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| Adi Granth |
First Book. The first scriptures were
compiled by Guru Arjan Dev (the 5th Sikh Guru). The 10th Sikh Guru (Guru
Gobind Singh) conferred Guruship to it thus becoming Guru Granth Sahib. |
| Advent |
Means Coming. The period including four
Sundays before Christmas. This is the time that Christians prepare for
Christmas celebrations of the birth of Jesus. |
| Afterlife |
The explanation of what happens to people when
they die. The basic premise is that each individual has a soul, which
lives beyond the body. In some beliefs, the soul moves on to another
place (heaven); while for others there is a belief that the soul enters
into another body. |
| Agnostic |
A person who thinks that it is impossible to know
for certain that any God exists because there is no proof. |
| Ahimsa |
Not killing or hurting any living creature. This
is one of the important ideas of Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism. |
| Akaal Takht |
Throne of the Immortal. Built by Guru Hargobind
(6th Sikh Guru) as a seat of temporal authority for the Sikhs. |
| Akhand Paath |
Continuous, uninterrupted reading of the Guru
Granth Sahib. |
| ‘Akka |
The Bahá’i community remember this prison city
near Haifa (Israel) where the Bah’u’lláh was imprisoned from 1868 to 1877. |
| Allah |
The Islamic name for God. |
| Amen |
It is true or So be it. Muslims, Jews,
and Christians say "Amen" or "Ameen" at the end of
prayers. |
| Amrit |
Nectar. A special mixture of sugar and
water used at Sikh ceremonies. |
| Amrit Sanskar |
Sikh initiation ceremony. |
| Angel |
Heavenly being. Chritianity, Islam, and
Judaism believe that these beings carry messages between God and the people
on earth. Gabriel is one Angel that is named in the Scriptures of all
three religions. |
| Apostle |
A Christian who is sent out to spread the message
of Jesus. The first Apostles were Jesus’s disciples. |
| Aqiqah |
A Muslim ceremony that is held when a Baby is
seven days old. Prayers are made for the Baby’s future. The Baby is
named and has its head shaved. The hair is weighed, then the family calculate
the cost of the same weight of silver; then give that value to the poor.
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| Arabic |
The language in which the Qur’an (the Muslim holy
book) is written. The Qur’an came from Allah and was conveyed to the
Prophet Mohammad in this language. Muslims believe that the words should
never be changed - regardless of the country of origin of a practicing
Muslim, recital of verses and prayers are said in Arabic. |
| Arc |
Referred to as The Arc by the Bahá’i community.
It is the collection of administrative buildings at the Bahá’i World Centre
on Mt. Carmel, Israel. The buildings on the Arc include the Seat of the
Universal House of Justice, the International Teaching Centre, the International
Archives, and the Centre for the Study of the Sacred Texts. |
| Ardas |
A Sikh prayer said after Sikh services, remembering
God, the teachings of Sikh Gurus, those who have died for Sikhism and
asks Gods blessing for all humanity. |
| Arti |
A part of Hindu worship. Five arti lamps are
waved in circular movements in front of an image of a God or Goddess.
The worshipers hold their hands over the lamps and touch their faces to
feel the warmth of the God or Goddess’s blessing. |
| Ascension |
Going up. The Ascension of Jesus is celebrated
by Christians forty days after Easter. It is said in the Christian Scriptures
that Jesus remained on earth for forty days after he had risen from the
dead. Then he was lifted up into heaven to be with God. |
| Ash Wednesday |
The first day of Lent, a period in the Christian
year. Some churches "ash" the congregation on their forehead
(using a paste of ashes to make a cross). |
| AshRama |
A stage in life. There are four Hindu stages
(AshRama). The first stage is the "student" stage, where Hindus
learn about Hinduism. In the second stage, the "householder"
stage they work for a living, get married and have children. In the third
stage they have retirement. The fourth stage is to become a wandering
holy man (most Hindus do not follow this stage). |
| Atheist |
Someone who does not believe that God exists. |
| Aum |
A sound in Hindu chanting at the beginning and
end of prayers and hymns. The written form of "Aum" is an important
Hindu symbol. |
| Avalokiteshvara |
A Bodhisattva. As a sign of being ready to help
anyone, Avalokiteshvara is often shown with a thousand arms, each with
an eye and holding an object. |
| Avatar |
The body or shape a God or Goddess takes to visit
the earth in Hindism. |
| Ayatollah |
It literally means "a sign of Allah".
A Shi’a Muslim leader who has studied Islamic theology and law to a high
degree is known by this title. |
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