctrine; all life involves suffering, desire is the cause of suffering, elimination of desire brings the end to suffering, and disciplined life conducted in accordance with the Eightfold Path brings elimination of desire

Darmha

Teachings of Buddha

8 fold path

the teachings of the Buddha

Asceticism

rigorous self denial and active self restraint

Sanskrit

ancient language of India

Ahisma

Hindu belief in nonviolence

Torah

first five books of the Hebrew bible

Israel

Only Jewish nation

persecution

hostility and ill-treatment because of race or political beliefs

Holocaust

the Nazi program of exterminating Jews under Hitler

Monotheism

belief in one god

star of david

symbol of Judaism

Menorah

a candelabrum with nine branches

Yarmulka

a skullcap worn by Jewish men

Gentile

a non-Jewish person

Messiah

savior sent by god

Disciples

followers of Jesus

crusades

a series of holy wars

Missionary

A person who spreads his or her religious beliefs to others

Baptism

a Christian sacrament signifying spiritual cleansing and rebirth

Apostle

Pioneer of a reform movement (originally, an early follower of Jesus)

Salvation

(Christianity) the act of delivering from sin or saving from evil

Crucifixion

the execution of a person by nailing or binding them to a cross.

Resurrection

rising from the dead

Reformation

A movement for religious reform

Trinity

The truth that God, although one, is three Divine Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.