Religion

Diocese of Lund (Lunds stift) Diocese of Lund A historic diocese of the Church of Sweden centered on Lund Cathedral, covering the provinces of Skåne and Blekinge. Established in the 11th century, it remains a regional religiou…

Diocese of Skara One of Sweden's oldest dioceses, the Diocese of Skara is a Church of Sweden bishopric based at Skara Cathedral in Västergötland, with roots in the early Christianization of medieva…

Diocese of Stockholm (Church of Sweden) Diocese of Stockholm (Stockholms stift) is a Church of Sweden diocese established in 1942, covering the historical provinces of Södermanland and Uppland with its seat at Stockholm…

Diocese of Uppsala Archdiocese of the Church of Sweden based in Uppsala; a historic ecclesiastical province covering parts of east-central Sweden with Uppsala Cathedral as its seat.

Diocese of Västerås Historic diocese of the Church of Sweden covering Västmanland and parts of Dalarna, with medieval origins and its seat at Västerås Cathedral.

Diocese of Växjö A diocese of the Church of Sweden centered on Växjö Cathedral, covering parts of southern Sweden with medieval origins and continuing religious, cultural, and administrative roles.

Disciple (Christianity) A disciple in Christianity is someone who follows and learns from Jesus or his teachings. The term has historical, linguistic, and practical meanings, distinct from apostle and use…

Disciples of Christ (Christian Church) Disciples of Christ A mainline Protestant denomination in North America that grew from the early 19th‑century Stone‑Campbell movement. Known for congregational governance, weekly open communion, and e…

Discordianism: a playful modern movement centered on chaos and parody Discordianism Discordianism is a modern, often satirical movement that treats disorder and chaos as central themes. It blends myth, prankish ritual, and philosophical playfulness without fixed d…

Divine grace Divine grace is the theological idea of unearned favor or help from the divine, central to Christianity and present in other traditions; it explains forgiveness, transformation, an…

Diya (oil lamp): traditional Indian lamp, forms, history and cultural uses Diya (lamp) A diya is a small oil lamp from the Indian subcontinent used in domestic worship and festivals. This article explains its form, materials, history, religious uses, and modern varia…

Docetism: the belief that Christ only seemed to be human Docetism Docetism is an early Christian view that Jesus only appeared to have a human body. It intersected with Platonic and Gnostic ideas about matter and was rejected by mainstream Christ…

Doctors of the Church: definition, history, and notable figures Doctors of the Church An overview of the title 'Doctor of the Church', its meaning, criteria, historical development, notable Western and Eastern figures, and the title's significance in Christian theol…

Doctrine: definitions, forms, history and examples Doctrine Doctrine denotes a set of teachings, principles, or rules—religious, legal, or political—that guide institutions and decision-making; it spans theology, jurisprudence and state pol…

Dogma: Definition, History, Characteristics and Examples Dogma Dogma: authoritative beliefs accepted without dispute. Overview of meaning, origins, how dogmas are formed, examples in religion and ideology, differences from doctrine and dogmati…

Dominican Order (Order of Preachers) Dominican Order A Roman Catholic mendicant order founded by Saint Dominic in the early 13th century, dedicated to preaching, study and teaching; known by the initials O.P. and commonly called Domi…

Doomsday cult: definition, characteristics, history, and consequences Doomsday cult An overview of doomsday cults: beliefs, common features, notable incidents, scholarly debates, and social and legal responses to groups predicting imminent apocalypse.

Dreadlocks (Locks): Formation, Care, History and Cultural Significance Dreadlocks Dreadlocks—often called locks or dreads—are matted coils of hair formed deliberately or by neglect. This article explains how they form, methods, care, cultural history, uses and c…

Druid: Priest-Scholars of Ancient Celtic Societies Druid Druids were members of the learned, priestly class in ancient Celtic societies who acted as priests, judges, teachers and healers. Their practices are known from classical texts, a…

Druidism (Druidry): the modern Celtic-inspired nature spirituality Druidism Druidism (Druidry) is a modern spiritual movement inspired by perceived Celtic traditions. Emphasizes nature, seasonal ritual, creative arts and environmentalism; diverse branches…

Druze: beliefs, history, and social organization Druze An overview of the Druze: an Arabic‑speaking, monotheistic religious community from the medieval Levant, summarizing beliefs, scriptures, history, social structure, demographics an…

Durga — Hindu goddess of protection, power and the Divine Mother Durga Durga is a principal Hindu goddess representing Shakti (divine feminine energy), a warrior-protector and mother figure celebrated across South Asia; central to festivals such as Du…

Early Christianity: Origins, Texts, Practices and Development Early Christianity An overview of Christianity from the 1st century through the early 4th century: origins, key writings (canonical and non‑canonical), organization, theological debates, spread and l…

East–West Schism (Great Schism of 1054) East-West Schism The East–West Schism was the gradual split between Western (Roman Catholic) and Eastern (Eastern Orthodox) Christianity in the Middle Ages, shaped by theological, political, cultur…

Eastern Catholic Churches: Tradition, Structure, and Role within the Catholic Communion Eastern Catholic churches Self-governing Christian churches in full communion with the Pope that preserve eastern liturgical rites and traditions. Overview of origins, rites, governance, examples, and disti…

Eastern Christianity: traditions, history, rites and global presence Eastern Christianity Overview of Eastern Christianity: its major families, historical development, liturgical traditions, theological distinctions, geographic spread, and relations with Western Christi…

Eastern Orthodox Church A major branch of Christianity that preserves ancient liturgy, sacramental life, and episcopal structure; prominent in Eastern Europe and the Middle East and present worldwide.

Eastern religions: overview, beliefs, history and cultural roles Eastern religion Religions that originated in South, East and Southeast Asia, their core beliefs, historical development, cultural expressions, and distinctions from Western religious traditions.

Ecclesia (Church): meaning, origins, and ecclesiological uses Ecclesia (Church) Ecclesia (from Greek ekklesia) denotes a Christian congregation or the whole people of God; this article explains its etymology, historical development and differing theological se…

Ecclesiastical Latin: history, features, and role in the Roman Catholic Church Ecclesiastical Latin Ecclesiastical Latin is the form of Latin used by the Roman Catholic Church for liturgy, official documents, theology and scholarship, distinguished by pronunciation, vocabulary, a…

Ecclesiology: the study of the Christian Church Ecclesiology Ecclesiology is the branch of Christian theology that examines the nature, structure, mission, and destiny of the Church, including its authority, sacraments, ministries, and diver…

Eckankar: overview of the modern spiritual movement Eckankar Eckankar is a modern spiritual movement founded in the United States in 1965 that emphasizes personal spiritual experience, soul travel, and the inner Sound and Light of God.

Ecumenical Council A formal assembly of bishops from across the Christian world convened to decide doctrine, settle disputes, and issue authoritative creeds, canons and disciplinary rulings shaping C…

Ecumenism: Christian cooperation and efforts toward unity Ecumenism Ecumenism is the movement and practice among Christian churches to foster cooperation, mutual understanding, and greater visible unity while respecting doctrinal differences and di…

Edom (Idumea): ancient kingdom of the southern Levant Edom Edom, called Idumea in later sources, was an ancient Semitic-speaking kingdom south of the Dead Sea associated in tradition with Esau and known from biblical, Assyrian and archaeol…

Ancient Egyptian Temples Egyptian temple Comprehensive overview of ancient Egyptian temples: purpose, layout, ritual life, staff, economy, materials, historical development, decline, rediscovery and modern conservation.

Elizabethan Religious Settlement (1559) Elizabethan Religious Settlement The 1559 program of laws and practices under Elizabeth I that re-established royal authority over the church and set a moderate, national form of worship, foundation for later Angl…

English Reformation: origins, key events, and lasting impact English Reformation A concise overview of the English Reformation: its causes, principal actors, major changes to church and state, contrasts with continental reform movements, and long-term consequen…

Enlightenment in Buddhism: Bodhi, Satori, and the End of Samsara Enlightenment (Buddhism) Enlightenment (bodhi, satori) in Buddhism is the realization that ends ignorance and frees one from rebirth; traditions differ on how it is attained and what state it describes.

Enma (Yama): Judge of the Dead in Buddhist Tradition Enma Enma, also known as Yama, is a deity who judges the dead in Buddhist and related Asian traditions. This article summarizes origins, iconography, regional roles, and cultural impact…

Eparchy (Eastern Christian Diocese) Eparchy An eparchy is the Eastern Christian equivalent of a diocese: a territorial church unit led by a bishop (called an eparch) used in Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic traditions.

Episcopal Church: overview, structure, history and distinguishing features Episcopal Church Religious bodies organized with episcopal (bishop-led) governance, especially churches in the Anglican tradition and the U.S. Episcopal Church: origins, liturgy, polity, and notabl…

Episcopalian Relating to churches or people governed by bishops, especially members of the Episcopal Church (U.S.) or the broader episcopal/Anglican tradition with liturgical worship and episco…

Epistle of Jude A short New Testament letter warning against false teachers and urging believers to defend the faith; notable for its quotations of Jewish tradition and close relation to 2 Peter.

Epistle to the Ephesians Overview of the Epistle to the Ephesians: contents, themes, debates over Pauline authorship and date, textual variants, structure, and its influence on Christian theology and pract…

Epistle to the Romans Paul’s Letter to the Romans is a foundational New Testament treatise on sin, justification by faith, and the relationship of Jews and Gentiles in God’s plan, blending theology with…

Eschatology: Beliefs about the End Times and Human Destiny Eschatology Eschatology studies beliefs about final events, ultimate fate of humanity, and the moral or cosmic outcomes envisioned by religions and philosophies.

Esdras: name, books, and their place in biblical traditions Esdras Esdras is the Greco‑Latin form of the Hebrew name Ezra and the heading applied to several biblical and apocryphal writings whose numbering and status vary among traditions.