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University of Virginia Library

Concise Dictionary of Religion

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'ABD AL-BAHĀ, 'Abbas Effendi (1844-1821):

ABELARD, Peter (1079-1142):

ABORTION:

ABRAMIC RELIGIONS:

ABSOLUTE IDEALISM:

ABŪ BAKR, (d. 634):

ABU DAWUD, Al Sijistani (817-889):

ABU HANIFA (699-767):

ABŪ HURAIRA (d. 678):

ACTON, Lord (Dalberg-Acton, John 1834-1902):

AD HOC HYPOTHESIS:

ADAMSKI, George (1891-1965):

ADLER, Alfred (1870-1937):

AELFRIC (955-1020):

AFRICAN INDEPENDENT CHURCH:

AFRICAN RELIGIONS:

AFRICAN TRADITIONAL RELIGIONS:

AGE OF AQUARIUS:

AHMED, Al-Badawi (1199-1200):

AHMED, ibn Hanbal, (780-855):

AHMED, Khan (1817-1898):

AHMED, Mirz Ghulam (1855-1908):

AKHENATEN, [Amenhotep IV] 1372-1354 B.C.):

AKIVA, (AQIBA) ben Joseph (50-135):

AL-GHAZALI, (1058-1111):

ALBERTUS, Magnus (1200-1280):

ALCUIN, (735-804):

ALDURA, THE CHURCH OF THE LORD:

ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE:

ALEXANDRIAN THEOLOGY:

'ALĪ 'Abd al-Rāziq (1888-1935):

ALLEGORICAL INTERPRETATION:

AMBROSE (339-397 A.D.):

ANALYTIC PHILOSOPHY:

ANALYTIC-SYNTHETIC DISTINCTION:

ĀNANDA COMMUNITY:

ANAXAGORAS (499-422 B.C.):

ANAXIMANDER (610-547 B.C.):

ANAXIMENES (588-524 B.C.):

ANDERSON, Rufus (1796-1880):

ANGLO-CATHOLICISM:

ANSELM, (1033-1109):

ANTHONY, SAINT (251?-356):

ANTHROPOCENTRISM:

ANTHROPOMORPHISM:

ANTI-CULT MOVEMENT:

ANTIOCH THEOLOGY:

APOCALYPTIC LITERATURE:

APOCRYPHAL NEW TESTAMENT:

APOSTLE'S CREED:

APOSTOLIC FATHERS:

APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION:

AQUINAS, Thomas (1224/27-1274):

ARCHIMEDES (287-212 B.C.):

ARISTOBULUS OF PANEAS (3rd-2nd Century B.C.):

ARISTOTLE (384-322 B.C.):

ARIUS, (250-336):

ARMINIUS, Jacob (1560-1609):

ARMSTRONG, Garner Ted (1930-):

ARMSTRONG, Herbert W. (1909-):

ARNOLD, Matthew (1822-1888):

ARNOLD, Thomas (1795-1842):

ASBURY, Francis (1745-1816):

ASCENDED MASTERS:

ASCENSION OF CHRIST:

ASH'ARĪ, Ali b. Ismail (873-935 A.D.):

AŚOKA (3rd century B.C.):

ASSUMPTION OF MARY:

AŚVAGHOSA (1st-2nd century A.D.):

ATHANASIUS [1], (296-373):

ATHANASIUS [2], (10th century):

ATHANASIAN CREED:

ATTRIBUTES OF GOD:

AUGSBURG CONFESSION:

AUGUSTINE OF CANTERBURY (died 604):

AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO (354-430):

AUGUSTINE, RULE OF:

AUROBINDO, Sri (1872-1950):

AVERROES, (1126-1198 A.D.):

AVICENNA (930-1037):

AYER, Sir Alfred Jules (1910-1989):

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ABORTION:

the termination of a pregnancy. Although not encouraged, abortion is generally allowed in most YOGIC RELIGIONS. In JUDAISM and ISLAM it was allowed for strong social or medical reasons. Traditionally, ROMAN CATHOLICS, ANGLICANS and other TRADITIONAL PROTESTANTS, have allowed abortion under special circumstances. Many FUNDAMENTALIST Christians totally reject abortion. Much of the debate focuses on whether the fetus is a human being.