Questions tagged [religion]
For questions about English terminology that relates to religious thought in general or to a specific religion.
2
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1answer
68 views
Word for the religious equivalent of 'demonym'
A demonym is
a noun used to denote the natives or inhabitants of a particular country, state, city, etc.
For example, Europeans are from Europe; the word "Europeans" is the demonym of "Europe". ...
0
votes
2answers
144 views
When is it appropriate to send Seasons Greetings?
During what time of the year is it appropriate to close semi-formal written conversation with "Season's Greetings"?
Obviously sometime around December 25th, but how much in advance and how much past ...
1
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0answers
47 views
3 in 1 is a Trinity. What is 2 in 1, 4 in 1, 5 in 1, N in 1? [duplicate]
Background
The use of the word "Trinity" occurs frequently in Catholicism when referring to God's nature, 3 persons in 1 God. What words would describe a being that is 2 persons, 4 persons, 5 ...
3
votes
2answers
223 views
What is the most appropriate word to describe the phenomenon of many church bells ringing concurrently?
Usually in celebration of a wedding or Christmas morning? Although I know I've read a word that describes this event exactly, I can't recall where or when. I've polled some pals and gotten "jubilee ...
0
votes
1answer
700 views
What does it mean if someone says they are “blessed”? [closed]
If Person X says that they're "blessed", does this have to imply that they believe they've received a blessing from some higher power? Or could it just mean they feel "fortunate" or even just happy ...
29
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6answers
8k views
Why is it “came back from the dead” and not “came back from the death”?
Many times now, I've heard native English speakers (from the USA and Canada) say "he came back from the dead" instead of "from the death" when they mean resurrection.
Dead is not a noun, so I don't ...
2
votes
2answers
60 views
Is it acceptable to call teachings such as “How to behave as a Muslim” a science? If not, what should we call them in English?
In the Muslim world, it is very popular to call the teachings of the religion a science. As we all know, the God and resurrection cannot be proven or rejected in a lab or through scientific methods. ...
0
votes
1answer
93 views
What are the etymological origins of the names Muhammad, Jesus and Buddha? [closed]
Muhammad, Jesus and Buddha are names today strongly connected with the religions these guys founded. So obviously they were not derived from their respective religions. So what did these names signify ...
2
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3answers
430 views
Which is correct: “eucharistic” or “Eucharistic”? Or is there no hard rule? [closed]
Recently I have been writing a question at https://christianity.stackexchange.com. I have noticed that browser underlines word "eucharistic".
As I am neither English nor catholic, I do not know any ...
3
votes
3answers
230 views
The belief that a god is human-like
What is the word that means someone who believes a deity has a recognizable human form and personality?
Usually, these personality traits are virtuous but they can also mimic man's weaknesses and ...
0
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0answers
24 views
How do I write (not cite) Bible verses in MLA format?
For in-text MLA citations of the Bible, everything I've seen says to write the following:
Saint John tells us that "God so loved the world that he sent his only-begotten Son" (Revised Standard ...
1
vote
1answer
55 views
Word order in the Hail Mary prayer
Part of the Hail Mary reads
Blessed art thou among women,
And blessed is the fruit of thy womb, etc.
I have some intuitive sense that putting the adjective first accomplishes something subtle ...
3
votes
1answer
146 views
Word that refers to efforts by people of all religions to develop closer relationships and better understandings
I am looking for a word like ecumenical:
Ecumenism refers to efforts by Christians of different Church traditions to develop closer relationships and better understandings. Wikipedia
What I want ...
1
vote
1answer
57 views
Specific adjective to qualify a religion
I am looking for a word to describe a religion which is flexible or liberal enough to accept a variety of folk beliefs, magical practices, other demons etc.
The author (translator) of the text which ...
2
votes
1answer
141 views
Why and how did “Shinto shrine” largely replace “Shinto temple”?
According to ngrams, "Shinto shrine" and "Shinto temple" were roughly equal in popularity until the 1930s, but nowadays, "Shinto shrine" is roughly 9 or 10 times more common than "Shinto temple", ...
9
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7answers
917 views
Better alternative for Mythology
On Hinduism Stackexchange, we have mythology a most popular tag. Since the word can have two different meanings i.e somewhat ambiguous nature, users often raise discussion on meta to rename or remove ...
1
vote
2answers
208 views
“Polishing Saint-in-the-Box”?
I'm reading St. Lucy's School for Girls Raised by Wolves by Karen Russell. I haven't been able to figure out exactly what "Saint-in-the-Box" means (I googled it) in the following:
'Does Mirabella ...
0
votes
1answer
224 views
Query about C.E./A.D. and B.C./B.C.E
I know the difference between A.D./B.C. and C.E./B.C.E. in terms of the religious accuracy i.e. that Christ was probably born in 4 B.C., what I don't understand is how this affects the C.E./B.C.E. ...
1
vote
0answers
2k views
What does 'lift up' mean in a religious context?
I came across this tweet from Sen Rob Portman from Ohio, referring to the death of Otto Warmbier,
His passing today is a loss for Ohio and for all of us. Jane and I are lifting up the Warmbier ...
1
vote
3answers
135 views
Equivalent Metonymy of “The Crown” for the Pope and Papacy
I'm writing about the English Reformation-era split allegiance to the king and pope, and I want to write a sentence comparing allegiance to "The Crown" to the equivalent metonym for the papacy. I ...
12
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7answers
2k views
Can you use the word atheistic to describe a lack of belief towards one specific religion?
I don't believe in any deities. Therefore I am an atheist. But if I were to just express that I don't believe in say Zeus, would it be correct to say "I am atheistic towards Zeus"? Take a person who ...
1
vote
3answers
71 views
Word for applying heavenly arguments to terrestrial issues
Is there a word for the process of applying heavenly-derived arguments to terrestrial issues? For example,
"John Doe argues against abortion because his Catholic faith says it's wrong. John's ...
2
votes
1answer
312 views
What does “cease to be never” means?
The line is from a translation of Bhagavad Gita by Sir Edwin Arnold:
Never the spirit was born; the spirit shall cease to be never;
Never was time it was not; End and Beginnings are dreams!
.......
6
votes
1answer
151 views
Word for the perception that the majority of people thinks about something the same way they do
So for example, supposing that I believed in God then because of my own belief I would assume that most people everywhere necessarily also believe in God. Kind of bias in the thought because of one’s ...
1
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0answers
152 views
How to refer to a god's 'minions'? [closed]
I tried this question over at the philosophy stack exchange and they suggested here instead.
How would one refer to those in a religious hierarchy that come under the primary deity (or deities) but ...
1
vote
1answer
262 views
Generic word for religious establishment
I need a word to describe any community that is religious. For example, a Church Group or Temple Youth Group. Would Religous Institution be correct?
Edit: As single word would probably be impossible, ...
2
votes
1answer
123 views
Is *holy*, used sarcastically, potentially offensive? [closed]
Do I need to replace holy with sacred in the following formal writing, because a Christian reader might take offense?
The poor survey design and irresponsible use of the results left the parents ...
1
vote
2answers
1k views
If “thy” is an informal pronoun, then why does The Lord's Prayer use it to refer to God? [duplicate]
The commonly used version of this Christian prayer comes from the King James Bible
9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come,...
4
votes
4answers
78k views
What do you call one who believes in a higher power but doesn't call it “God”? [closed]
What do you call a person who believes in a higher power but doesn't call that higher power "God"? Someone who respects every religion as a subject of study, or a valid belief system, but does not ...
3
votes
3answers
334 views
Word for religious supernatural?
The term supernatural often refers to things like ghosts, magic powers or special abilities, or a general sort of "magic".
I was wondering if there is a specific word for the supernatural within a ...
0
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2answers
573 views
“Eye of the Needle” Joke in Supply-Side Jesus
"It is easier for a rich man to enter heaven seated comfortably on the back of a camel than it is for a poor man to pass through the eye of a needle," is a funny inversion of "Matthew 19:24" from Al ...
1
vote
2answers
190 views
Does “Period of Continence” mean the same as “Prescribed waiting period”?
If you are acquainted with Islamic Sharia (law), you may have come across the term "iddah" (the period a woman must observe after the death of her spouse or after a divorce, during which she may not ...
2
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2answers
488 views
Is nationalism specifically secular?
Does the word nationalism specifically imply a feeling of kindred superiority in a secular sense?
For instance, if country X opposes themselves to country Y based on religious practice or reasons, ...
13
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12answers
5k views
“God's own country”
According to Collins-Robert English-French Dictionary by Beryl T. Atkins, Alain Duval, and Rosemary C. Milne, ed. 1985, manufactured in the United States of America by Rand McNally & Company,
(...
5
votes
4answers
672 views
Why so many curses have religious references?
In particular those of surprise or anger. For example
Bloody hell,
Oh my god,
God dammit,
Holy crap,
Jesus Christ,
F*#king hell,
0
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3answers
481 views
Word similar to nepotism/favouritism toward another culture or religion
Hi I'm trying to find a word to describe a situation as follows:
Giving better care to a patient of a particular religion or culture because they asked for it specifically.
Not the same religion as ...
2
votes
1answer
1k views
Religious vs spiritual?
Is there a difference beween being religious and being spiritual? Or for that matter, is there any such thing as a "Spiritual Atheist"?
Writings supporting the idea that the two are different:
...
0
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6answers
689 views
What is a blanket term for a legal system based on evangelical Christian law?
I'm looking for a term that could be used in the place of Sharia (Islam), Halakha (Judaism), or Canon Law (Catholicism) that refers as specifically as possible to Biblical-literalist Evangelical ...
0
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0answers
1k views
How refer to the god and devil using pronouns and adverbs?
I'm trying to phrase a sentence where I want to refer to the god and the devil/satan by using a combination of pronouns and adverbs rather than their names or nouns such as "good/evil", "divine power" ...
6
votes
5answers
3k views
Word for someone who starts to question his faith?
I'm reading a book about a boy who starts to question the existence of God. He believes He's there but he has no proof so he starts to question if He really exists.
6
votes
5answers
1k views
What is an expression for a priest not wearing official attire?
Is there an English expression for a priest or monk not wearing his religious attire? (any Christian doctrine, or even more general).
Clarification: I'm trying to say that someone looks like an ...
0
votes
2answers
4k views
The meaning and etymology of the exclamation “Lawdy me!”
What does a speaker mean if he/she exclaims "Lawdy me!"? I noticed this exclamation when I was reading a short story "the Conscience of the Court" by Zora Neale Hurston. There was one brown-skinned ...
4
votes
2answers
3k views
Why are religious texts (“The” Bible, “The” Torah, “The” Qu'ran) preceded by “The”?
Although English is my first and only language, I've always wondered why religious texts are preceded by "the", although they really can just be seen as pieces of literature (I'd rather not get into ...
24
votes
1answer
4k views
Why “Jesu” rather than “Jesus” in this carol?
Why does this bit of O Come, All Ye Faithful use Jesu rather than Jesus?
Yea, Lord, we greet thee
Born this happy morning
Jesu, to thee be glory given
Am I right in my thinking that Jesus is a ...
6
votes
10answers
567 views
Climactic act of reaching one's limit and turning to the sky/God/universe for answers
I'm looking for a word to describe the dramatic moment when, after being pushed to the limit, someone drops to their knees and turns to the sky/God/universe. In other words, this is the moment when ...
10
votes
11answers
8k views
Non-religious equivalent expression for “Pray for [Country X]” after a disaster
When a big disaster occurs in a country, you can often see messages saying:
Pray for [Country X]
Are people really writing this to incite people to ask their God for anything?
For instance ...
3
votes
2answers
1k views
English greeting with religious connotation
Since the English language has a number of idioms and phrases that involve references to religious figures (e.g., godspeed), I was wondering if
there an English equivalent of the German greeting
...
2
votes
2answers
13k views
Secular phrase of “bless you” (after someone sneezes)? [duplicate]
In English speaking countries it's common practice to say "bless you" to someone who sneezes. The etymology of this practice has been covered in a previous question:
"Bless you" & ...
0
votes
2answers
187 views
Regarding the usage of some 'bad' language [closed]
Is there a legitimate or edifying literary purpose for the many forms of blasphemy (forgive spelling) that have appeared in many modern works of literature. Does it really help a story line or plot or ...
16
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17answers
3k views
Is there a less religious alternative to “the creation” when referring to everything that's alive?
Is there an alternative to "the creation" (when referring to everything that is alive) that is less "religious"? After all, having a creation implies there is also a creator.
