BP Glossary"

BP Library

Sacrament	A ritual through which God operates in specific ways apart from normal activity.
Sacred Objects	In ancient myth, animals (bears, birds, bulls, snakes) are symbols of power, romance, fertility, or immortality; Sacred trees symbolize the transition from earth to the heavens; springs, rivers and natural wells are regarded as passages to underworld; specific allegorical meanings vary.
Sacred thread Ceremony	Hindu initiation of an priestly caste male symbolizing that he has entered the first stage of life.
Sacrifice	Offering of animal, harvest, libation, or possession to establish communion with deity.
Sadhu	Hindu wandering ascetic or holy man who have denunciated the comforts of the world and dedicated themselves completely to a god.
Saint	Holy person; sometimes referring to a dead hero; for Christians, a term for any believer.
Salvation	Deliverance from spiritual consequences of sin or from self-centeredness.
Samsara	('Stream of existence') Hindu and Buddhist belief of cycle of birth, death, and rebirth; represented by eight-spoked wheel.
Sanctuary	A place consecrated to deity for worship or refuge.
Sangha	Community of Buddhist monks which started with his first disciples; teach best conditions for attaining Nirvana and teach Dhamma.
Santeria	Latin American polytheistic religion with animal sacrifice and voodoo.
Sarasvati	Hindu consort of Brahman who is the goddess of truth.
Satanism	The occult worship of Satan or other demons; includes animal or human sacrifice.
Satori	Moment of enlightenment in Zen Buddhism.
Scripture	Sacred writings which are authoritative in a particular religious community.
Security	instinct for stability, identity, routine, and territorial boundaries.
Seder	Jewish worship on eve of Passover; includes meal and recital of Haggadah.
Self-Realization Fellowship	New Age; awakening the god within through yoga and meditation.
Sexuality	Sexual character; possession of the structural and functional traits of sex and gender.
Shabbat	('Sabbath') Jewish day of worship and rest; from Friday at sundown to Saturday at sundown; commemorates God's day of rest after the Creation.
Shakti	('energy') Hindu word referring to universal creativity; particularly associated with Shiva.
Shaman	Primal religions, religious official that conveys sacrifices, induces trances, and communicates with the dead or spirits for prophecy; medicine man, witch doctor, diviner are all referred to by this title.
Shang Ti	('Lord on high') Chinese deity not a creator god, but interpreted to English as God.
Shari'a	Authoritative Islamic body of law derived from Qur'an, the Sunna, and other sources.
Shavuot	('weeks') Pentecost; Jewish harvest festival / Moses' reception of Torah; fifty-two days after Peshac. First Pentecost after Jesus' resurrection marks beginning of Christian church.
Shekinah	Judaic term referring to the presence or manifestation of YHWH.
Shema	Jewish daily recital (AM & PM) confession of faith. Deut. 6:1-4; 11:13-21 are source.
Shinto	('divine way') Religion of Japan; affinity to nature, harmony with kamis; purification rituals.
Shirk	('Associatiing') Greatest sin in Islam: Ascribing anything physical to Allah.
Shiva	Hindu god of contrasts, presides over creation and destruction, fertility and asceticism, good and evil; the 'lord of the dance' is venerated specifically for procreation.
Sikh	('Disciple') A synthesis of Islam and Hinduism developed in 15th century India.
Simplicity	State, quality, or instance of being free from complication; easy to understand or deal with.
Sin	An action or state of rebellion against divine law; improper imaging of God.
Sinai	Mountain on which Torah was revealed to Moses.
Six Mental Qualities	Buddhist list of giving, morality, acceptance, strength, mediation and wisdom.
Skandha / Khandha	Buddhist term referring to the five factors that compound human personality: bodily form, sense perception, consciousness, intellect, and will power.
Social	Living or disposed to live in companionship or in a community, rather than in isolation (herd); relational conduct within groups, clubs, organizations, or society.
Sorcerer	A practitioner of magic.
Soul	The spiritual nature of humans; seat of personality, synonymous with heart and mind.
Sovereignty	Complete independence and self-government.
Spell	A secret formula of words by shaman or sorcerer often accompanied by magical ritual.
Spiritual	sustaining element of human condition comprised of personality (soul), life force, and causal quest (CQ).
Spiritual abuse	Damage or mistreatment of a seeker pursuing religious or spiritual health; toxic faith.
Spiritualism	Any religious system or practice that attempts to contact the dead.
Spirituality	The experiential side of Religion; Conscious respect for the presence of God.
Spree	bout of excessive indulgence for consecutive days or weeks.
Stewardship	Being a trustworthy, reliable trustee of the values or property of another.
Stress	negative physical reaction to past, present or future APE; real or imagined.
Structure	an organized pattern or system of beliefs, relationships, institutions, etc.
Stupa	A Buddhist mound built to mark a holy place.
Subconscious	mental activity present but lying beneath the threshold of awareness.
Sukkot	('booths' or 'tabernacles') Jewish autumn feast of Tabernacles marking the end of harvest and commemorating YHWH's protection during the wilderness wanderings.
Sunnah	('Custom') Islamic code of law, second to Qur'an; words of Muhammad and Caliphs.
Superstition	Beliefs or practices based on tradition or custom rather than reality.
Suppressed	emotional capacity to hide feelings, attitudes, and responses.
Surrender	To deliver up or yield (something) to the possession or power of another.
Survival	Instinct to function or manage in adverse or life threatening circumstances; primal exercise of self preservation, aggression, and caution.
Swami	Hindu holy member of religious order.
Symbolism	Important role of symbols in Religion; the attempt to explain deity in human terms.
Synagogue	Jewish meeting place for worship and study; constructed to face Jerusalem; Synagogue worship includes readings from Torah, psalms, sermons, and communal prayers.
Syncretism	The emulsion of two religions containing beliefs and practice of both.