Glossary
This glossary was started in March 2024 by the Pauatahanui. It is an explanation of words and terms that were encountered in reading by the group members. Terms will be added as they are encountered. If you would like to terms to be added, expanded or corrected please email educationforministrynz@outlook.com. We are a students of theology and do not make any claim to expertise. EfM encourages debate so please feel free to engage in debate about our definitions.
| Term | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Aggiornamento | Italian meaning bringing up to date. Pope John XXIII and the 2nd Vatican Council. Internal spiritual renewal, and external adaptation of the Church's laws and institutions to the times. |
| Bris or Brit milah | The Jewish ceremony in which a baby boy is circumcised, usually eight days after birth. |
| Eschatology | The part of theology concerned with death, judgement, and the final destiny of the soul and of humankind. |
| Epistemology | The theory of knowledge, especially with regard to its methods, validity, and scope, and the distinction between justified belief and opinion. |
| Ethnological | Relating to races, their origins and distinctive characteristics. |
| Etiological | Serving to explain something by giving a cause or reason for it, often in historical or mythical terms. |
| Etymological | Relating to the origin and historical development of words and their meanings. |
| Exegesis | Critical explanation or interpretation of a text. |
| Ex Nihilo | Latin out of nothing Belief that nothing existed before God started creating. |
| Habitus | Latin attitude The foundational attitude of a person, their way of being-in-the-world. Thomas of Aquinas defined habitus as "“a disposition whereby someone is disposed, well or ill" |
| Halachic or halakhic | (from Jewish Halakha) The body of Jewish law supplementing the scriptural law and forming especially the legal part of the Talmud. |
| Hermeneutic | A method or theory of interpretation. |
| Homiletical | The idea of using sermons or homilies to teach theology |
| Immanent | God is present in time and space, that God is near us. |
| Intersectionality | The cumulative way in which the effects of multiple forms of discrimination (e.g. racism, sexism, and classism) combine or overlap, (intersect) especially in the experiences of marginalized individuals or groups |
| Metanarrative | An overarching account or interpretation of events and circumstances that provides a pattern or structure for people’s beliefs and gives meaning to their experiences |
| Metanoia | Greek Changing one's mind The ongoing process of transformation; a transformative change of heart |
| Noetic | (From Greek Inner Wisdom) Of, relating to, or based on the intellect. |
| Phenomenological | Denoting or relating to an approach that concentrates on the study of consciousness and the objects of direct experience. |
| Predestination | The belief that events in life are decided in advance by God and cannot be changed. The doctrine that God has eternally chosen those whom he intends to save. |
| Ressourcement | French return to the sources. Used at 2nd Vatican Council. Return to authoritative sources. |
| Salvation | Deliverance by redemption from the power of sin and from the penalties ensuing from it. |
| Sitz in leben | German place in life. A term used to signify the circumstances in which a particular story, saying, etc., was either created or preserved and transmitted. |
| Theodicy | The vindication of divine providence in view of the existence of evil. The term literally means “justifying God". |
| Theophany | The word theophany is a combination of two Greek words, meaning God and appearance. A theophany is an appearance of God. |
| Transcendence | The aspect of God's nature and power which is wholly independent of the material universe, beyond all physical laws. |
| Via negativa | Latin the negative way To explain what God is by focusing on what God isn't. |
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