religious person

founder of Christian Science in 1866 (1821-1910)

English religious leader who founded the Society of Friends (1624-1691)

founder of Buddhism; worshipped as a god (c 563-483 BC)

4th-century Chinese philosopher on whose teachings Lao-tse based Taoism

(Islam) a messianic leader who (according to popular Muslim belief) will appear before the end of the world and restore justice and religion

Pope and father of Cesare Borgia and Lucrezia Borgia (1431-1503)

an Ismaili caliph of Egypt who declared himself an incarnation of God and founded the Druze religious sect (985-1021)

the fourth caliph of Islam who is considered to be the first caliph by Shiites; he was a cousin and son-in-law of Muhammad; after his assassination Islam was divided into Shiite and Sunnite sects

a Hebrew shepherd and minor prophet

(New Testament) disciple of Jesus; brother of Peter; patron saint of Scotland

Indian religious leader and founder of the Yogacara school of Buddhism in India (4th century)

English scientist and Franciscan monk who stressed the importance of experimentation; first showed that air is required for combustion and first used lenses to correct vision (1220-1292)

Italian monk who founded the Benedictine order about 540 (480-547)

pope who was a patron of the arts and who denounced the cruelty to the indigenous peoples of South America (1675-1758)

pope who founded the Vatican service for prisoners of war during World War I (1854-1922)

German mystic and theosophist who founded modern theosophy; influenced George Fox (1575-1624)

pope who declared that Catholic princes are subject to the pope in temporal as well as in theological matters (1235-1303)

Irish abbess; a patron saint of Ireland (453-523)

United States author whose novels drew on her experiences as a missionary in China (1892-1973)

pope who in 1122 forced the Holy Roman Emperor Henry V to sign a concordat that recognized the right of the church to choose its own leadership (died in 1124)

Italian pope whose nepotism put the Borgia family in power in Italy (1378-1458)

Italian pope from 1523 to 1534 who broke with Henry VIII of England after Henry VIII divorced Catherine of Aragon and married Anne Boleyn (1478-1534)

Italian pope from 1700 to 1721 who condemned Jansenist ideas on papal infallibility

Italian pope from 1769 to 1774 who lost whatever support remained of Catholic Europe, causing the church to fall into the hands of secular princes (1705-1774)

(Old Testament) a youth who was taken into the court of Nebuchadnezzar and given divine protection when thrown into a den of lions (6th century BC)

German Roman Catholic theologian and mystic (1260-1327)

a Hebrew prophet in the Old Testament who opposed the worship of idols; he was persecuted for rebuking Ahab and Jezebel (king and queen of Israel); he was taken up to heaven in a chariot of fire (circa 9th century BC)

a Hebrew prophet of the 6th century BC who was exiled to Babylon in 587 BC

youngest daughter of the prophet Mohammed and wife of the fourth calif Ali; revered especially by Shiite Muslims (606-632)

(Roman Catholic Church) an Italian pope distinguished for his spiritual and temporal leadership; a saint and Doctor of the Church (540?-604)

the Italian pope who fought to establish the supremacy of the pope over the Roman Catholic Church and the supremacy of the church over the state (1020-1085)

the Italian pope from 1406 to 1415 who worked to end the Great Schism and who retired to make it possible (1327-1417)

the pope who sponsored the introduction of the modern calendar (1572-1585)

Italian pope from 1831 to 1846; conservative in politics and theology; worked to propagate Catholicism in England and the United States (1765-1846)

a Hebrew minor prophet

a Hebrew minor prophet

student and mistress and wife of Abelard (circa 1098-1164)

a minor Hebrew prophet (8th century BC)

Italian pope from 1198 to 1216 who instituted the Fourth Crusade and under whom papal intervention in European politics reached its height (1161-1216)

Italian pope from 1484 to 1492 who was known as a nepotist and was attacked by Savonarola for his worldliness (1432-1492)

Italian pope from 1676 to 1689 whose papacy was marked by the struggle with Louis XIV of France over papal authority over French Catholics; known for saintliness and canonized in 1956 (1611-1689)

Italian pope from 1691 to 1700 who abolished nepotism within the church hierarchy and was universally loved for his charity and piety

(Old Testament) the first of the major Hebrew prophets (8th century BC)

(New Testament) disciple of Jesus; brother of John; author of the Epistle of James in the New Testament

(Old Testament) an Israelite prophet who is remembered for his angry lamentations (jeremiads) about the wickedness of his people (circa 626-587 BC)

a teacher and prophet born in Bethlehem and active in Nazareth; his life and sermons form the basis for Christianity (circa 4 BC - AD 29)

a Hebrew minor prophet

(New Testament) disciple of Jesus; traditionally said to be the author of the 4th Gospel and three epistles and the book of Revelation

Italian pope from 1958 to 1963 who convoked the Second Vatican Council (1881-1963)

the first Pope to assume a double name; he reigned for only 34 days (1912-1978)

the first Pope born in Poland; the first Pope not born in Italy in 450 years (1920-2005)

(Old Testament) Jonah did not wish to become a prophet so God caused a great storm to throw him overboard from a ship; he was saved by being swallowed by a whale that vomited him out onto dry land

(Old Testament) Moses' successor who led the Israelites into the Promised Land; best remembered for his destruction of Jericho

(New Testament) the Apostle who betrayed Jesus to his enemies for 30 pieces of silver

(New Testament) supposed brother of St. James; one of the Apostles who is invoked in prayer when a situation seems hopeless

Iranian religious leader of the Shiites; when Shah Pahlavi's regime fell Khomeini established a new constitution giving himself supreme powers (1900-1989)

Italian pope from 440 to 461 who extended the authority of the papacy to the west and persuaded Attila not to attack Rome (440-461)

Italian pope from 795 to 816 who in 800 crowned Charlemagne emperor of the Romans (750-816)

German pope from 1049 to 1054 whose papacy was the beginning of papal reforms in the 11th century (1002-1054)

son of Lorenzo de'Medici and pope from 1513 to 1521 who excommunicated Martin Luther and who in 1521 bestowed on Henry VIII the title of Defender of the Faith (1475-1521)

Italian pope from 1878 to 1903 who was interested in the advancement of learning and who opened the Vatican secret archives to all scholars

(New Testament) the Apostle closely associated with St. Paul and traditionally assumed to be the author of the third Gospel

a Hebrew minor prophet of the 5th century BC

a Persian prophet who founded Manichaeism (216-276)

Apostle and companion of Saint Peter; assumed to be the author of the second Gospel

French missionary who accompanied Louis Joliet in exploring the upper Mississippi River valley (1637-1675)

Italian pope from 1417 to 1431 whose election as pope ended the Great Schism (1368-1431)

(New Testament) disciple of Jesus; traditionally considered to be the author of the first Gospel

Augustinian monk and botanist whose experiments in breeding garden peas led to his eventual recognition as founder of the science of genetics (1822-1884)

United States religious and writer (1915-1968)

a minor Hebrew prophet (8th century BC)

the Arab prophet who, according to Islam, was the last messenger of Allah (570-632)

United States religious leader (born in Korea) who founded the Unification Church in 1954; was found guilty of conspiracy to evade taxes (born in 1920)

the ancient prophet whose writings were revealed to Joseph Smith who founded the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

(Old Testament) the Hebrew prophet who led the Israelites from Egypt across the Red sea on a journey known as the Exodus; Moses received the Ten Commandments from God on Mount Sinai

a Hebrew minor prophet of the 7th century BC

Indian religious leader who founded Sikhism in dissent from the caste system of Hinduism; he taught that all men had a right to search for knowledge of God and that spiritual liberation could be attained by meditating on the name of God (1469-1538)

Italian pope from 1447 to 1455 who founded the Vatican library (1397-1455)

a Hebrew minor prophet

Apostle and patron saint of Ireland; an English missionary to Ireland in the 5th century

(New Testament) a Christian missionary to the Gentiles; author of several Epistles in the New Testament; even though Paul was not present at the Last Supper he is considered an Apostle

Italian pope from 1534 to 1549 who excommunicated Henry VIII of England in 1538 and initiated the Council of Trent in 1545; was active in the Counter Reformation and promoted the Society of Jesus for this purpose (1468-1549)

Italian pope from 1963 to 1978 who eased restrictions on fasting and on interfaith marriages (1897-1978)

a British or Irish monk who denied the doctrines of original sin and predestination and defended human goodness and free will; his views were declared heretical by the Council of Ephesus in 431 (circa 360-418)

Englishman and Quaker who founded the colony of Pennsylvania (1644-1718)

disciple of Jesus and leader of the Apostles; regarded by Catholics as the vicar of Christ on earth and first Pope

Italian pope from 1458 to 1464 who is remembered for his unsuccessful attempt to lead a crusade against the Turks (1405-1464)

Italian pope from 1566 to 1572 who led the reformation of the Roman Catholic Church; he excommunicated Elizabeth I (1504-1572)

Italian pope from 1775 to 1799 who served during the French Revolution; Napoleon attacked the Papal States and in 1797 Pius VI was taken to France where he died (1717-1799)

Italian pope from 1800 to 1823 who was humiliated by Napoleon and taken prisoner in 1809; he concluded a concordat with Napoleon and crowned him emperor of France; he returned to Rome in 1814 (1740-1823)

Italian pope from 1846 to 1878 who in 1854 declared the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary

pope who condemned religious modernism; he was canonized in 1954 because of his interest in the poor (1835-1914)

pope who signed a treaty with Mussolini recognizing the Vatican City as an independent state (1857-1939)

pope who maintained neutrality during World War II and was later criticized for not aiding the Jews who were persecuted by Hitler (1876-1958)

United States religious leader who founded the sect that is now called Jehovah's Witnesses (1852-1916)

(Old Testament) Hebrew prophet and judge who anointed Saul as king

Italian religious and political reformer; a Dominican friar in Florence who preached against sin and corruption and gained a large following; he expelled the Medici from Florence but was later excommunicated and executed for criticizing the Pope (1452-1498)

French philosopher and physician and organist who spent most of his life as a medical missionary in Gabon (1875-1965)

Spanish missionary who founded Franciscan missions in California (1713-1784)

United States religious leader who was the first person born in the United States to be canonized (1774-1821)

one of the twelve Apostles (first century)

Italian pope from 1471 to 1484 who consented to the establishment of the Spanish Inquisition and built the Sistine Chapel (1414-1484)

religious leader who founded the Mormon Church in 1830 (1805-1844)

French pope from 999 to 1003 who was noted for his great learning (945-1003)

Indian nun and missionary in the Roman Catholic Church (born of Albanian parents in what is now Macedonia); dedicated to helping the poor in India (1910-1997)

the Apostle who would not believe the resurrection of Jesus until he saw Jesus with his own eyes

a disciple of Saint Paul who became the leader of the Christian community at Ephesus

a Greek disciple and helper of Saint Paul

French pope from 1088 to 1099 whose sermons called for the First Crusade (1042-1099)

French pope from 1362 to 1370 who tried to reestablish the papacy in Rome but in 1367 returned to Avignon hoping to end the war between France and England; canonized in 1870 (1310-1370)

Italian pope from 1378 to 1389 whose contested election began the Great Schism; he alienated his political allies by his ruthless treatment of his opponents (1318-1389)

Italian pope from 1623 to 1644 who sanctioned the condemnation of Galileo but later freed him (1568-1644)

United States religious leader (born in Bohemia) who united reform Jewish organizations in the United States (1819-1900)

United States Jewish leader (born in Hungary) (1874-1949)

United States religious leader of the Mormon Church after the assassination of Joseph Smith; he led the Mormon exodus from Illinois to Salt Lake City, Utah (1801-1877)

a Hebrew minor prophet of the late 6th century BC

a Hebrew minor prophet of the late 7th century BC

Persian prophet who founded Zoroastrianism (circa 628-551 BC)

Italian antipope from 1080 to 1100 who was installed as pope by the Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV who consistently opposed efforts at papal reform (died in 1100)

a person addicted to religion or a religious zealot

a religious person who believes Jesus is the Christ and who is a member of a Christian denomination

a religious person who is not a Catholic

a believer in or follower of Islam

one who follows the teachings of Buddha

a person who adheres to Hinduism

someone who practices self denial as a spiritual discipline

a person who claims that they cannot have true knowledge about the existence of God (but does not deny that God might exist)

one who anoints as a religious ceremony

a person who has religious faith

an unmarried person who has taken a religious vow of chastity

a religious person who goes to church regularly

someone having the same religion as another person

a member of a small Gnostic sect that originated in Jordan and survives in Iraq and who believes that John the Baptist was the Messiah

someone sent on a mission--especially a religious or charitable mission to a foreign country

an often derogatory term for a member of the Unification Church

a lay person dedicated to religious work or the religious life

a member of a group of Jews who (during the early history of the Christian Church) accepted Jesus as the Messiah; they accepted the Gospel According to Matthew but rejected the Epistles of St. Paul and continued to follow Jewish law and celebrate Jewish holidays; they were later declared heretic by the Church of Rome

someone who has entered a religious order but has not taken final vows

a person who follows a polytheistic or pre-Christian religion (not a Christian or Muslim or Jew)

a member of a monotheistic sect of Zoroastrian origin; descended from the Persians; now found in western India

(Roman Catholic Church) a person who repents for wrongdoing (a Roman Catholic may be admitted to penance under the direction of a confessor)

someone who prays to God

someone who speaks by divine inspiration; someone who is an interpreter of the will of God

a member of a religious order who is bound by vows of poverty and chastity and obedience

leader of a religious order

one who observes Saturday as the Sabbath (as in Judaism)

a religious person who offers up a sacrifice

someone (not an orthodox Christian) who believes that the Father and Son and Holy Ghost are three separate gods

a member of Christian denomination that expects the imminent advent of Christ

a Christian

a Christian as contrasted with a Jew

an adherent of Protestantism

a member of the Religious Society of Friends founded by George Fox (the Friends have never called themselves Quakers)

a member of a Catholic church

a member of the church formed in the 19th century by German Catholics who refused to accept the infallibility of the Pope

a member of the Coptic Church

an orthodox Muslim

a Muslim who is involved in a jihad

a member of the branch of Islam that regards Ali as the legitimate successor to Mohammed and rejects the first three caliphs

a member of the branch of Islam that accepts the first four caliphs as rightful successors to Muhammad

a Hindu religious teacher; used as a title of respect

a Hindu disciple of a swami

worshipper of Krishna and member of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness

worshipper of Shakti

worshipper of Shiva

worshipper of Vishnu

one of the Muslim people of north Africa; of mixed Arab and Berber descent; converted to Islam in the 8th century; conqueror of Spain in the 8th century

(New Testament) one of the original 12 disciples chosen by Christ to preach his gospel

any important early teacher of Christianity or a Christian missionary to a people

an adherent of Arianism (the belief that Jesus Christ was not truly God)

a member of a secret order of Muslims (founded in the 12th century) who terrorized and killed Christian Crusaders

a high-ranking Shiite religious leader who is regarded as an authority on religious law and its interpretation and who has political power as well

a person who is paid to pray for the soul of another

a Muslim woman of high rank in India or Pakistan

one who believes in the existence of a god or gods

a Christian who has experienced a dramatic conversion to faith in Jesus

the civil and religious leader of a Muslim state considered to be a representative of Allah on earth

a person entitled to receive Communion

a member of a congregation (especially that of a church or synagogue)

someone who worships devils

a Muslim or Hindu mendicant monk who is regarded as a holy man

a person who whips himself as a religious penance

a male member of a religious order that originally relied solely on alms

a male religious living in a cloister and devoting himself to contemplation and prayer and work

a monk or nun belonging to the order founded by Saint Benedict

a Hindu or Buddhist religious leader and spiritual teacher

each of the first ten leaders of the Sikh religion

a Muslim physician

a Muslim ruler or governor or judge

a member of a religion that expresses ecstatic fervor

(Islam) the man who leads prayers in a mosque; for Shiites an imam is a recognized authority on Islamic theology and law and a spiritual guide

a member of the Jesuit order

an Orthodox Christian or Uniate Christian belonging to the patriarchate of Alexandria or Antioch or Jerusalem

an eastern Christian in Egypt or Syria who adheres to the Orthodox faith as defined by the council of Chalcedon in 451 and as accepted by the Byzantine emperor

a member of a Buddhist people living in Myanmar and adjacent parts of Thailand

a believer in one god

a Muslim engaged in what he considers to be a jihad

an Islamic scholar who engages in ijtihad, the effort to derive rules of divine law from Muslim sacred texts

a Muslim trained in the doctrine and law of Islam; the head of a mosque

a Muslim woman

someone who believes in the existence of realities beyond human comprehension

an early name for any Christian

a believer in numerology

a woman religious

someone who believes that God and the universe are the same

a member of a parish

someone who journeys to a sacred place as an act of religious devotion

someone who adheres to strict religious principles; someone opposed to sensual pleasures

a Christian recluse

a member of a religious order living in common

(Hinduism) an ascetic holy man

a Hindu religious mendicant

(historically) a Muslim who opposed the Crusades

a member of Christian group practicing celibacy and communal living and common possession of property and separation from the world

an early Christian ascetic who lived on top of high pillars

a Muslim who represents the mystical dimension of Islam; a Muslim who seeks direct experience of Allah; mainly in Iran

someone who worships the sun

the head of a religious community

a believer in theosophy

a follower of Tractarianism and supporter of the Oxford movement (which was expounded in pamphlets called `Tracts for the Times')

one bound by vows to a religion or life of worship or service

a member of a strictly orthodox Sunni Muslim sect from Saudi Arabia; strives to purify Islamic beliefs and rejects any innovation occurring after the 3rd century of Islam

a believer in Wicca