religious study
Examining holy texts
Religious study is the academic examination of religions, their texts, practices, beliefs, and cultural impact.
Unlike theology, which typically operates from within a faith tradition, religious study approaches its subjects from an analytical or comparative perspective: She majored in religious study with a focus on Eastern traditions.
The field draws on history, anthropology, philosophy, and sociology.
- prayerAddress to deity
- worship serviceReligious observance gathering
- reformationProcess of improving institutions
- doctrineEstablished body of teachings
- canon lawReligious institutional regulations
Buddhism · divinity · meditation · spiritual practice · monotheism · ethics · eschatology · Christianity · sacred texts · holy scripture · Zoroastrianism · faith tradition · morality · interfaith dialogue · Islam · liturgy · exegesis · secularism
- religious dutiesdaily prayer, hajj, zakat, salat, Ramadan
- Saharan historySonghai, trans-Saharan, Sahel, gold mines, caravan trade
- SabbathShabbat, Shabbos, day of rest, seventh day, Sabbath rest
religious studynatural science
Empirical study of nature
physical science · materialism · secular humanism · hard sciences · positivism
religious studyempiricism
Knowledge through observation
scientific method · rationalism · skeptical inquiry · freethought · anti-theism
religious studysecular education
Instruction without religious doctrine
scientific study · natural science · physical science · empirical research · naturalism
religious, religion, religions, religiously, religiosity, study, studies, studied, studying