Animism 

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o   The belief that all nature is alive and filled with unseen spirits that may worshiped or placated. They see a soul or a self existing in trees, stones, rivers, and heavenly bodies

o   Attempts to influence the action of nature through special practices, dances, rituals, and incantation. They believe that if they perform their rituals properly, they will cause nature to react favorably toward them

·       Divination

o   Prediction of the future through various magical means (e.g. Tarot cards, I Ching, reading of tea leaves)

·       Taboo (Tabu)

o   Action that must be avoided lest it release harmful effects on a person or his or her group (e.g. walking under a ladder, breaking a mirror, marrying in violation of cultural rules)

o   From the Ojibwa ototeman; it involves the recognition of a relationship between a certain type of animal (the totem) and a group of people. The totem becomes sacred to the group and may not be killed by its members under certain ritual conditions

o   Veneration of deceased members of the family. It frequently involves upkeep and care of graves, memorization of the names from past generations, and prayers and sacrifices in honor of the dead

o   Religious narratives common to most all traditions

o   Also known as the “High God” in Native American traditions; a divine or spiritual power that is revealed in humans, nature, and the spirit world

o   The female earth spirit and personification of nature in Native American religions

o   Summer celebration performed by Native Americans of the Great Plains

o   Exercises undertaken by Native Americans seeking contact with the spirit world

o   Religious movement combining elements of Christianity and Native American religions

o   Certain basic religions maintain that one Supreme God created the world and then withdrew from active participation. Although this god is often recognized and given token worship, the bulk of active worship is given to lesser deities, who participate more fully in the activities of the world

o   West African ethnic group whose religion strongly influenced the development of African American religions

o   East African ethnic group with a particularly strong belief in the High God

o   Name for dangerous spirits among the Acholi of Uganda

o   African religious functionary whose primary purpose is to heal by driving out evil spirits believed to cause sickness

o   African American religion combining African and Christian elements

o   Noninjury of living beings. This term, found in many Indian religions, was introduced by the Jains. Adherents make every effort to care for all forms of life and seek to avoid injuring or killing any creature

o   Sanskrit word that means “the noble one”; applied to migrants who moved into the Indus valley from Persia in the second millennium B.C.E.

o   Basically, a collection of hymns to the Aryan Gods. The term also applies to the entire collection of Indian sacred literature, including the Vedas, the Brahamanas, the Aranyakas, and the Upanishads

o   The four major divisions of the Indian caste system

o   Philosophical materials in the Vedic literature

o   Duties incumbent on a person in traditional Hindu life, based on caste and station in life. In Buddhism, the teachings of the Buddha

o   Devotions to the gods of Hinduism

o   The three most important Hindu gods: Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahna