9781422282762

Chapter One

RELIGION

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Words to Understand

belief: an acceptance of a statement or idea concerning a religion or faith. doctrine: defines the principle beliefs of a religion, both spoken and written. dogma: a set of principles established by an authority as true. faith: a set of unchangeable conditions concerning a higher power, based on spiritual apprehension rather than proof. mythos: a set of stories or texts that describe and reinforce the beliefs of a religion. ritual: a set of activities or actions that are designed to show that a person is a member of the group and believes the same things as the other members. sect: a group of like-minded people who share the same ideas.

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H umans have long sought answers to questions about mortality and the purpose of life. Early people often worshiped gods of thunder, gods of fertility, and gods of nature in an effort to explain things they did not

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