Mt. Sion's Women's Day Program!!

click HERE to download program from Louis Garcias church, Mt. Sion's Women's Day Program.  It was excellent.  The speaker was fantastic, Pastor Barbara Williams of Onward Ministries.

click HERE for audio of the service.   you may fast forward to  1:02:35 Preparation Hymn and  1:07:15  Pastor Barbara

What do you think of your church? Really.

Survey

Glossary Part 2

Erudition - extensive knowledge acquired chiefly from books :  profound, recondite, or bookish learning

Eusebius - Eusebius (/juːˈsiːbɪəs/; c. AD 260/265 – 339/340) (also called Eusebius of Caesarea and Eusebius Pamphili) was a Roman historian, exegete and Christianpolemicist. He became the Bishop of Caesarea in Palestine about the year 314. 

Bishopric (political), an area historically most common within the Holy Roman Empire where a bishop held the secular authority

Saint Pamphilus (Greek: Πάμφιλος) (latter half of the 3rd century – February 16, 309), was a presbyter of Caesarea and chief among Catholic biblical scholars of his generation. He was the friend and teacher of Eusebius of Caesarea, who recorded details of his career in a three-book Vita that has been lost.

Pantokrater - In Christian iconography, Christ Pantocrator refers to a specific depiction of Christ.Pantocrator or Pantokrator (Greek: Παντοκράτωρ),^[1] is, used in this context, a translation of one of many Names of God in Judaism.

Basilica - The Latin word basilica (derived from Greek βασιλική στοά, Royal Stoa, the tribunal chamber of a king), has three distinct applications in modern English. The word was originally used to describe a Roman public building, usually located in the forum of a Roman town. By extension it was applied to Christian buildings of the same form and continues to be used in an architectural sense to describe those buildings with a central nave andaisles. Later, the term came to refer specifically to a large and importantchurch that has been given special ceremonial rights by the Pope.

Laity - In religious organizations, the laity consists of all members who are not a part of the clergy, whether they are or are not members of religious institutes, for example a nun or lay brother.^[1]

In Christian cultures, the term lay priest is sometimes used in the past to refer to a secular priest, a diocesan priest who is not a member of a religious institute. Terms such as lay priest, lay clergy and lay nun were also once used in Buddhist cultures to indicate ordained persons who continued to live in the wider community instead of retiring to a monastery.

Prejoratively - 1. Tending to make or become worse; 2. Disparaging; belittling.  n.  A disparaging or belittling word or expression.   pe·jora·tive·ly adv.

John Chrysostom - John Chrysostom (c. 347–407, Greek: Ἰωάννης ὁ Χρυσόστομος), Archbishop ofConstantinople, was an important Early Church Father. He is known for his eloquence in preaching and public speaking, his denunciation of abuse of authorityby both ecclesiastical and political leaders, the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, and his ascetic sensibilities. After his death in 407 (or, according to some sources, during his life) he was given the Greek epithet chrysostomos, meaning "golden mouthed" in English, and Anglicized to Chrysostom.^[2][5]

Bishop Theophilus - Theophilus of Alexandria was the Archbishop of Alexandria during the end of the fourth century through the first decade of the fifth. While a fierce defender of the Christian faith, he was an active participant in the intrigues with Eudoxia that resulted in the deposition and exile of St John Chrysostom from the see of Constantinople.

Roman Imperialism - The history of the Roman Republic is largely told through its wars. These are divided into 4 categories:  1. Wars for survival and local supremacy within Italy; 2. Wars of Defensive Imperialism; 3. Wars of Conquest and  4. Wars of the Late Republic

Chi-Ro - According to Lactantius,^[4] a Latin historian of North African origins saved from poverty by the patronage of Emperor Constantine I (r. 306–337) as tutor to his son Crispus, Constantine had dreamt of being ordered to put a "heavenly divine symbol" (Latin: coeleste signum dei) on the shields of his soldiers. The description of the actual symbol chosen by Emperor Constantine the next morning, as reported by Lactantius, is not very clear: it closely resembles a Chi-Rho or a staurogram, a similar Christian symbol. That very day Constantine's army fought the forces of Maxentius and won the Battle of the Milvian Bridge(312), outside Rome.

Adherents - noun; plural noun: adherents

someone who supports a particular party, person, or set of ideas.  "He was a strong adherent of monetarism"

Mithras - The Roman deity Mithras appears in the historical record in the late 1st century A.D., and disappears from it in the late 4th century A.D. Unlike the major mythological figures of Graeco-Roman religion, such as Jupiter and Hercules, no ancient source preserves the mythology of the god. All of our information is therefore derived from depictions on monuments, and the limited mentions of the cult in literary sources.  The temples of Mithras were always an underground cave, featuring a relief of Mithras killing the bull. This "tauroctony", as it is known today, appears in the same format everywhere, but with minor variations. Other standard themes appear in the iconography. The cult was all male. There were seven degrees of initiation. 

Labarum - The labarum (Greek: λάβαρον) was a vexillum (military standard) that displayed the "Chi-Rho" symbol ☧, formed from the first two Greek letters of the word "Christ" (Greek:ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ, or Χριστός) — Chi (χ) and Rho (ρ).^[1] It was first used by the Roman emperorConstantine I. Since the vexillum consisted of a flag suspended from the crossbar of a cross, it was ideally suited to symbolize the crucifixion of Christ.

Anachronistic - An anachronism, from the Greek ανά (ana: up, against, back, re-) and χρόνος (chronos: time), is a chronological inconsistency in some arrangement, especially a juxtaposition of person(s), events, objects, or customs from different periods of time. Often the item misplaced in time is an object, but it may be a verbal expression, a technology, a philosophical idea, a musical style, a material, a custom, or anything else associated with a particular period in time so that it is incorrect to place it outside its proper temporal domain.

Licinius - Licinius I (Latin: Gaius Valerius Licinianus Licinius Augustus;^{[note 1][3][4]} c. 263 – 325), was a Roman emperor from 308 to 324. For the majority of his reign he was the colleague and rival of Constantine I, with whom he co-authored the Edict of Milan that granted official toleration to Christians in the Roman Empire. He was finally defeated at the Battle of Chrysopolis, before being executed on the orders of Constantine I.

Sardica (now Sophia) The Council of Sardica was one of the series of councils (or synods) called to adjust the doctrinal and other difficulties of theArian controversy, held most probably in 343 AD. The Roman Emperors Constans and Constantius II called for the council.^[1]

Diocletian (Latin: Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus Augustus)^{[5][notes 1]} (245 - 311)^[6][4] was Roman emperor from 284 to 305. Born to a family of low status in theRoman province of Dalmatia, Diocletian rose through the ranks of the military to become cavalry commander to the Emperor Carus. After the deaths of Carus and his son Numerian on campaign in Persia, Diocletian was proclaimed emperor. The title was also claimed by Carus' other surviving son, Carinus, but Diocletian defeated him in the Battle of the Margus. Diocletian's reign stabilized the empire and marks the end of the Crisis of the Third Century. He appointed fellow officer Maximian asaugustus, co-emperor, in 285.

Trajan Decius (Latin: Gaius Messius Quintus Decius Augustus;^[1] ca. 201 – June 251), was Roman Emperor from 249 to 251. In the last year of his reign, he co-ruled with his son Herennius Etruscus until they were both killed in the Battle of Abrittus.

Milvian Bridge - The Battle of the Milvian Bridge took place between the Roman EmperorsConstantine I and Maxentius on 28 October 312. It takes its name from theMilvian Bridge, an important route over the Tiber. Constantine won the battle and started on the path that led him to end the Tetrarchy and become the sole ruler of the Roman Empire. Maxentius drowned in the Tiber during the battle.

Galerius (Latin: Gaius Galerius Valerius Maximianus Augustus;^[11] c. 260 – April or May 311), was Roman Emperor from 305 to 311.^[12] During his reign he campaigned, aided by Diocletian, against the Sassanid Empire, sacking their capital Ctesiphon in 299. He also campaigned across the Danubeagainst the Carpi, defeating them in 297 and 300. Although he was a staunch opponent of Christianity, Galerius ended the Diocletianic Persecution when he issued an edict of toleration in 311.

Lucius Caecilius Firmianus Lactantius was an early Christian author (c. 240 – c. 320) who became an advisor to the first Christian Roman emperor,Constantine I, guiding his religious policy as it developed,^[1] and tutor to his son.  Lactantius, a Latin-speaking native of North Africa, was a pupil of Arnobius and taught rhetoric in various cities of the Eastern Roman Empire, ending inConstantinople. He wrote apologetic works explaining Christianity in terms that would be palatable to educated people who still practiced the traditional religions of the Empire, while defending Christian beliefs against the criticisms ofHellenistic philosophers. 

Gaul (Latin: Gallia) was a region of Western Europe during the Iron Age and Roman era, encompassing present day France,Luxembourg and Belgium, most of Switzerland, Northern Italy, as well as the parts of the Netherlands and Germany on the west bank of the Rhine. According to the testimony of Julius Caesar, Gaul was divided into three parts, Gallia Celtica, Belgica andAquitania. Archaeologically, the Gauls were bearers of the La Tène culture, which extended across all of Gaul, as well as east toRhaetia, Noricum, Pannonia and southwestern Germania during the 5th to 1st centuries BC. During the 2nd and 1st centuries BC, Gaul fell under Roman rule: Gallia Cisalpina was conquered in 203 BC and Gallia Narbonensis in 123 BC. Gaul was invaded by theCimbri and the Teutons after 120 BC, who were in turn defeated by the Romans by 103 BC. Julius Caesar finally subdued the remaining parts of Gaul in his campaigns of 58 to 51 BC.

Prisca (died 315) was the Empress of Rome and wife of Emperor Diocletian. Nothing is known of her family background. Although she was a Christian or favorably disposed to Christianity, she was forced to sacrifice to the gods during the Great Persecution of 303.^[1]

When Diocletian retired to Spalatum in 305, Prisca stayed with her daughter, Galeria Valeria and son-in-law, Galerius inThessalonica. When Galerius died in 311, Licinius was entrusted with the care of Prisca and her daughter Valeria. The two women, however, fled from Licinius to Maximinus Daia. After a short time, Valeria refused the marriage proposal of Maximinus, who arrested and confined her in Syria and confiscated her properties. At the death of Maximinus, Licinius had Prisca and her daughter killed.

Valeria - Saint Valeria of Milan (d. 1st or 2nd century), or Saint Valérie, according toChristian tradition, was the wife of Vitalis of Milan, and the mother of Saint Gervase and Saint Protase, although other traditions make her a virgin martyr rather than a wife and mother.

She was martyred for burying Christian martyrs, and then refusing to sacrifice to the Roman gods. It is said she was from a noble family, and at an early age was baptised. The reigning Pope had commanded the priests of the area to organize nine decurias, each consisting of five men and five virgins. Their duty was to gather the corpses of Christians who had been martyred in theColiseum (Flavian Amphitheatre) and other places of martyrdom the preceding day.

Feminine monasticism -  female monastics are called nuns. The way of addressing monastics differs between the Christian traditions. For a general rule, in Roman Catholicism, monks and nuns are called brother or sister, while in Orthodox Christianity, they are called father or mother. This is not an absolute rule as their address varies depending on their rank and monastic tradition.

Women prophets - Philip's 4 daughters (   ); Phoebe, Junia

Ministrae - “The Latin word ministrae is probably used to translate the Greek word diakonoi, for Paul refers to Phoebe as the diakonos(servant) of the church at Cenchreae (Romans 16, 1).”

Martyr - In its original meaning, the word martyr, meaning witness, was used in the secular sphere as well as in the New Testamentof the Bible.^[1] The process of bearing witness was not intended to lead to the death of the witness, although it is known from ancient writers (e.g. Josephus) and from the New Testament that witnesses often died for their testimonies.

Neophytes - A neophyte is a beginner.

In the context of Christianity, the term often refers to a:

1. New convert to the religion, in the Catholic and Orthodox Churches an adult convert is considered a neophyte for one year after conversion. Roman Catholic neophytes are considered full members of the Church, but may not act as sponsors for others planning to join,
2. Newly ordained priest,
3. Person who recently took a monastic vow.

Epiphany - Theophany, from the Ancient Greek (ἡ) θεοφάνεια (theophaneia,^[1]meaning "appearance of god"), refers to the appearance of a deity to a human or other being.^[2][3][4]

This term has been used to refer to appearances of the gods in the ancient Greek and Near Eastern religions. While the Iliad is the earliest source for descriptions of theophanies in the Classical tradition (and they occur throughout Greek mythology), probably the earliest description of a theophany is in the Epic of Gilgamesh.^[5]

The term theophany has acquired a specific usage for Christians andJews with respect to the Bible: It refers to the manifestation of God to man; the sensible sign by which the presence of God is revealed. Only a small number of theophanies are found in the Hebrew Bible, also known as the Old Testament.

Christophany - A Christophany is an appearance, or non-physical manifestation, of Christ.

Traditionally the term refers to visions of Christ after his ascension such as the bright light of the Damascus Christophany.^[1]

Also, following the example of Justin Martyr who identified the Angel of the Lordwith the Logos^[2] some appearances of angels in the Hebrew Bible are also identified by some Christians as preincarnate appearances of Christ, using the term "Christophanies" - by comparison with Theophanies - appearances of God.^[3]

Extant - Extant literature refers to texts that have survived from the past to the present time. Extant literature can be divided into extant original manuscripts, copies of original manuscripts, quotations and paraphrases of passages of non-extant texts contained in other works, translations of non-extant texts into other languages, or, more recently, photocopies or digital copies of texts.

Domitilla - Flavia Domitilla Major (Major, Latin for the elder) Flavia Domitilla the Elder or Domitilla the Elder(died before 69, perhaps c. 65) was the wife of the Roman EmperorVespasian. She was a daughter ofFlavius Liberalis, a humblequaestor’s clerk. Before her marriage, she was a formal mistress to an African knight. Vespasian married her around 38. She was the mother of Domitilla the Younger and of the emperors Titus and Domitian and died before Vespasian assumed the purple.

Perpetua - Saints Perpetua and Felicity (believed to have died 7 March 203) areChristian martyrs of the 3rd century. Perpetua (born around 181) was a 22-year old married noblewoman and a nursing mother. Her co-martyr Felicity, an expectant mother, was her slave. They suffered together at Carthage in theRoman province of Africa, during the reign of Septimius Severus.

Felicitas - In ancient Roman culture, felicitas (from the Latin adjectivefelix, "fruitful, blessed, happy, lucky") is a condition of divinely inspired productivity, blessedness, or happiness.Felicitas could encompass both a woman's fertility, and a general's luck or good fortune.^[1] The divine personification ofFelicitas was cultivated as a goddess. Although felicitasmay be translated as "good luck," and the goddess Felicitas shares some characteristics and attributes with Fortuna, the two were distinguished in Roman religion.^[2] Fortuna was unpredictable and her effects could be negative, as the existence of an altar to Mala Fortuna ("Bad Luck") acknowledges.^[3] Felicitas, however, always had a positive significance. She appears with several epithets that focus on aspects of her divine power.

Assiduous - Diligence is steadfast application, assiduousness and industry—the virtue of hard work. It is one of the seven heavenly virtues.

Diligent behaviour is indicative of a work ethic — a belief that work is good in itself.^[1]

Cyprian (Latin: Thascius Caecilius Cyprianus) (c. 200 – September 14, 258) was bishop of Carthage and an importantEarly Christian writer, many of whose Latin works are extant. He was born around the beginning of the 3rd century in North Africa, perhaps at Carthage, where he received a classical education. After converting to Christianity, he became a bishop in 249 and eventually died a martyr at Carthage.

Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus, anglicised as Tertullian (c. 160 – c. 225 AD),^[1] was a prolific early Christian author from Carthage in the Roman province of Africa.^[2] He is the first Christian author to produce an extensive corpus of Latin Christian literature. He also was a notable early Christian apologist and a polemicist against heresy. Tertullian has been called "the father of Latin Christianity"^{[3][page needed]} and "the founder of Western theology."^[4] Though conservative, he did originate and advance new theology to the early Church. He is perhaps most famous for being the oldest extant Latin writer to use the term Trinity (Latin, trinitas),^[5] and giving the oldest extant formal exposition of a Trinitarian theology.^[6] Other Latin formulations that first appear in his work are "three Persons, one Substance" as the Latin "tres Personae, una Substantia" (itself from the Koine Greek "treisHypostases, Homoousios").^[4]

Origen (/ˈɒrɪdʒən/; Greek: Ὠριγένης Ōrigénēs), or Origen Adamantius(184/185 – 253/254),^[1] was a scholar, early Christian theologian and Church Father,^[2] who was born and spent the first half of his career in Alexandria. He was a prolific writer in multiple branches of theology, including textual criticism, biblical exegesis and hermeneutics, philosophical theology,preaching, and spirituality. Some of his reputed teachings, such as the pre-existence of souls, the final reconciliation of all creatures, including perhaps even the devil (the apokatastasis),^[3] and the subordination of the Son of Godto God the Father, later became controversial among Christian theologians. Origen was declared anathema in 553 AD by the Second Ecumenical Council of Constantinople and by three subsequent ecumenical councils. For this reason Origen was and is not called a saint in either the Catholic or Orthodox churches.

Justin Martyr, also known as Saint Justin (c. 100 – 165 AD), was an earlyChristian apologist, and is regarded as the foremost interpreter of the theory of the Logos in the 2nd century.^[2] Most of his works are lost, but two apologies and a dialogue did survive. He is considered a saint by the Roman Catholic Church,^[3] the Anglican Church,^[4] and the Eastern Orthodox Church.^[5]

Hippolytus of Rome (170–235) was the most important 3rd-century theologian in the Christian Church in Rome,^[2] where he was probably born.^[3] Photios I of Constantinople describes him in his Bibliotheca (cod. 121) as a disciple of Irenaeus, who was said to be a disciple of Polycarp, and from the context of this passage it is supposed that he suggested that Hippolytus himself so styled himself. While some have doubted this assertion it is indisputable that his Refutation of All Heresies parallels the earlier work of Ireneus, Against Heresies.^[2] It is often asserted that he came into conflict with the popes of his time, heading a schismatic group as a rival bishop of Rome.^[2] 

Pope Callixtus I (died 223), also called Callistus I, was the bishop of Romefrom c. 218 to his death in 223.^[2] He lived during the reigns of the Roman Emperors Elagabalus and Alexander Severus. He was martyred for his Christian faith and is venerated as a saint by the Catholic Church.  His contemporaries and enemies, Tertullian and Hippolytus of Rome the author of Philosophumena, relate that Callixtus, as a young slave, was put in charge of collected funds by his master Carpophorus, funds which were given as almsby other Christians for the care of widows and orphans; Callixtus lost the funds and fled from Rome, but was caught near Portus. According to the tale, Callixtus jumped overboard to avoid capture but was rescued and taken back to his master. He was released at the request of the creditors, who hoped he might be able to recover some of the money, but was rearrested for fighting in a synagogue when he tried to borrow money or collect debts from some Jews.^[2]

Fornication typically refers to consensual sexual intercourse between two people not married to each other.^[1] For many people, the term carries an overtone of moral or religious disapproval, but the significance of sexual acts to which the term is applied varies between religions, societies and cultures. The definition is often disputed. In modern usage, the term is often replaced with the more judgment-neutral terms premarital sex, sex before marriage, or extramarital sex.

Christians (rabble rousers) - The spread of Christianity was made a lot easier by the efficiency of the Roman Empire, but its principles were sometimes misunderstood and membership of the sect could be dangerous. Widely criticized after the Great Fire of Rome in 64 AD, the Emperor Nero tried to divert attention away from his own failings by providing an easy scapegoat: the Christians.  Although the followers of Jesus were working hard to spread the message, there were still very few Christians in Rome. They were regarded with suspicion. Some important Christian rituals were mistaken as cannibalism, others as incest. Christians became an easy target. 

Eschelon  A similar formation of groups, units, or individuals.  A system of classes; Caste system in Africa varies from one community to the next. Some societies have a markedly developed, rigid caste system between groups of differing origins, whereas others are characterized by a looser relationship between their constituent elements. Countries in Africa that have societies with caste systems within their borders include Mali,Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Niger, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Liberia, Sierra Leone,Algeria, Nigeria, Chad, Ethiopia, Somalia, Djibouti and Eritrea.

Novatian (c. 200–258) was a scholar, priest, theologian and antipope who held the title between 251 and 258.^[1] Greek authors, Pope Damasus I and Prudentius give his name as Novatus.

He was a noted theologian and writer, the first Roman theologian who used the Latin language, at a time when there was much debate about how to deal with Christians who had lapsed and wished to return, and the issue of penance. Consecrated as pope by three bishops in 251, he adopted a more rigorous position than the established Pope Cornelius. Novatian was shortly afterwards excommunicated: the schismatic church which he established persisted for several centuries (see Novatianism). Novatian fled during a period of persecutions, and may have been a martyr.

Schism - The words schism and schismatic have found their heaviest usage in the history of Christianity, to denote splits within a church or religious body. In this context, "schismatic", as a noun, denotes a person who creates or incites schism in a church or is a member of a splinter Church; as an adjective, "schismatic" refers to ideas and activities that are thought to lead to or to constitute schism, and so departure from what the user of the word considers to be the true Christian Church. These words have been used to denote both the phenomenon of Christian group splintering in general, and certain significant historical splits in particular.

Some religious groups make a distinction^[4] between heresy and schism. Heresy is rejection of a doctrine that a Church considered to be essential. Schism is a rejection of communion with the authorities of a Church, and this term has historically been applied to such a break when there was no dispute about doctrine. But, when people withdraw from communion, two distinct ecclesiastical entities result, each of which then, in many cases, accuses the other of heresy.

Protestant Reformation - The Protestant Reformation was the schism within Western Christianity initiated byJohn Wycliffe, Jan Hus, Martin Luther, John Calvin, and other early Protestants. It was sparked by the 1517 posting of Luther's Ninety-Five Theses. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to ("protested") the doctrines, rituals, leadership, and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led to the creation of new national Protestant churches. The Reformation was precipitated by earlier events within Europe, such as the Black Death and the Western Schism, which eroded people's faith in the Catholic Church and the Papacy that governed it. This, as well as many other factors, such as the spread of Renaissance ideas, the spread of the printing press, and the fall of the Eastern Roman Empire, contributed to the creation of Protestantism.

Celsus - According to the Christian father Origen, Celsus (Greek: Κέλσος) was a 2nd-century Greek philosopher and opponent ofEarly Christianity. He is known for his literary work, The True Word (Account, Doctrine or Discourse) (Λόγος Ἀληθής), which survives exclusively in Origen's quotations from it in Contra Celsum. This work, c. 177^[1] is the earliest known comprehensive attack on Christianity.

According to Origen, Celsus was the author of an anti-Christian work titled The True Word. This work was lost, but we have Origen's account of it in his writings.^[2] It was during the reign of Philip the Arab that Origen received this work for rebuttal.^[3] Origen's refutation of The True Word contained its text, interwoven with Origen's replies. Origen's work has survived and thereby preserved Celsus' work with it.^[4]

Celsus seems to have been interested in Ancient Egyptian religion,^[5] and he seemed to know of Jewish logos-theology, both of which suggest The True Word was composed in Alexandria.^[6] Celsus wrote at a time when Christianity was being allegedly persecuted^[7] and when there seems to have been more than one emperor.^{[8][9][10][11][12]}

Severus Alexander (Latin: Marcus Aurelius Severus Alexander Augustus;^[1] 1 October 208 – 18 or 19 March 235) was Roman Emperor from 222 to 235. Alexander was the last emperor of the Severan dynasty. He succeeded his cousin Elagabalus upon the latter's assassination in 222, and was ultimately assassinated himself, marking the epoch event for the Crisis of the Third Century — nearly fifty years of civil wars, foreign invasion, and collapse of the monetary economy.

Elagabalus (Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus, c. 203 – 11 March 222), also known as Heliogabalus, was Roman Emperor from 218 to 222. A member of the Severan Dynasty, he was Syrian being the second son of Julia Soaemias and Sextus Varius Marcellus. In his early youth he served as a priest of the god Elagabal (in Latin, Elagabalus) in the hometown of his mother's family, Emesa. As a private citizen, he was probably named Sextus Varius Avitus Bassianus.^[1] Upon becoming emperor he took the name Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus. He was called Elagabalus only after his death.

Maximinus II (Latin: Gaius Valerius Galerius Maximinus Daia Augustus; c. 20 November 270 – July or August 313), also known as Maximinus Daia orMaximinus Daza, was Roman Emperor from 308 to 313. He became embroiled in the Civil wars of the Tetrarchy between rival claimants for control of the empire, in which he was defeated by Licinius. A committed pagan, he engaged in one of the last persecutions of Christians.

Pope Pontian (Latin: Pontianus; died October 235), was the head of theCatholic Church from 21 July 230 to 28 September 235.^[1] In 235, during the persecution of Christians under the Emperor Maximinus the Thracian, Pontian was arrested and sent to the island of Sardinia. He resigned to make the election of a new pope possible.^[1]  Pontian's pontificate was relatively peaceful under the reign of the EmperorSeverus Alexander and noted for the condemnation of Origen by a Roman synod over which Pontian likely presided.^[1]

Philip the Arab (Latin: Marcus Julius Philippus Augustus;^[1] Arabic: فيليب العربي Feyleyb al-Arabi c. 204 – 249), also known as Philip or Philippus Arabs, was Roman Emperor from 244 to 249. He was born in present-daySyria, and went on to become a major figure in the Roman Empire. He achieved power after the death of Gordian III, quickly negotiating peace with the Sassanid Empire. During his reign, Rome celebrated its millennium. Philip was overthrown and killed following a rebellion led by his successorDecius.

Sol Invictus ("Unconquered Sun") was the official sun god of the later Roman Empire and a patron of soldiers. In 274 the Roman emperor Aurelian made it an official cult alongside the traditional Roman cults. Scholars disagree whether the new deity was a refoundation of the ancient Latin cult of Sol,^[1] a revival of the cult of Elagabalus^[2] or completely new.^[3] The god was favored by emperors after Aurelian and appeared on their coins until Constantine.^[4] The last inscription referring to Sol Invictus dates to 387 AD^[5] and there were enough devotees in the 5th century that Augustine found it necessary to preach against them.^[6]

Theology of space - Clearly the traditional form of the Roman temple would be inappropriate both from associations with pagan cults but also from the difference in function. Temples served as treasuries and dwellings for the cult; sacrifices occurred on outdoor altars with the temple as a backdrop. This meant that Roman temple architecture was largely an architecture of the exterior. Since Christianity was a mystery religion that demanded initiation to participate in religious practices, Christian architecture put greater emphasis on the interior. The Christian churches needed large interior spaces to house the growing congregations and to mark the clear separation of the faithful from the unfaithful. At the same time, the new Christian churches needed to be visually meaningful. The buildings needed to convey the new authority of Christianity. These factors were instrumental in the formulation during the Constantinian period of an architectural form that would become the core of Christian architecture to our own time: the Christian Basilica. No architect can rebuild a cathedral of another epoch embodying the desires, the aspirations, the love and hate of the people whose heritage it became.  Therefore the images we have before us of monumental structures of the past cannot live again with the same intensity and meaning. Their faithful duplication is unreconcilable.

- Louis Kahn[1]

Theology of Art - Theological aesthetics is the interdisciplinary study of theology and aesthetics, and has been defined as being "concerned with questions about God and issues in theology in the light of and perceived through sense knowledge (sensation, feeling, imagination), throughbeauty, and the arts".^[1] This field of study is broad and includes not only a theology of beauty, but also the dialogue between theology and the arts, such as dance, drama,film, literature, music, poetry, and the visual arts.

Notable theologians and philosophers that have dealt with this subject include Augustine of Hippo, Thomas Aquinas, Martin Luther, Jonathan Edwards, Søren Kierkegaard, Karl Barth, and Hans Urs von Balthasar, among others.

Patripassianism - In Christian theology, patripassianism is the view that God the Father suffers (from Latinpatri- "father" and passio "suffering"). Its adherents believe that God the Father was incarnate and suffered on the cross and that whatever happened to the Son happened to the Father and so the Father co-suffered with the human Jesus on the cross. This view is opposed to the classical theological doctrine of divine apathy. According to classical theology it is possible for Christ to suffer only in virtue of his human nature. The divine nature is incapable of suffering. The early church considered patripassianism to beheresy.

Modalism - In Christianity, Sabellianism (also known as modalism, modalistic monarchianism, ormodal monarchism) is the nontrinitarian belief that the Heavenly Father, Resurrected Son and Holy Spirit are different modes or aspects of one monadic God, as perceived bythe believer, rather than three distinct persons within the Godhead.

The term Sabellianism comes from Sabellius, a theologian and priest from the 3rd century. Modalism differs from Unitarianism by accepting the Christian doctrine thatJesus is fully God.

Hexapla (Ἑξαπλά: Gr.for "sixfold") is the term for an edition of theBible in six versions. Especially it applies to the edition of the Old Testament compiled byOrigen of Alexandria, sometime before the year 240, which placed side by side:

1. Hebrew
2. Secunda – Hebrew transliterated into Greek characters
3. Aquila of Sinope
4. Symmachus the Ebionite
5. A recension of the Septuagint, with (1) interpolations to indicate where the Hebrew is not represented in the Septuagint—these are taken mainly from Theodotion's text and marked with asterisks, and (2) indications, using signs called obeloi(singular: obelus), of where words, phrases, or occasionally larger sections in the Septuagint do not reflect any underlying Hebrew.
6. Theodotion^[1]

Montanism was an early Christian movement of the late 2nd century, later referred to by the name of its founder, Montanus, but originally known by its adherents as the New Prophecy. It originated in Phrygia, a province of Asia Minor, and flourished throughout the region, leading to the movement being referred to elsewhere as "Cataphrygian" (meaning it was "from Phrygia") or simply as "Phrygian". It spread rapidly to other regions in theRoman Empire at a time before Christianity was generally tolerated or legal. It persisted in some isolated places into the 6th century.

Praxeas was a Monarchian from Asia Minor who lived in the end of the 2nd century/beginning of the 3rd century. He believed in the unity of the Godhead and vehemently disagreed with any attempt at division of the personalities or personages of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in the Christian Church. He was opposed by Tertullian in his tract, Against Praxeas (Adversus Praxean), and was influential in preventing theRoman Church from granting recognition to the New Prophecy.

An early anti-Montanist, is known to us only by Tertullian's book "Adversus Praxean". 

Celibacy (from Latin, cælibatus) is a state of being unmarried and sexually abstinent, usually in association with the role of a religious official or devotee. In its narrow sense, the term is applied only to those for whom the unmarried state is the result of a sacredvow, act of renunciation, or religious conviction. Celibacy has existed in one form or another throughout history and in virtually all the major religions of the world.^[1] Celibacy is distinct from the lack of interest in sex, which may be due to a number of reasons, such as asexuality.

The Ineffable One (Word or Logos) - an attribute typically given to God in Christian theology.  God is ineffable because he cannot be understood through human logic. One is the doctrine of the Trinity. Another is the problem of evil.  A final example is the problem of eternal punishment.

Clement of Alexandria - Titus Flavius Clemens (Greek: Κλήμης ὁ Ἀλεξανδρεύς; c. 150 – c. 215), known asClement of Alexandria, was a Christian theologian who taught at the Catechetical School of Alexandria. A convert to Christianity, he was an educated man who was familiar with classical Greek philosophyand literature. As his three major works demonstrate, Clement was influenced by Hellenistic philosophy to a greater extent than any other Christian thinker of his time, and in particular by Plato and the Stoics.^[1]

Second Adam, The - "The Last Adam" is a title given to Jesus in the New Testament.^[1][2] Similar titles that also refer to Jesus include Second Adam and New Adam. John MacArthur equates the Last Adam with the Second Adam.^[3]  Twice in the New Testament an explicit comparison is made between Jesus and Adam. In Romans 5:12-21, Paul argues that "just as through thedisobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous" (Romans 5:19,NIV). In 1 Corinthians 15:22, Paul argues that "as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive," while in verse 45 he calls Jesus the "last Adam".

Irenaeus of Lyons - (/aɪrəˈniːəs/; Greek: Εἰρηναῖος) (2nd century – c. AD 202), referred to by some as Saint Irenaeus, was Bishop of Lugdunum in Gaul, then a part of the Roman Empire (now Lyons, France). He was an early Church Father and apologist, and his writings were formative in the early development of Christian theology. He was a hearer of Polycarp,^[1] who in turn was traditionally a disciple of John the Evangelist.

Marcion and the Gnostics - Marcionism was an Early Christian dualist belief system that originated in the teachings of Marcion of Sinope at Rome around the year 144^[1] (see also Christianity in the 2nd century).

Marcion believed Jesus Christ was the savior sent by God, and Paul of Tarsus was his chief apostle, but he rejected the Hebrew Bible and the God of Israel. Marcionists believed that the wrathful Hebrew God was a separate and lower entity than the all-forgiving God of the New Testament. This belief was in some ways similar to Gnostic Christian theology; notably, both are dualistic, that is, they posit opposing gods, forces, or principles: one higher, spiritual, and "good", and the other lower, material, and "evil" (compare Manichaeism)

Church Catholic, The - according to the whole.  Separate from various heretical groups and sects, calling itself Catholic or Universal.

Monasticism - (from Greek μοναχός,monachos, derived from μόνος, monos, "alone") or monkhood is a religious way of life that involves renouncing worldly pursuits to fully devote one's self to spiritual work. Monastic life plays an important role in manyChristian churches, especially in the Catholicand Orthodox tradition.  For a general rule, in Roman Catholicism, monks and nuns are called brother or sister, while in Orthodox Christianity, they are called father or mother.

Monastic Reaction

Eunuchs for the Kingdom - History has seen some grave distortions of St. Paul's teaching that he who marries does "well," but he who refrains does "better" (1Co 7:38). It's led some to view marriage as a "second class" vocation for those who can't "handle" celibacy. It's also solidified people's erroneous suspicions that sex is inherently tainted, and only those who abstain can be truly "holy."  Such errors led John Paul II to assert firmly: "The 'superiority' of continence to matrimony in the authentic Tradition of the Church never means disparagement of marriage or belittlement of its essential value. It does not mean any shift whatsoever in a Manichean direction" (TB, Apr 7, 1982). (Manicheanism is an ancient heresy that views bodily things as evil, placing all emphasis on spiritual realities.)

Circumcellions - a group of Numidian and Mauritanian Donatist peasants who resorted to violence in Arian Controvery.  Sometimes depicted as bandits masqueraded with drive by religious motives, truth is they were religious to the point of fanaticism.  They were convinced that no death was more glorious than that of the martyrs.

Donatus of Casae Nigre - after Majorinus died, his party elected this man who became their leader for almost half a century, and from whom the Donatist movement eventually derived its name.

Lapsed, the - People who had yielded their faith during the periods of persecution, but who now sought to be restored to the communion of Christians.

Eschewed - deliberately avoid using; abstain from.  "He appealed to the crowd to eschew violence"

Chapel - A portion of Martin of Tours' cape was in a small church.  The cape - cappella presence there cause the  little church to be called "chapel."

Copts - Monks who fled to the Egyptian desert, the descendants of ancient Egyptians who were now at the lowest eschelon of Egyptian society.  

Refectory -  A refectory (alsofrater, frater house, fratery) is a dining room, especially inmonasteries,boarding schools, and academic institutions. One of the places the term is most often used today is in graduateseminaries. It is derived from the Latin reficere "to remake or restore," via Late Latinrefectorium, which means "a place one goes to be restored."

Abbots - The word abbot, meaning father, is a title given to the head of a monastery in various traditions, includingChristianity. This article is intended to present facts related to the role and history associated with abbots in Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not actually the head of a monastery. The female equivalent is abbess.

Archimandrite( Greek:ἀρχιμανδρίτης -archimandrites), primarily used in the Eastern Orthodox and theEastern Catholicchurches, originally referred to a superiorabbot whom abishop appointed to supervise several 'ordinary'abbots (each styledhegumenos) and monasteries, or to the abbot of some especially great and important monastery. The title is also used as one purely of honour, with no connection to any actual monastery, and is bestowed on clergy as a mark of respect or gratitude for service to the Church. This particular sign of respect is only given to those priests who have taken vows of celibacy, that is monks; distinguished married clergy may receive the title of archpriest.

Cenobitic (or coenobitic)monasticism is a monastictradition that stresses community life. Often in the West, the community belongs to a religious order and the life of the cenobitic monk is regulated by a religious rule, a collection of precepts. The older style of monasticism, to live as a hermit, is callederemitic; and a third form of monasticism, found primarily in the East, is the skete.

Pachomius - Saint Pachomius (Greek:Παχώμιος, ca. 292–348), also known as Pachome andPakhomius (/pəˈkoʊmiəs/), is generally recognized as the founder of Christiancenobitic monasticism. In theCoptic churches his feast day is celebrated on 9 May. In the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches his feast day is celebrated on 15 May.^[1]

Question of Ethics in Monasticism - If the center of Christian life is love, there is some question as to how one living absolutely alone, seldom having to deal with other people, practices love of neighbor.

Gynocentrism: refers to the practice of making feminine point of view as the center of the view of the world.

Androcentrism: is the Greek word ανδρο which means the conscious of placing the men at the center. This is the practice of making the masculine gender point of view as the center to hold the view of the world’s history and culture is referred to as Androcentrism

Harangued: A lengthy and aggressive speech. A tirade or attack to criticize or question somebody, or try to persuade somebody to do something in a forceful angry way

DONATISM;

member of heretical religious group: a member of a Christian group of the 4th and 5th centuries, originating in North Africa, that placed great emphasis on sanctity

SCHISMATIC - of schism: relating to, involved in, or causing schism; member or promoter of schism: a participant in or cause of a schism

COMMULAL - shared: used or owned by all members of a group or community; of communities: relating to communities or to living in communities; of commune: belonging or relating to a commune

CENOBITIC;

The organized version of Christian cenobitic monasticism is commonly thought to have started in Egypt in the 4th century AD. Christian monks of previous centuries were usually hermits, especially in the Middle East; this continued to be very common until the decline of Aramean Christianity in theLate Middle Ages. This form of solitary living, however, did not suit everyone. Some monks found the eremitic style to be too lonely and difficult; and if one was not spiritually prepared, the life could lead to mental breakdowns.

Jahannam: A Muslim term for Hell -- the eternal dwelling place after death for evil persons.

Janna: A Muslim term for Paradise, which is similar to the Christian concept of Heaven.

 Jainism: This is the oldest ascetic religious tradition. It was founded in the sixth century BCE by Mahavira (599-527 BCE). Its 4 million followers are located mainly in India. They believe in karma, in reincarnation, and in avoiding violence. Janists limit earthly attachments. 

 JEDP: See documentary hypothesis.

 Jehovah: A name for the God of the Hebrew Scriptures, transliterated from YHWH.

 Jehovah's Witnesses: Originally a American Fundamentalist Christian denomination organized by Charles Taze Russell during the 1870s, it has since spread worldwide. Members are expected to volunteer significant amounts of time to proselytize in their communities by going door-to-door. Their practice of pacifism resulted in clashes with the American and Canadian government during World War II. This resulted in many court decisions that made major contributions to the definition of religious freedom in the two countries. Their German members were heavily persecuted during the Nazi 

Holocaust; thousands were exterminated. 

 Jerusalem: The "holy city" in Israel. The Temple of David and Temple of Solomon was located there; Yeshua was crucified there. Muhammed was taken up to Paradise from there.

 Jesus: The name, in English, of the founder of Christianity. As a newborn, Jesus was given the name Yehoshua, which means "God Salvation." In 1st century Palestine, he was probably known as Yeshua of Nazareth. Yeshua is translated as Iesous in Greek, Iesus in Latin, and Jesus in English. Most Christians consider Jesus to be the second person of the Trinity, along with God the Father and the Holy Spirit.

 Jesus Only Movement: The belief that Jesus sequentially took three forms. First, he was God; then he was the Son; finally, he became the Holy Spirit. They reject the concept of the Trinity as believed by almost all other Christians. Synonym for "Oneness theology."

 Jewish Star: (a.k.a. Star of David, Magen David, Shield of David: A six-pointed symmetrical star symbol of Judaism.

 Jihad: A striving for perfection, frequently used within Islam. Usually, the term refers to an internal struggle that a person has with their imperfections. The term is also used to refer to a defensive war. Some radical Fundamentalist Muslims and the Western media often interpret the term as a synonym for an aggressive "holy war."

 Jinn (plural Jinni): A Muslim term which, according to the Qur'an, refers to a species of invisible, intelligent beings created by God who are different from humans. They, along with humans, will be judged in the future and attain either heaven or hell, depending upon their good and bad deeds on earth. Among some Muslims, some Jinni are viewed as evil supernatural beings who can take either human or animal form, and can possess humans.

 Jnana: A Sanskrit term used in Buddhism to refer to higher knowledge and wisdom.

 Judaism: A world religion whose name comes from the patriarch Judah. 

 Judaizers: A term used in the Christian Scriptures to refer to various Jewish Christian groups.

 Jewish Christianx: One part of the early Christian movement who opposed Paul's teachings. They regarded themselves to be a reform group within Judaism. They followed Jewish laws concerning circumcision and diet, regarded Jesus as a prophet who was not divine, rejected the virgin birth and tried to follow his teachings.

 Judaism: This is often regarded as the earliest monotheistic religion. The Christian religion was founded by Jews -- mainly by Yeshua of Nazareth (aka Jesus Christ) and Paul of Tarsus. It currently has 20 million followers, and is the original Abrahamic religions. The Roman army drove Jews out of Palestine and scattered them throughout the known world. Only in 1948 CE was a Jewish state recreated in Israel.

 Judaism, Messianic: A conservative Christian religion which blends Jewish tradition and ceremonies with Fundamentalist Christian theological beliefs.

 Jews, Completed: A term used by conservative Christians to refer to Jews who have embraced 

Messianic Judaism -- a blend of Jewish tradition and ceremonies with Fundamentalist Christian theological beliefs about Jesus Christ, salvation, Heaven, Hell, etc. Considered a derogatory term by most Jews who hold to the historical Jewish faith.

 Judges: In the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) these were political and religious leaders selected for their leadership abilities, to lead the ancient Hebrews in the era before they were ruled by kings.

 Justification: A Christian term that refers to the forgiveness and total elimination of a believer's sin on the grounds of Jesus' righteousness and shed blood at his crucifixion. An individual is "justified" when "they are brought into right standing and into a right relationship with" God. To most Protestants, this is a direct action initiated by God on the individual. Many also believe that, once a person is justified, they are saved forever. To Roman Catholics, it is a byproduct of the sacraments; one loses justification by committing a mortal sin; one is able to regain it through the sacraments.

Ka'bah: A structure that Muslims belive was originally constructed by Abraham and his eldest son. Millions of Muslims orient themselves towards the Ka'bah every day during prayers.

 Kabala (also spelled Kabalah, Kaballa, Kaballah, Kabbala, Kabbalah, Kabballa, Kabballah, and varius spellings starting with the letter C and Q) A Jewish mystical tradition. See Cabbalah.

Kama: From the Sanskrit word for love and desire. Kama is the Hindu God of love and erotic desire.

 Kantheism (a.k.a. Cantheism) refers to religions based, at least in part, on the use of the cannabis plant from which marijuana is derived. Some Animist and Shamanist faiths use cannabis, as do some traditions within Hinduism, Rastafarianism, Satanism, and Zoroastrianism.

 Karma: the integrated collection of good and evil that a person accumulates during their present and former lives. Hindus, Buddhists and some others believe that the amount and type of karma will determine a person's state when they are reincarnated in their next life. Similarly, the sum total of one's acts in previous lives determines one's current life. Although the term normally applies to individuals, there exists group karma, family karma and even national karma. Some New Agers and Neopagans also believe in Karma, but generally restrict its effect to a person's current lifetime.

 Kenosis: A Greek word which means "emptying." Paul used the term in Philippians 2:7 to describe his belief about the process by which Yeshua of Nazareth (Jesus Christ) discarded his supernatural powers and became human.

 Ketubah: A Jewish marriage contract which specifies the groom's obligations to the bride.

 Khutba: A Muslim term referring to a Friday sermon in a mosque.

 Kibbutz: Jewish term for a communal settlement.

 Kiddushin: Hebrew for "consecration:" A Jewish engagement to be married.

 Kippah: (also spelled kippa): A head covering traditionally used only by male Jews. "...the Code of Jewish Law says, 'It is forbidden to walk four cubits without a head covering'." 1 Synonym: yarmulke.

 Koine: "The common Greek language as distinct from Classical Greek." 1 The Septuagint and the Christian Scriptures (New Testament) were written in Koine Greek.

 Koinonia: A Greek word (pronounced Koy-no-NEE-ah). It was used in the Christian Scriptures (New Testament) to describe the early Pauline Christian church. It means "communication," "fellowship", or "communion."

 Koran: The name of the God-inspired text of Islam. Most Muslims prefer an alternative spelling: Qur'an.

 Kosher: A set of Jewish dietary rules specified in the Hebrew Scriptures and practiced by many Jews.

 Krishna: The eighth or ninth incarnation of a Hindu god Vishnu.

 Ksana: A Buddhist term for a short interval of time; about 13.3 millisecond. It takes 4,500 ksanas to equal one minute.

Kufr: A Muslim term for disbelief.

Landmarkism: The belief that Baptist churches are the only true Christian churches. 

 Last supper: The meal that Jesus and his disciples took just before Jesus' arrest. The term is also used to refer to communion.

 LDS: Acronym for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

 Lectionary: A series of Bible passages that are read throughout the year in a church service. Often, the sermon is based on the passage just read.

 Legalism:  The belief that one's salvation depends upon strictly following religious laws and rituals. 

 The belief that salvation is at least partly dependent on one's good works.

 Lectio divina: Latin for "divine reading." It is an ancient method of prayer, in which the person meditates on a short passage of the Bible or other written material and waits for God to speak to them through the words of the text.

 Lent: A period of spiritual preparation for Easter. It starts 40 days before Easter Sunday in the Roman Catholic church. It starts eight weeks before Easter in the Eastern Orthodox churches. In the early Church, recent converts were taught in preparation for their baptism.

 Lesbian: A female who is emotionally and physically attracted only to other females.

 Levirite marriage: From the Latin word "levir" -- husband's brother. The practice, required by Mosaic law, by which a widow and her former-husband's brother were required to marry. This inevitably involved serial rape in many cases. A child born to the couple would be credited to the former husband. 

 Lex talionis: Latin for "law of retaliation." The Hebrew Scriptures state that Injury was to be repaid with a similar injury: "an eye for an eye; a tooth for a tooth."

 LGBT: An acronym that refers to lesbians, male gays, bisexuals and transsexuals. There are many variations to this acronym including the following, which is the most inclusive that we have seen:

 LGBTTIQ: An acronym that refers to individuals who identify themselves as lesbian, gay male, bisexual, transgender, Two Spirit, intersexual, queer, and questioning. 

 Liberal Christianity (a.k.a. Progressive Christianity): A religious movement that holds beliefs which are very different from those of conservative Christians: Emphasizes human rights, the findings of science, and the higher criticism (analysis) of the Bible;  Largely disregards biblical miracles, the infallibility, inspiration and inerrancy of the Bible, the Virgin birth; Ignores passages in the Bible which are immoral by today's standards -- e.g. those dealing with human slavery, oppression of women, religious intolerance, torture of prisoners, genocide, burning some hookers alive, etc.

Liberation theology: The interpretation of religious faith from the perspective of the poor, oppressed and victimized. It seeks God in a world of injustice. Found most often within Christianity.

 Lilith: (a.k.a Lillith): Originally, she was a female demon who formed part of Babylonian and Canaanite Pagan religion. She was incorporated into the religion of the ancient Hebrews and is mentioned in Isaiah 34:14. The Revised Standard Version of the Bible refers to her as a Night Hag. She was believed to be a female demon that seduced men, terrified children at night, etc. Some later Jewish sources identified her as the first wife of Adam, created at the same time as he was. She didn't submit to Adam's will and was banished from the Garden of Eden. Eve then became Adam's second wife. Some modern-day feminists have adopted Lilith as a heroine.

 Limited atonement: This is the third of The Five Points of Calvinism: the belief that Jesus did not die to save all humans. He died only for the sake of specific sins of those who are saved. Sometimes called "Particular Redemption."

 Literalist: "One who adheres to the letter or exact word; an interpreter according to the letter." (The Free Dictionary) The term is typically used when Interpreting scriptures.

 Literary criticism: With reference to the Bible, a method of analyzing passages "that seeks to discover the underlying literary sources, stylistic features, type or genre of literature, authorship, unity, and date of a text, for their value in interpreting the text’s meaning in its original historical context."

 Liturgy: From the Greek word "leitourgia" meaning "service." Forms and content of pulbic service for church worship as defined by various faith groups. 

 Logos: An ancient Pagan Greek term meaning "word" or "reason", and used to indicate the concept that the universe was governed by a higher form of intelligence. St. Paul and other Christians have used it to describe Jesus as the "Logos of God" - the concept that the eternal thoughts of God were made incarnate (endowed with a body) in Jesus.

 Lord's Supper:  See Communion.

 Lower criticism: The analysis of available evidence to determine the original text of the Bible.

 Lucifer: Angel of light. Sometimes considered a synonym for Satan.

 Lutheranism: The group of denominations that trace their roots to Martin Luther and the German Reformation in the early 16th century. In the U.S. the largest Lutheran denomination is the liberal Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Second largest is the conservative Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod.

 LXX: Roman symbol for the number 70. An abbreviation used to refer to the Septuagint translation of the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) into Koine Greek. The translation was allegedly made by 70 or 72 individuals. This was the version of the Hebrew Scriptures used by the Christians in the primitive Christian church.

Machpela: The Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron, Palestine where some believe that the leaders of ancient Israel were buried.

 Magic, Magick: The use of blessings, spells, incantations etc. to change outcomes of events. Wiccans and other Neo-pagans are limited to what is popularly called "White Magic" which is devoid of control, domination, harm or manipulation. In contrast, Satanists are free to return harmful magic as vengeance for any harm done to them by others.

 Mainline or Mainstream: This is a term that is often used to refer to Christian denominations which are more liberal than Evangelicals. It is not a well-defined word with a universally accepted meaning. In a study comparing Evangelical and mainline denominations, a Princeton University study included the following as large mainline groups: American Baptist Churches in the USA, Episcopal Church USA, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Presbyterian Church (USA), United Church of Christ, and the United Methodist Church. 1 Some theologians and commentators divide Christianity into three groups: Evangelical, mainline and liberal.

 Mahayana: A Sanskrit term group of Buddhist traditions called the Great Way, Great Road, Greater Path, or Greater Vehicle. It stresses the importance of helping others to achieve enlightenment. It is found in Bhutan, China, Japan, Nepal, Tibet, and East Asia.

 Mala beads: This is a string of beads  -- 108 is a common number -- of uniform size. There is one larger bead, called the guru mother or focal bead. They are sometimes called "prayer beads," "worry beads" or "Buddhist rosaries". The beads can be made from a variety of materials, such as sandalwood, teak, glass, bone, gemstones, and coconut. The beads are used as counters to help Buddhists, Hindus, and yoga practitioners repeat their mantra a certain number of times. They can also help a person stay focused during meditation. 2

 Maltheism: Derived from "mal" meaning bad or illness, and "theism" meaning belief in God. This is the concept that God exists, but as an cruel, arrogant, abusive and untruthful being. The term is believed to have been created on Usenet in 1985.

 Mamzer: A Jewish term for an illegitimate person born from an incestuous or adulterous union.

 Mandala: An object that one can focus on during meditation. It is usually a painted diagram that shows the unfolding of the cosmos. It is widely used by Buddhists and Hindus.

 Mandap: A sacred wedding tent used by Hindus.

 Manicheanism: A religion which synthesized elements of Buddhism, Christianity, Gnosticism, and Zoroastrianism. It was founded by Mani (a.k.a. Manicheus) in Mesopotamia during the third century CE. He believed in two two equal deities. One is the Judeo-Christian God who is good, and is responsible for human souls and minds. The other is Satan who is evil and is responsible for human bodies, passions and emotions. It considered sexuality to be evil. Its followers practiced asceticism. 3

 Manifestation. The founder of the Christadelphians, John Thomas, taught his belief about deity. Rejecting the Trinity, he wrote that "...the Father is God and Jesus is God; and we may add, so are all the brethren of Jesus gods; and a multitude which no man can number'."

 Mantra: A word or phrase which is repeated continually in order to achieve relaxation or a state of meditation.

M'ra: The Buddhist devil.

Marianist: A group of Christians in the 5th century CE who believed that the Virgin Mary is the "queen of heaven." They believed in a Trinity composed of God, Mary and Jesus Christ.

Marriage, protection of: The terms "protection of marriage" or "protection of traditional marriage" are used by religious and social conservatives to refer to activity designed to give opposite-sex couples special privileges. Their main goal is to prevent loving committed same-sex couples from marrying and thereby protecting themselves and their children with approximately 1,500 state and federal government benefits, rights and obligations.

Martyr: Greek for "witness." A person who dies for their faith or cause.

Masjid: This is a Muslim term for a mosque -- a house of worship.

Masonic order: See Freemasonry

 Materialism: The belief that only material, physical objects exist. Such items as thoughts, soul, and spirit are properties of the human mind.