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University of Virginia Library

Concise Dictionary of Religion

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PACCEKA-BUDDHA:

PAHLAVI LITERATURE:

PAINE, Thomas (1737-1809):

PALEY, William (1743-1805):

PANNENBERG, Wolfhart (1928-):

PAPIAS (60-130):

PARACELSUS (1493-1541):

PARETO, Vilfredo (1848-1923):

PARMENIDES (513-448 B.C.):

PARSEE [Parsis]:

PARSONS, Talcot (1902-1979):

PASCAL, Blaise (1623-1662):

PATAÑJALI (2nd century B.C.):

PAICCA-SAMUPPATION:

PATRICK (390-460):

PAUL, THE APOSTLE (1st century):

PAVLOV, Ivan Petrovich (1849-1936):

PEALE, Norman Vincent (1928-1986):

PEASANT'S REVOLT:

PELAGIUS (360-420):

PENN, William (1644-1718):

PEOPLE'S TEMPLE:

PERFECTIONISM:

PERSPICUITY OF SCRIPTURE:

PETER (1st century):

PETER Lombard (1100-1160):

PETER THE HERMIT (1050-1115):

PETITIO PRINCIPII:

PHENOMENOLOGY OF RELIGION:

PHILIPP OF HESSE (1504-1567):

PHILO (30 B.C.-50 A.D.):

PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION:

PHOTIUS (810-895):

PIAGET, Jean (1896-1981):

PI-HSIA YUAN-CHUN:

PIOUS IX (1792-1878):

PLANCK, Max (1858-1947):

PLANTINGA, Alvin (1938-):

PLATO (427?-347 BC):

PLATO'S ACADEMY:

PLATT, Parley P. (1805-1859):

PLOTINUS (205-270 A.D.):

PLUTARCH (46-120 A.D.):

PLYMOUTH BRETHREN:

POLANYI, Michael (1891-1976):

POLYCARP (1st century):

PONTIUS PILATE (1st Century):

POPPER, Sir Karl (1902-):

PORPHYRY (232-303 A.D.):

POSITIVE THINKING:

POST HOC ERGO PROPTER HOC:

PRABHUPADA, A.C. Bhaktivedanta, Swami (1896-1977):

PRAYER MEETING:

PRAYERS FOR THE DEAD:

PREDESTINATION:

PRESBYTERIANISM:

PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERS:

PROBLEM OF EVIL:

PROCESS THEOLOGY:

PRODHON, Pierre Joseph (1809-1865):

PROOFS FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD:

PROPHET, Elizabeth Clair (1940-):

PROTAGORAS (490-410 B.C.):

PROTESTANT PRINCIPLE:

PROVERBS, BOOK OF:

PSEUDEPIGRAPHA:

PSEUDO-SCIENCE:

PSYCHOLOGY OF RELIGION:

PTOLEMY (2nd century):

PURE LAND BUDDHISM:

PYTHAGORAS (6th century B.C.):

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PERFECTIONISM:

because JESUS OF NAZARETH said "You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect," various CHRISTIAN groups have claimed that perfection is an obligation and a real possibility in this life. Traditionally the ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH held that perfection is perfect LOVE which is only for SAINTS. The PROTESTANT REFORMERS denied even this, arguing that perfection is a goal which can never be attained. John WESLEY, however, taught that in principle all Christians can become perfect. Critics of perfectionism argue that the doctrine inevitably leads to LEGALISM and a depressing preoccupation with self-improvement.