Religion

Ritual purification Religious practices that remove ritual impurity from people, objects or places; forms, historical development, social meaning, health implications, and distinctions from ordinary c…

Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago Local church established 1843 (archdiocese 1880) serving northeastern Illinois from Holy Name Cathedral. Led by Cardinal Blase J. Cupich under Pope Francis; a major U.S. Catholic j…

Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton Latin Church jurisdiction based in Edmonton, Alberta, overseeing 129 parishes and serving central Alberta, the Edmonton region and portions of the Rocky Mountains.

Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Quebec Metropolitan Catholic jurisdiction based in Quebec City; founded as a vicariate in 1658, made a diocese in 1674 and elevated to an archdiocese in 1819. Seat: Notre-Dame de Québec.

Roman Catholic Diocese of Calgary Diocese serving Catholics across Calgary, southern Alberta and parts of the Rockies; suffragan of Edmonton with St. Mary's Cathedral as its seat and roughly 82 parishes and mission…

Roman Catholicism in Canada: history, organization, and cultural role Roman Catholicism in Canada Overview of the Roman Catholic Church in Canada, its history from early settlement to modern institutions, organizational structure, social roles, and contemporary trends.

Romanian Orthodox Church The autocephalous Eastern Orthodox Church of Romania, followed by the majority of Romanians. Led by the Patriarch, it shapes religious life, liturgy, culture, and social services a…

Romsey Abbey, Romsey (Hampshire) Romsey Abbey Romsey Abbey is a large medieval former Benedictine nunnery church in Romsey, Hampshire, now a Church of England parish church notable for its architecture, history and community r…

Rosary: Structure, History, Practice, and Significance Rosary An overview of the Catholic rosary: its form as prayer and beads, its historical development, how it is prayed, its mysteries and variations, and its role in devotional life.

Russian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) Russian Orthodox Church Major Eastern Orthodox church centered in Moscow, led by the Patriarch. Covers beliefs, liturgy, organization, historical development, cultural role, and relations with other Ortho…

Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR) Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia An autonomous body of the Russian Orthodox tradition formed by émigrés after 1917, with parishes worldwide. Known for preserving pre‑revolutionary practice and maintaining ties wit…

Sabbath: weekly day of rest and worship in Abrahamic traditions Sabbath The Sabbath is a weekly day set aside for rest, prayer, or worship across Abrahamic faiths. This article explains its origins, observances, historical development, and differences…

Sabbath in Christianity: Origins, Practices, and Variations Sabbath in Christianity Overview of how Christians understand and observe the Sabbath (Lord’s Day), its biblical roots, historical development, denominational differences, and common practices.

Sabellianism (Modalism): doctrine, history, and distinctions Sabellianism Sabellianism, or modalism, is a nontrinitarian Christian position holding that Father, Son and Holy Spirit are modes of one God. Overview, origins, reception, modern forms, and key…

Sacrament: rites, meaning, and role in Christian worship Sacrament A sacrament is a sacred rite in Christianity seen as an outward sign conveying inward spiritual grace. Practices, number and interpretation vary among traditions and shape communal…

Sacrament of Marriage (Catholic Church) Sacrament of marriage An overview of the Catholic sacrament of marriage: its meaning, essential elements, canonical and civil context, pastoral practice, history, and key distinctions.

Sacred: meaning, characteristics, history and examples Sacred An accessible overview of what 'sacred' means across religions and cultures: definitions, features, historical development, common sacred texts and places, and how societies treat…

Sacred cow: idiom, cultural practice, and metaphorical use Sacred cow Overview of the term 'sacred cow' — its origins, literal religious meaning, idiomatic use as a taboo or untouchable belief, and contemporary examples and considerations.

Sacred dance: forms, functions and cultural significance Sacred dance Sacred dance refers to movement traditions performed within religious or spiritual contexts. It spans ritual practices, devotional techniques and classical forms found across world…

Sacred Heart (Christian devotion) Sacred Heart The Sacred Heart is a Roman Catholic devotion to the divine love of Jesus, represented by his physical heart. It emphasizes mercy, reparation, and consecration and has a distinct h…

Sacred site: meaning, types, history and social roles Sacred site A sacred site is a place granted religious or spiritual significance. This article explains what makes sites sacred, common types, historical development, their uses, and contempor…

Sacrifice: Ritual, Symbol, and Social Meaning Sacrifice An overview of sacrifice as a ritual act and metaphor — forms, historical examples, religious meanings, modern uses, and ethical distinctions across cultures and traditions.

Sacrilege: offense against the sacred and its social meanings Sacrilege Sacrilege is the act of violating or showing disrespect toward what a culture regards as sacred. It spans religious, civic, and symbolic domains and carries moral, social, and some…

Sadhu: Hindu Ascetic Practitioners and Their Way of Life Sadhu A sadhu is a Hindu ascetic who renounces worldly aims to seek spiritual liberation. This article outlines their aims, practices, orders, social roles, historical background and con…

Sahaba — Companions of the Prophet Muhammad Sahaba Companions (Sahaba) were men and women who met and followed the Prophet Muhammad. They played central roles in early Islam, transmitting teachings, participating in governance and…

Sahih Muslim: an overview of the hadith collection and its significance Sahi Muslim Sahih Muslim is a principal Sunni hadith collection compiled by Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj; it is regarded with high authority, paired with Sahih al-Bukhari and widely used in law, theol…

Saint (holy person in religious traditions) Saint Overview of the concept of a saint: meanings, historical development, recognition practices, denominational differences, roles such as intercession and patronage, and parallels in…

Saint John Designation applied to several Christian saints named John — chiefly John the Baptist and John the Apostle — and to churches, places, orders and cultural traditions associated with…

Saint Thomas Overview of Christian saints named Thomas, including the Apostle, Thomas Aquinas, Thomas Becket and Thomas More, their identities, iconography, historical roles, and the name's cul…

Sakya (Tibetan Buddhist school) Sakya Sakya is one of the four principal schools of Tibetan Buddhism, known for the Lamdré teachings, its Khon family lineage, and a historical role in Tibetan politics and scholarship.

Salafi A Salafi advocates practicing Islam according to the example of the early generations (the salaf), stressing strict monotheism and scriptural literalism. The movement includes quie…

Salat (Islamic ritual prayer) Salat Salat, also called namaz, is the formal Muslim prayer performed at prescribed times daily; it combines set recitations, physical postures, and ritual purification and is central to…

Salat al‑Janazah: the Islamic funeral prayer Salat al-Janazah Salat al‑Janazah is the communal Islamic funeral prayer offered for a deceased Muslim before burial. This article explains its purpose, general structure, variations across schools…

Salvation (religion and theology) Salvation Salvation is a religious and theological concept describing deliverance or liberation from danger, sin, suffering, or ignorance; its meaning and practices vary among traditions and…

Salvation in Christianity Salvation (Christianity) Christian doctrine that humans are rescued from sin and its effects through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ; interpreted variously across traditions and practices.

Samael — Archangel, Accuser, and Angel of Death Samael Samael is a complex figure in Jewish, Christian, and esoteric traditions: an archangel sometimes identified with Satan, a prosecuting angel and destroyer, often associated with the…

Samaritan Pentateuch (Samaritan Torah) Samaritan Pentateuch A distinct ancient Hebrew recension of the first five books of Moses preserved by the Samaritans, important for biblical studies, textual criticism, and Samaritan religion.

Samaritans: the small Levantine ethno-religious community Samaritans The Samaritans are a small, ancient community in the Levant that shares belief in one God with Judaism but preserves its own version of the Torah, rites centered on Mount Gerizim,…

Samaveda — the Veda of Melodies and Ritual Chant Samaveda Samaveda, one of the four Vedas, preserves sung formulas and ritual melodies used by priest-singers (udgātṛ). Closely related to the Rigveda, it influenced the development of India…

Samayapuram Mariamman Temple A major Hindu shrine near Tiruchirapalli dedicated to the goddess Mariamman, known for healing powers, popular rituals and large annual festivals. One of Tamil Nadu's most visited…

Samsara — the cycle of rebirth and conditioned existence Samsara Samsara: a Sanskrit concept for the repeating cycle of birth, death and rebirth driven by ignorance and karma in Indian religions. Liberation is sought as moksha or nirvana through…

Samudaya Sacca — the Second Noble Truth (Origin of Suffering) Samudaya sacca Samudaya sacca is the Buddhist 'truth of the origin' that identifies craving (tanha) and related attachments as the source of dukkha and points toward liberation strategies.

San Lorenzo San Lorenzo is the Spanish and Italian form of Saint Lawrence, and a common name for churches, neighborhoods, towns, events and cultural institutions across Europe and the Americas…

Sanctification Sanctification: the act or process of making holy or setting apart for sacred use; a theological concept with ritual, moral, and doctrinal dimensions across Christian traditions.

Sanctuary: Sacred Sites and Places of Refuge Sanctuary An overview of sanctuaries: their religious origins, evolving legal and social meanings, types (wildlife, political, urban), management, and distinctions from other protected place…

Sangha: The Buddhist Community — Meaning, Forms, and Role Sangha Sangha denotes the Buddhist community — especially the ordained monastic order and the community of awakened disciples. This article explains its meanings, history, functions and m…

Sanhedrin: The Ancient Jewish Council and High Court Sanhedrin The Sanhedrin was the assembly of Jewish judges and leaders that served as local courts and a supreme council in ancient Israel. This article explains its composition, roles, histo…

Sanskrit: overview, history, structure, and cultural importance Sanskrit Sanskrit is an ancient Indo-Aryan language of South Asia, foundational to classical Indian literature, liturgy, and the development of many modern Indo-Aryan languages.