University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
Concise Dictionary of Religion


expand section
A
expand section
B
expand section
C
expand section
D
expand section
E
expand section
F
expand section
G
expand section
H
expand section
I
expand section
J
expand section
K
expand section
L
collapse section
M
 
MACAULAY, Thomas Babington (1800-1859):
 
MACAULAY, Zachary (1768-1838):
 
MACCABEES, BOOK OF:
 
MACHEN, John Gresham (1881-1937):
 
MACHIAVELLI, Niccolo (1469-1527):
 
MACKINTOSH, Hugh Ross (1870-1936):
 
MACLAINE, Shirley (1935-):
 
MADHVA (1197-1276):
 
MDHYAMIKA:
 
MAGI:
 
MAGIC:
 
MAHBHRATA:
 
MAHBODHI SOCIETY:
 
MAHKYAPA THERA (6th century B.C.?):
 
MAHSATIPATTHANA SUTTA:
 
MAHVASA:
 
MAHVASTU:
 
MAHVRA (550-420 B.C.?):
 
MAHYNA:
 
MAHDI:
 
MAHINDA (3rd century B.C.):
 
MAIMONIDES, Moses (1135-1204):
 
MALINOWSKI, Bronislaw Kaspar (1884-1942):
 
MALTHUS, Thomas Robert (1766-1834):
 
MANDALA:
 
MANI (216-277):
 
MANICHAEISM:
 
MAJUR:
 
MANNHEIM, Karl (1893-1947):
 
MANTRA:
 
MANU:
 
MARA:
 
MARCEL, Gabriel (1889-1973):
 
MARCION (85-160):
 
MARCUS Aurelius (121-180):
 
MARITAIN, Jacques (1882-1973):
 
MARTIN, David (1939-):
 
MARTYR:
 
MARX, Karl (1818-1883):
 
MARY, (1st century):
 
MASS:
 
MATERIALISM:
 
MATHER, Cotton (1663-1728):
 
MATTER:
 
MATTHEW, GOSPEL:
 
MAURICE, Fredrick Denison (1805-1872):
 
MAWLID al-NABI:
 
MAYA (6th century B.C.):
 
MAYA:
 
MEAD, Margaret (1901-1978):
 
MEAN:
 
MEANING:
 
MECCA:
 
MEDINA:
 
MEDITATION:
 
MEEKNESS:
 
MELANCHTON, Phillip (1497-1560):
 
MENCIUS (371-289 B.C.):
 
MENDELSSOHN, Moses (1729-1786):
 
MENNONITES:
 
MERCURY:
 
MERCY:
 
MERIT:
 
MERLEAU-PONTY, Maurice (1908-1961):
 
MERTON, Thomas (1915-1968):
 
MESSIAH:
 
METAPHYSICS:
 
METEMAPSYCHOSIS:
 
METHODISM:
 
MEYKANDA (13th century):
 
MEYNELL, Hugo Anthony (1936-):
 
MICHELANGELO (1475-1564):
 
MILL, John Stuart (1806-1873):
 
MILLENARIAN MOVEMENTS:
 
MILLENNIALISM:
 
MILLER, William (1795-1883):
 
MILLERITES:
 
MILTON, John (1608-1674):
 
MIRACLE:
 
MISSION:
 
MISSIONARY:
 
MITHRA:
 
MITHRAISM:
 
MODERNIST:
 
MODERNITY, MODERNISM, AND RELATED DEFINITIONS:
 
MOFFAT, Robert (1795-1883):
 
MOLTMANN, Jürgen (1926-):
 
MONASTICISM:
 
MONISM:
 
MONOPHYSITISM:
 
MONOTHEISM:
 
MONTANISM:
 
MOODY, Dwight Lyman (1837-1899):
 
MOON, Sun Myung (1920-):
 
MOORE, George Edward (1873-1958)
 
MOORE, Hannah (1745-1833):
 
MORAVIANS:
 
MORE, Thomas (1478-1535):
 
MORGAN, Lewis (1818-1881):
 
MORMONS:
 
MORRIS, William (1834-1896):
 
MOSCA, Gaetano (1858-1955):
 
MOSQUE:
 
MOSES (12th-13th century B.C.):
 
MOTT, John Raleigh (1865-1955):
 
MO-TZU (5th century B.C.):
 
MOURNING:
 
MUHAMMAD (571-632):
 
MUHAMMAD 'ABDUH (1849-1905):
 
MÜLLER, Friedrich Maximilian (1823-1900):
 
MÜLLER, George (1805-1898):
 
MÜNZER, Thomas (1490-1525):
 
MURRAY, Andrew Jr. (1828-1917):
 
MUSLIM:
 
MYSTERY RELIGIONS:
 
MYSTIC:
 
MYSTICISM:
 
MYTH:
expand section
N
expand section
O
expand section
P
expand section
Q
expand section
R
expand section
S
expand section
T
expand section
U
expand section
V
expand section
W
expand section
X
expand section
Y
expand section
Z

collapse section Collapse All | Expand All expand section
previous section Concise Dictionary of Religion
next section

MERIT:

an important CONCEPT in BUDDHISM. Merit counteracts the effects of KARMA and can be acquired by MEDITATION and through acts of charity or DEVOTION. It can be transferred to and from ones ancestors and other BEINGS thus promoting welfare in this life and ensuring spiritual PROGRESS beyond the grave or REBIRTH in the Western PARADISE. The doctrine plays an important role in the development of MAHYNA BUDDHISM where the BODHISATTVA accrues merit which is transferred to the devotee.

previous section Concise Dictionary of Religion
next section