Religion

Belief: meaning, types, formation, and its relation to knowledge Belief Belief is the acceptance that something is true or likely. This article explains what beliefs are, common types, how they form and change, differences from scientific knowledge, an…

Belz Great Synagogue (Belz Beis HaMedrash HaGadol) Belz Great Synagogue A major Belz Hasidic synagogue in Kiryat Belz, Jerusalem, built as a large communal prayer house and center of study and celebration for the Belz movement.

Benedictine (Order of Saint Benedict) Benedictine A member of the monastic communities following the Rule of St. Benedict (OSB), committed to communal prayer, work, stability and hospitality; historically influential in Western mo…

Benediction (Christian liturgical blessing) Benediction A benediction is a short blessing pronounced at the close of Christian worship. This article explains forms, history, denominational differences, uses, and cultural references.

Benzaiten: Japanese goddess of music, water, eloquence, and fortune Benzaiten Benzaiten is the Japanese adaptation of the Hindu goddess Saraswati, introduced with Buddhism. She is associated with water, music, speech, and prosperity and appears in temples, s…

Bet (Hebrew letter) Bet (letter) Bet (ב) is the second letter of the Hebrew alphabet, pronounced /b/ or /v/, with numeric value 2. It originates from Proto‑Semitic *bayt (house) and appears in language, script his…

Bethlehem Baptist Church (Minneapolis): history, ministry, and influence Bethlehem Baptist Church (Minneapolis) A historical Baptist congregation in Minneapolis founded in 1871, known for its Reformed evangelical identity and long association with pastor John Piper and the Desiring God minis…

Bhabanipur Shaktipeeth Bhabanipur Shaktipeeth is a Hindu sacred site revered as one of the Shakti Peethas; it is linked to Goddess Shakti and local pilgrimage, ritual, and cultural traditions.

Bhakti Yoga: The Path of Devotion in Hindu Practice Bhakti yoga Bhakti yoga is the Hindu discipline of devotion to a personal deity, expressed through love, remembrance, worship, and self-surrender in prayer, music, service and ritual.

Bible: composition, history, and cultural significance Bible Survey of the Bible as a collection of texts central to Judaism and Christianity, its composition and varieties, literary types, manuscript history, uses, and cultural influence.

Bible Belt: region of conservative Protestant influence in the United States Bible Belt The Bible Belt refers to areas of the United States where conservative evangelical Protestantism shapes culture, politics and social life. The term describes religious demographics…

Bible Study: Methods, History, and Contemporary Practice Bible study An overview of Bible study: what it is, major approaches, historical developments (including translations and the Reformation), common tools, uses, and distinctions between devotio…

Bible translations: history, languages, and translation approaches Bible translations Survey of Bible translations: original languages and manuscripts, major historical versions, translation philosophies, controversies, and modern developments in scholarship and ver…

Debates Over Bible Versions: Translation, Canon, and Interpretation Bible version debate A neutral overview of the debates around Bible versions: translation methods, source texts, differing canons, history, and the impact of versions on faith and scholarship.

Biblical canon: formation, varieties, and significance Biblical canon What a biblical canon is, how communities decided which books count as Scripture, major canonical traditions, criteria for inclusion, and the role of apocrypha and modern scholarsh…

Biblical inerrancy: meaning, history, debates and implications Biblical inerrancy Doctrine that the Bible, in its original manuscripts, is free from error; overview of definitions, history, manuscript basis, denominational positions, and main debates.

Biblical studies: the academic study of Jewish and Christian Scriptures Biblical studies Scholarly examination of the Bible and related literature, including methods, history, languages, and practical uses across religion, translation, archaeology and culture.

Bishop (Christian office) Bishop A bishop is an ordained leader in many Christian traditions who oversees a diocese, ordains clergy, administers sacraments, and represents episcopal authority; specific roles, appo…

Blasphemy: meaning, legal treatment, history, and contemporary debates Blasphemy Overview of blasphemy—its definitions, how societies and laws treat it, historical developments, examples, and key controversies about free speech and religious respect.

Blessing: meanings, forms, cultural roles, and examples Blessing A blessing is an expression or ritual wishing well-being, luck, protection, or consecration. It appears across religions and everyday life as spoken words, rites, or permissions, a…

Blood Atonement — Latter‑day Saint doctrine and historical context Blood atonement Blood atonement refers to a 19th‑century idea linked to some leaders in the Latter‑day Saint movement that certain grave sins could require death as reparation; the mainstream chur…

Bodhi — the Buddhist concept of awakening and enlightenment Bodhi Bodhi denotes awakening or full spiritual realization in Buddhism. It refers to liberation from ignorance and the discovery of qualities such as wisdom and compassion central to Bu…

Bodhisattva: the ideal of awakened compassion in Buddhism Bodhisattva A bodhisattva is one who cultivates the intention to attain full awakening for the sake of all beings. Central to Mahayana Buddhism, the bodhisattva path emphasizes compassion, vow…

Book of Baruch Ancient biblical book attributed to Baruch, Jeremiah’s scribe. Found in the Septuagint and Vulgate, valued in Catholic and Orthodox canons; offers prayer, penitence, wisdom exhorta…

Book of Joel: themes, structure, history and influence Book of Joel Short prophetic book in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament that addresses a devastating locust plague, calls for repentance, and prophesies the "day of the Lord" and the outpouring of…

Book of Jonah Overview of the Book of Jonah: its narrative, structure, themes, historical and literary context, reception in Jewish, Christian and Islamic traditions, and directions for further…

Book of Leviticus Third book of the Torah and the Old Testament, focused on priestly duties, sacrificial rites, purity laws and the theme of holiness; traditionally attributed to Moses and central t…

Book of Mormon A central sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement, presented as an ancient record of peoples in the Americas and published in English in 1830 by Joseph Smith.

Book of Nahum: Synopsis, Context, and Themes Book of Nahum Concise encyclopedic overview of the Book of Nahum: authorship, historical context, structure, themes, literary features, and its significance in Jewish and Christian traditions.

Book of Numbers: Israel’s Wilderness Narrative and Its Themes Book of Numbers Fourth book of the Hebrew Bible and Old Testament, recounting the Israelites’ wilderness period under Moses, including censuses, laws, journeys, and themes of leadership, faith, an…

Book of Obadiah: Overview, Context, and Themes Book of Obadiah A concise encyclopedia entry on the Book of Obadiah: its place in scripture, historical background, major themes of judgment and restoration, literary features, and legacy.

Book of Revelation (Apocalypse of John) Book of Revelation The final book of the Christian New Testament, an apocalyptic work traditionally ascribed to John, containing visions, symbolic imagery, and a range of interpretations and influenc…

Book of Ruth Short narrative in the Hebrew Bible and Old Testament telling of Ruth, a Moabite woman whose loyalty leads to inclusion in Israel’s line; noted for themes of loyalty, kinship, and…

Book of Wisdom (Wisdom of Solomon) Book of Wisdom A summary of the Book of Wisdom: its origins, structure, principal themes, canonical history and influence in Jewish and Christian traditions.

Born again (Christianity): spiritual rebirth, conversion, and meaning Born again (Christianity) “Born again” is a Christian term for spiritual rebirth—personal conversion, renewal by the Holy Spirit, and a transformed life. Usage and interpretation vary across denominations a…

Boro Kali Bari Temple, Mymensingh Boro Kali Bari Temple Boro Kali Bari is a historic Hindu temple in Mymensingh, Bangladesh, dedicated to the goddess Kali. It serves as a centre for worship, festivals and community life and reflects loc…

Brahma: Creator Deity of the Hindu Trimurti Brahma Brahma is the creator god in Hindu tradition, one member of the Trimurti alongside Vishnu and Shiva. This article summarizes his origins, iconography, myths, worship, and symbolic…

Brahmajala Sutta (Theravada): The Net of Views and the Sixty-Two Beliefs Brahmajala Sutta (Theravada) First discourse of the Digha Nikaya. The Brahmajala Sutta examines levels of moral training, lists 62 speculative views held by ancient ascetics, and explains how clinging to such…

Brahman (Hinduism): The Ultimate Reality Brahman Brahman is the central metaphysical concept in Hindu thought referring to the ultimate, infinite reality underlying the universe; its interpretation varies across Vedanta and other…

Brahmanas: Vedic ritual commentaries Brahmanas Prose Vedic texts explaining the performance, symbolism, and meanings of rituals. Attached to the Vedas, the Brahmanas are key priestly manuals and sources for early Indian religio…

Brahmin: the priestly varna in Hindu tradition Brahmin Brahmin: traditional Hindu varna associated with priests, scholars and teachers. Covers origins, roles, diversity, historical change, and present-day realities in a neutral overvie…

Brahmo Samaj Brahmo Samaj is a 19th‑century Indian reform movement founded by Raja Ram Mohan Roy promoting monotheism, rejection of idolatry and caste discrimination, and social reforms in Beng…

Branch Davidians Religious movement that emerged from a Davidian Adventist schism; noted for apocalyptic teachings and the 1993 Waco siege involving federal agencies and its complex aftermath.

Breviary: the liturgical book for the Divine Office Breviary A breviary is a compact liturgical book that arranges the Divine Office for the canonical hours, used by clergy, religious, and laypeople in various Christian traditions.

Brit milah: Jewish ritual circumcision and its meaning Brit milah Brit milah (bris) is the Jewish ritual circumcision performed on male infants, symbolizing the covenant with Abraham; it involves a trained mohel, occurs on the eighth day, and car…

Budai (Laughing Buddha): origins, iconography, and cultural role Budai Budai, known as the Laughing Buddha or Hotei, is a popular East Asian monk-figure linked to Maitreya. Revered in Buddhist and folk traditions, his smiling image symbolizes abundanc…

Buddhism in Bangladesh: history, communities, and cultural heritage Buddhism in Bangladesh An overview of Buddhism in Bangladesh: its historical roots, principal communities (mainly Theravada), important archaeological sites, contemporary practices, and the challenges fa…

Buddhism in Pakistan: History, Sites, and Cultural Legacy Buddhism in Pakistan A concise account of Buddhism’s historical presence in what is now Pakistan, its Gandharan art and archaeological sites, the religion’s decline, and the modern status of heritage a…