Religion

Mandir (Hindu Temple): meaning, architecture, rituals and cultural role Mandir A mandir is a Hindu place of worship. This article explains its spiritual purpose, principal architectural elements, typical rituals, historical roles, regional forms and contempor…

Manichaeism: history, beliefs, scriptures, and legacy Manichaeism Manichaeism was a major dualist and gnostic religion founded in Sassanid Persia in the 3rd century CE. This article summarizes its origins, doctrine, scriptures, historical spread,…

Mantle (ecclesiastical vesture) Mantle (vesture) A full-length monastic cape worn in Eastern Christian rites. The mantle (Greek μανδύας; Church Slavonic мантия) is a distinctive, non-liturgical outer garment of monks, abbots and…

Marcionism Marcionism was a mid‑2nd century Christian movement founded by Marcion of Sinope that distinguished the creator god of Jewish scripture from the Father revealed in Jesus and influe…

Maronite Church: history, liturgy, and role in Lebanon and the diaspora Maronite Church Eastern Catholic church of Syriac tradition centered in Lebanon. Overview of origins, liturgy, organization, historical development, cultural identity and contemporary presence.

Marozia: Roman noblewoman and power broker of early 10th-century Rome Marozia Marozia (c. 890–c. 936) of the Tusculan family was a dominant political figure in early 10th-century Rome, known for her role in papal politics, family dynastic power, and the cont…

Martinism: Christian mystical tradition of reintegration Martinism Martinism is a Western Christian mystical current focused on the fall of humankind and its return to divine unity (Reintegration), historically linked to 18th‑century French theurg…

Mary, mother of Jesus: life, legacy, and religious significance Mary, mother of Jesus Mary (Maryam) is the mother of Jesus in the Bible and the Qur'an. This article summarizes her life in scripture, major doctrines, devotional practices, historical sources, and diff…

Masjid al-Haram — The Sacred Mosque of Mecca Masjid al-Haram Masjid al-Haram in Mecca is Islam's largest and holiest mosque. It surrounds the Kaaba and contains key ritual sites, with a long history of construction, expansion, and religious…

Mass (liturgy) — Western Christian celebration of the Eucharist Mass (liturgy) The Mass is the principal Western Christian rite for celebrating the Eucharist, practiced in Roman Catholic, Old Catholic, Anglo‑Catholic Anglican and some Lutheran communities; it…

Master of Divinity (MDiv): Professional Degree for Christian Ministry Master of Divinity The Master of Divinity (MDiv) is the primary professional graduate degree preparing candidates for ordained or professional ministry in many Christian traditions and some other fai…

Matrixism (the Path of the One): a syncretic religion inspired by The Matrix Matrixism Matrixism is a pop-culture religion that emerged in the early 2000s, combining themes from the film The Matrix with syncretic spiritual ideas, a set of core tenets, symbolic ritual…

Meccan sura: definition, features, history and significance Meccan sura Meccan suras are Qur'anic chapters traditionally believed to have been revealed in Mecca before the Prophet's migration. They are short, poetic, and emphasize monotheism, the after…

Medinan suras (Qur'anic chapters revealed in Medina) Medinan sura Medinan suras are Qur'anic chapters traditionally believed revealed after Muhammad's migration to Medina; they are often longer and address communal law, governance, and relations…

Megachurch: Definition, Structure, History, and Social Role Megachurch An encyclopedic overview of megachurches: definition (2,000+ weekly attendees), common traits, organization, global spread, social programs, debates, and trends shaping large congr…

Mennonites: History, Beliefs, Practices, and Community Life Mennonites Mennonites are a diverse Anabaptist Christian tradition named after Menno Simons, notable for pacifism, community-oriented worship, and a long record of humanitarian and relief wor…

Menorah (Temple): the seven‑branched sacred lamp Menorah (Temple) The Temple menorah was the seven‑branched golden lampstand of ancient Israel, described in the Hebrew Bible, central to Temple ritual, later taken to Rome and now an enduring Jewis…

Meqabyan (Ethiopian Maccabees) Meqabyan Three distinct books in the Ethiopian Orthodox canon, the Meqabyan are Ge'ez/Amharic works called 'Ethiopian Maccabees' that differ in persons, themes, and purpose from the Greco-J…

Messiah: concept, history and religious meanings Messiah Overview of the term 'Messiah' (the Anointed One), its origins in the Hebrew Bible, Jewish, Christian and other interpretations, and its broader cultural uses.

Messianic Judaism: Jewish identity and belief in Yeshua Messianic Judaism A religious movement combining Jewish identity and practice with belief that Jesus (Yeshua) is the Jewish Messiah. Covers beliefs, observances, history, and why most Jewish denomin…

Methodism: origins, beliefs, practices, and denominational development Methodism Methodism is a Protestant movement founded in 18th-century Britain emphasizing personal holiness, social action, and a connectional church structure; it developed into multiple den…

Mevlevi Order (Whirling Dervishes): Origin, Rituals, and Cultural Legacy Mevlevi Sufi order founded around the teachings of Jalal-ud-din Rumi, known for the sema whirling ceremony. Origins in 13th-century Konya; notable for music, poetry, symbolic dress, and co…

Miaphysitism: the doctrine of the one united nature of Christ Miaphysitism Miaphysitism is a Christological position held by the Oriental Orthodox churches that emphasizes one united incarnate nature of Christ, understood as both fully divine and fully hu…

Mihrab: The Prayer Niche in Islamic Architecture Mihrab A mihrab is a recessed niche in a mosque qibla wall that marks the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca. It is both a practical marker for prayer and an important element of Islamic arc…

Mikveh (Jewish ritual bath): overview, structure, history and uses Mikveh A mikveh is a Jewish ritual bath used for ritual immersion. This article explains its structure, religious uses, historical development, and modern variations and issues in practic…

Millerites: 19th‑Century Adventist Movement in the United States Millerites Followers of William Miller who predicted Christ's imminent return in the 1830s–1840s; their failed prophecy led to the Great Disappointment and the later development of several Ad…

Minbar (Islamic pulpit) Minbar A minbar is the raised platform in a mosque from which an imam delivers sermons (khutbah). This article explains its form, placement, history, ritual role, and variations across Is…

Minyan: the Jewish communal prayer quorum Minyan Minyan is the quorum required for certain communal Jewish prayers and rituals. Practices vary by denomination, but traditionally ten adult Jews are needed for public sanctification…

Miracles of Jesus: accounts, types, and their religious significance Miracles of Jesus Extraordinary acts attributed to Jesus in the Bible and Qur'an—healings, exorcisms, nature miracles, resurrection—and how different traditions understand their meaning and continua…

Missal: liturgical book for the celebration of the Mass Missal A missal is a liturgical book used in Western Christian rites that contains texts and rubrics for celebrating the Mass; it evolved from early sacramentaries and was standardized in…

Mission Covenant Church of Sweden (Svenska Missionskyrkan) Mission Covenant Church of Sweden Former Swedish Protestant free-church body founded in 1878 (Svenska Missionsförbundet). Renamed in 2003 and in 2012 incorporated into the Uniting Church in Sweden; known for missio…

Missionary: religious outreach, activities, history, and modern context Missionary An overview of missionaries: who they are, common activities (evangelism, education, medical work), historical development, notable figures, and contemporary debates and practices.

Mitre (ecclesiastical headdress) Mitre A mitre is a ceremonial headdress worn by bishops and some other clergy in Western and Eastern Christian traditions; it has distinctive peaks and lappets and varies by rite and his…

Modern Orthodox Judaism A concise overview of Modern Orthodox Judaism: its principles, practices, history, institutions, and how it relates to modern society and other Jewish movements.

Moksha: Liberation and the Goal of Hindu Spiritual Practice Moksha Moksha is the Hindu concept of spiritual liberation from samsara (the cycle of rebirth). It denotes release from karma and union with ultimate reality, expressed differently across…

Monastery: communal religious residence, practice, and historical roles Monastery A monastery is a dedicated residence where members of a religious order live and practice their faith under vows. This article explains its organization, history, roles, and variat…

Monk: religious life, practices, history and modern roles Monk An overview of monks: their vows, disciplines, communal and solitary forms, roles across major religions, historical development, cultural influence and contemporary expressions of…

Monolatry: Worship of One Deity While Acknowledging Many Monolatry Monolatry is the religious stance that, although multiple gods exist, a community or individual worships only one. It differs from monotheism and henotheism and appears in several…

Monophysitism (Christian doctrine) Monophysitism Monophysitism is the belief that Jesus Christ has a single, unified nature—typically understood as divine—developed in early Christian debates and central to post‑Chalcedonian schi…

Monotheism: belief in a single divine being Monotheism Monotheism is the religious belief that a single, supreme deity exists. This article explains definitions, variations, historical development, major traditions, and distinctions fr…

Moorish Science Temple of America A religious and national movement founded in the early 20th century by Noble Drew Ali that combined elements of Islam, Christianity, and esoteric teachings to promote Moorish ident…

Mormonism (Latter Day Saint movement): beliefs, history, and organization Mormonism Mormonism, or the Latter Day Saint movement, is a restorationist Christian tradition begun by Joseph Smith in the 19th century. This article summarizes its origins, scriptures, pra…

Mosque: Function, Architecture, History and Community Role Mosque A mosque is a Muslim place of worship and community center; this article explains its architecture, functions, history, etiquette, and regional variations.

Mozarabic Rite: The Hispanic (Visigothic) Liturgy of the Iberian Church Mozarabic Rite An overview of the Mozarabic Rite: its origins in the Iberian Peninsula, historical development, distinctive liturgy and chant, and its continued limited use and scholarly importan…

Mudra: Hand and Body Gestures in Indian Religions and Yoga Mudra Mudras are symbolic hand and body gestures in Hinduism, Buddhism and yogic practice used in ritual, iconography, dance and meditation to convey meaning, support concentration, and…

Muezzin — the caller to prayer in Islam Muezzin A muezzin is the person who performs the adhan from a mosque's minaret, announcing the five daily prayers and Friday service; the role has historical, liturgical and modern technol…

Mujaddid: the Islamic concept of religious renewal and reform Mujaddid Mujaddid denotes a reformer who revives and renews religious life in the Muslim community, a concept rooted in a prophetic tradition that speaks of renewal every century and has sh…

Mullah: Religious Title and Role in Muslim Communities Mullah Mullah — a common title for men educated in Islamic theology and law — refers to local clerics, mosque leaders, and teachers across many Muslim regions, with varied roles, history,…