Religion

Old Calendarists (Eastern Orthodox traditionalists) Old Calendarists Eastern Orthodox groups that rejected early 20th‑century calendar reform and continue using the old Julian liturgical calendar; they formed separate jurisdictions and emphasize con…

Old Catholic Church A group of Christian churches, mainly in central Europe, formed after Vatican I that reject papal infallibility while retaining catholic liturgy, episcopal orders, and close relati…

Old Testament (Hebrew Bible): Overview, Structure, History, and Canonical Differences Old Testament The Old Testament, also called the Hebrew Bible, is the collection of ancient Jewish scriptures forming the first part of the Christian Bible. This article explains its contents, h…

Oneness Pentecostalism: Beliefs, History, and Distinctive Practices Oneness Pentecostalism Overview of Oneness Pentecostalism, a nontrinitarian Pentecostal movement: core doctrines, worship practices, historical origins, differences from other Christian traditions, and c…

Oriental Orthodoxy Oriental Orthodoxy is the family of Eastern Christian churches that rejected the Council of Chalcedon (451) and maintain a distinct Christological tradition and ancient liturgical…

Original sin (Christian doctrine) Original sin Original sin is the theological idea that human beings inherit a sinful condition from the first humans. It shaped Christian teaching on human nature, salvation, and baptism across…

Orthodox: meaning, traditions, and distinctions Orthodox Overview of the term 'orthodox', its Greek origin, major religious uses in Christianity and Judaism, key differences between traditions, and contemporary relevance.

Orthodox Church of Ukraine The Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) is an autocephalous Eastern Orthodox Church formed in 2018–2019 with canonical territory in Ukraine. It plays a central role in Ukraine's relig…

Orthodox Judaism: Beliefs, Practices, History, and Community Life Orthodox Judaism Orthodox Judaism is a branch of Judaism that emphasizes continuity with traditional Jewish law and rabbinic interpretation. This article outlines its beliefs, practices, history, i…

Orthodoxy (right belief and institutional authority) Orthodoxy Orthodoxy denotes 'right belief' in religious and secular contexts. It refers to doctrines and theological standards maintained by communities or institutions, distinct from orthop…

Our Lady of Lourdes Marian title for the Virgin Mary linked to 1858 apparitions at Lourdes, France, reported by Bernadette Soubirous; now a major Catholic pilgrimage site centered on a grotto, a sprin…

Oxford Movement (Tractarianism): 19th‑century revival in the Church of England Oxford Movement A 19th‑century movement originating at Oxford that sought to restore catholic doctrine, ritual and authority within Anglicanism; known for the Tracts for the Times and lasting Angl…

Paganism: Beliefs, History, and the Modern Revival Paganism Overview of paganism, its beliefs and practices, ancient roots, modern neo-pagan movements (like Wicca and Druidry), distinguishing features, rituals, and common misconceptions.

Pali: Middle Indo-Aryan language and liturgical tongue of Theravada Buddhism Pali Pali is a Middle Indo-Aryan literary and liturgical language closely related to Prakrits and Sanskrit. It preserves the Theravada Buddhist scriptures and remains in use for chantin…

Pali Wikipedia Pali Wikipedia is the Wikimedia edition in the Pali language, the classical liturgical language of Theravada Buddhism. It collects articles in Pali and serves scholarship, religiou…

Pandeism: belief that a higher being became the universe Pandeism Pandeism is a philosophical-religious position holding that a creator deity became the universe. It combines elements of deism and pantheism and emphasizes reason, natural law, and…

Panentheism: God as Both Immanent in and Greater than the Universe Panentheism Panentheism is the theological view that the divine pervades the universe while also transcending it, a position found in philosophy, some religious traditions, and contemporary th…

Pantheism: belief that the divine and the cosmos are identical Pantheism Pantheism is the view that the divine and the universe are identical or inseparable; it appears across philosophies and religions and influences spirituality, ethics, and environme…

Papal name (regnal name of the pope) Papal name The papal name is the regnal name that a newly elected pope adopts. It signals spiritual priorities, honors predecessors or saints, and becomes his public identity in church and hi…

Parable of the Barren Fig Tree A New Testament parable in Luke 13:6–9 about a fruitless fig tree; themes include repentance, divine patience and judgment, and the expectation of spiritual fruitfulness.

Parable of the Budding Fig Tree A concise encyclopedia entry on the Parable of the Budding Fig Tree: text, context, interpretations, and its place in Christian teaching and biblical imagery.

Parable of the Faithful Servant A New Testament parable of Jesus that urges watchfulness and faithful stewardship; recorded in Matthew 24:42–51, Mark 13:34–37 and Luke 12:35–48 with notable variations and applica…

Parable of the Lost Sheep A New Testament parable told by Jesus about a shepherd who leaves ninety-nine sheep to seek one lost animal; interpreted as a lesson on divine concern for the lost, repentance, and…

Parable of the Mustard Seed A New Testament parable of Jesus about small beginnings and great growth, found in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and with a variant in the Gospel of Thomas; often interpreted as a metaphor…

Parable of the Prodigal Son A summary and analysis of Jesus' Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11–32), its narrative elements, theological themes, liturgical use, and cultural influence in art and literatu…

Parables of Jesus: form, themes, history and influence Parables of Jesus Overview of the parables told by Jesus: their narrative form, principal themes, notable examples, origins in oral and Jewish traditions, interpretation methods, and cultural legacy…

Paradise (religious and cultural concept) Paradise Paradise denotes an ideal place or state of complete goodness and peace, often depicted as a garden or heaven. It appears across religions, literature, and art with diverse meaning…

Parashurama — the Brahmin‑Warrior Avatar of Vishnu Parashurama Parashurama is the sixth avatar of Vishnu, depicted as a warrior‑sage who carries an axe. He appears in Hindu Puranas and epics as a fierce defender of dharma, a teacher of arms, a…

Parish: Local Church Community and Ecclesiastical Territory Parish A parish is the basic local unit of Christian pastoral care — a territory and community served by a church and its minister, found in many denominations with varied history and civ…

Passion bearer (Eastern Orthodox Christian tradition) Passion bearer A passion bearer is a holy person in Eastern Orthodox Christianity who meets death in a Christ-like manner, distinguished from martyrs by the absence of killing for the faith.

Pastor: role, origin, duties, and variations in Christian ministry Pastor A pastor is a Christian leader entrusted with spiritual care, preaching, teaching and administration. Roles, history, ordination, denominational differences, and contemporary funct…

Pathi (Ayyavazhi): Principal sacred centers Pathi Pathis are the principal worship centers of Ayyavazhi, sanctified by the activity of Ayya Vaikundar and forming the movement's core pilgrimage sites and ritual hubs.

Patron Saint An explanation of patron saints: origins, roles, how patronages arise, traditions and examples across Christian communities and civic life.

Pauline epistles Letters in the New Testament traditionally associated with Paul, their contents, order, authorship questions, major themes, and influence on Christian theology and practice.

Peace of God and Truce of God: medieval movements to curb violence Peace and Truce of God Two related medieval ecclesiastical movements that sought to limit private warfare: the Peace of God protected noncombatants and church property; the Truce of God restricted fighti…

“Peace be upon him” (Islam): meaning, forms, and use Peace be upon him (Islam) An overview of the Islamic honorific “Peace be upon him” (Arabic: alayhi as-salām), its meaning, forms, customary uses, abbreviations, and basic etiquette in spoken and written con…

Pelagianism: beliefs, history, and theological significance Pelagianism Pelagianism is a late‑antique Christian position, associated with Pelagius, that denied inherited original sin and affirmed strong human free will; it was judged heretical by early…

Penance: Repentance and the Christian Sacrament of Reconciliation Penance Penance refers to repentance and, within Christianity—especially Roman Catholicism—the sacrament of reconciliation in which sins are confessed, absolution is received, and acts of…

Pentecostalism: Beliefs, History, and Global Influence Pentecostalism Pentecostalism is a Christian movement emphasizing direct experience with the Holy Spirit, distinctive worship practices, and rapid global growth since the early 20th century.

People of the Book (Ahl al-Kitāb) People of the Book An overview of the Islamic term Ahl al-Kitāb — groups historically recognized as recipients of earlier revelations, their legal status, theological role, and changing interpretatio…

Persecution of Christians: forms, history, and global patterns Persecution of Christians Overview of persecution of Christians: definitions, common forms, historical background, regional examples, legal context, and responses by governments and civil society.

Persecution of Muslims: history, forms, and international responses Persecution of Muslims An overview of persecution directed at Muslims: definitions, historical episodes, contemporary examples, legal distinctions, and measures used to prevent and respond to discriminat…

Peshitta: The Standard Syriac Bible Peshitta The Peshitta is the authoritative Syriac version of the Bible, with an Old Testament translated from Hebrew and a New Testament text that became standard in Syriac churches by the…

Pharisees: Jewish movement and the roots of Rabbinic Judaism Pharisees Pharisees were a Jewish group in the late Second Temple era whose emphasis on oral interpretation, law, and local communal practice shaped the development of Rabbinic Judaism after…

Philadelphia Church (Filadelfiakyrkan), Stockholm — Swedish Pentecostal congregation Philadelphia Church Philadelphia Church (Filadelfiakyrkan) in Stockholm is a Swedish Pentecostal congregation founded in 1930 at Rörstrandsgatan 7, serving worship services, community programs and mus…

Pidyon Haben (Redemption of the Firstborn) Pidyon haben Pidyon haben is the Jewish ceremony in which a firstborn son is ritually redeemed on the thirtieth day after birth, involving a priestly recipient, a formal declaration and transfe…

Piety: devotion, duty and religious reverence Piety Piety is the disposition of reverence, devotion, and dutifulness toward the divine, family or community. It appears across religious traditions and cultural practices, shaping wors…

Pilgrimage: journeys of devotion, culture, and meaning Pilgrimage A pilgrimage is a purposeful journey to a sacred or meaningful site. This article explains what pilgrimages are, their forms, history, common practices, notable sites, and modern d…