types:
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article of faith, conviction, strong belief
an unshakable belief in something without need for proof or evidence
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faith, trust
complete confidence in a person or plan, etc.
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doctrine, ism, philosophical system, philosophy, school of thought
a belief (or system of beliefs) accepted as authoritative by some group or school
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philosophy
any personal belief about how to live or how to deal with a situation
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expectation, outlook, prospect
belief about (or mental picture of) the future
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fetichism, fetishism
a belief in the magical power of fetishes (or the worship of a fetish)
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geneticism
the belief that all human characteristics are determined genetically
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meliorism
the belief that the world can be made better by human effort
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opinion, persuasion, reckoning, sentiment, thought, view
a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty
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autotelism
belief that a work of art is an end in itself or its own justification
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originalism
the belief that the United States Constitution should be interpreted in the way the authors originally intended it
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pacificism, pacifism
the belief that all international disputes can be settled by arbitration
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faith, religion, religious belief
a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny
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opinion, popular opinion, public opinion, vox populi
a belief or sentiment shared by most people; the voice of the people
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revolutionism
a belief in the spread of revolutionary principles
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sacerdotalism
a belief that priests can act as mediators between human beings and God
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spiritualism
the belief that the spirits of dead people can communicate with people who are still alive (especially via a medium)
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spiritual domain, spiritual world, unseen
a belief that there is a realm controlled by a divine spirit
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suffragism
the belief that the right to vote should be extended (as to women)
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supernaturalism
a belief in forces beyond ordinary human understanding
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superstition, superstitious notion
an irrational belief arising from ignorance or fear
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supremacism
the belief that some particular group or race is superior to all others
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theory
a belief that can guide behavior
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theosophism
belief in theosophy
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thought
the organized beliefs of a period or group or individual
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totemism
belief in the kinship of a group of people with a common totem
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tribalism
the beliefs of a tribal society
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values
beliefs of a person or social group in which they have an emotional investment (either for or against something)
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vampirism
belief in the existence of vampires
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individualism
a belief in the importance of the individual and the virtue of self-reliance and personal independence
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spiritual being, supernatural being
an incorporeal being believed to have powers to affect the course of human events
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nuclear deterrence
the military doctrine that an enemy will be deterred from using nuclear weapons as long as he can be destroyed as a consequence
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idea
a personal view
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judgement, judgment, mind
an opinion formed by judging something
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apophatism
the religious belief that God cannot be known but is completely `other' and must be described in negative terms (in terms of what God is not)
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cataphatism
the religious belief that God has given enough clues to be known to humans positively and affirmatively (e.g., God created Adam `in his own image')
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analogy, doctrine of analogy
the religious belief that between creature and creator no similarity can be found so great but that the dissimilarity is always greater; any analogy between God and humans will always be inadequate
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cult, cultus, religious cult
a system of religious beliefs and rituals
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cult
a religion or sect that is generally considered to be unorthodox, extremist, or false
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ecclesiasticism
religion appropriate to a church and to ecclesiastical principles and practices
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mysticism, religious mysticism
a religion based on mystical communion with an ultimate reality
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nature worship
a system of religion that deifies and worships natural forces and phenomena
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revealed religion
a religion founded primarily on the revelations of God to humankind
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eyes
opinion or judgment
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parti pris, preconceived idea, preconceived notion, preconceived opinion, preconception, prepossession
an opinion formed beforehand without adequate evidence
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pole
one of two divergent or mutually exclusive opinions
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hope, promise
grounds for feeling hopeful about the future
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foretaste
an early limited awareness of something yet to occur
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possibility
a future prospect or potential
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anticipation, expectancy
something expected (as on the basis of a norm)
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apprehension, misgiving
painful expectation
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egoism
(ethics) the theory that the pursuit of your own welfare is the basis of morality
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hodgepodge, jumble, patchwork
a theory or argument made up of miscellaneous or incongruous ideas
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Cabalism, Kabbalism
the doctrines of the Kabbalah
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mainstream
the prevailing current of thought
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abolitionism
the doctrine that calls for the abolition of slavery
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absolutism
the doctrine of an absolute being
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amoralism
the doctrine that moral distinctions are invalid
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animalism
the doctrine that human beings are purely animal in nature and lacking a spiritual nature
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animism
the doctrine that all natural objects and the universe itself have souls
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antiestablishmentarianism, antiestablishmentism
the doctrine of opposition to the social and political establishment
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asceticism
the doctrine that through renunciation of worldly pleasures it is possible to achieve a high spiritual or intellectual state
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contextualism
any doctrine emphasizing the importance of the context in solving problems or establishing the meaning of terms
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creationism
the literal belief in the account of Creation given in the Book of Genesis
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credo, creed
any system of principles or beliefs
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divine right, divine right of kings
the doctrine that kings derive their right to rule directly from God and are not accountable to their subjects; rebellion is the worst of political crimes
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dogma
a doctrine or code of beliefs accepted as authoritative
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dualism
the doctrine that reality consists of two basic opposing elements, often taken to be mind and matter (or mind and body), or good and evil
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dynamism
any of the various theories or doctrines or philosophical systems that attempt to explain the phenomena of the universe in terms of some immanent force or energy
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epicureanism
a doctrine of hedonism that was defended by several ancient Greek philosophers
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establishmentarianism, establishmentism
the doctrine of supporting the social or political establishment
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ethicism
a doctrine that ethics and ethical ideas are valid and important
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expansionism
the doctrine of expanding the territory or the economic influence of a country
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formalism
the doctrine that formal structure rather than content is what should be represented
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functionalism
any doctrine that stresses utility or purpose
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Girondism
the doctrine of the Girondists
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gospel
a doctrine that is believed to be of great importance
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gymnosophy
the doctrine of a sect of Hindu philosophers who practiced nudity and asceticism and meditation
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imitation
the doctrine that representations of nature or human behavior should be accurate imitations
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individualism, laissez faire
the doctrine that government should not interfere in commercial affairs
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rugged individualism
individualism in social and economic affairs; belief not only in personal liberty and self-reliance but also in free competition
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internationalism
the doctrine that nations should cooperate because their common interests are more important than their differences
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unilateralism
the doctrine that nations should conduct their foreign affairs individualistically without the advice or involvement of other nations
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irredentism, irridentism
the doctrine that irredenta should be controlled by the country to which they are ethnically or historically related
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literalism
the doctrine of realistic (literal) portrayal in art or literature
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democracy, majority rule
the doctrine that the numerical majority of an organized group can make decisions binding on the whole group
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monism
the doctrine that reality consists of a single basic substance or element
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multiculturalism
the doctrine that several different cultures (rather than one national culture) can coexist peacefully and equitably in a single country
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nationalism
the doctrine that your national culture and interests are superior to any other
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nationalism
the doctrine that nations should act independently (rather than collectively) to attain their goals
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nihilism
a revolutionary doctrine that advocates destruction of the social system for its own sake
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pacificism, pacifism, passivism
the doctrine that all violence is unjustifiable
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pluralism
the doctrine that reality consists of several basic substances or elements
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populism
the political doctrine that supports the rights and powers of the common people in their struggle with the privileged elite
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presentism
the doctrine that the Scripture prophecies of the Apocalypse (as in the Book of Revelations) are presently in the course of being fulfilled
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freethinking, rationalism
the doctrine that reason is the right basis for regulating conduct
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reformism
a doctrine of reform
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humanism, secular humanism
the doctrine emphasizing a person's capacity for self-realization through reason; rejects religion and the supernatural
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humanism, humanitarianism
the doctrine that people's duty is to promote human welfare
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egalitarianism, equalitarianism
the doctrine of the equality of mankind and the desirability of political and economic and social equality
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feminism
a doctrine that advocates equal rights for women
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magic, thaumaturgy
any art that invokes supernatural powers
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occultism
a belief in supernatural powers and the possibility of bringing them under human control
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reincarnationism
a doctrine that on the death of the body the soul migrates to or is born again in another body
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secessionism
a doctrine that maintains the right of secession
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secularism
a doctrine that rejects religion and religious considerations
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dispossession, exorcism
freeing from evil spirits
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political sympathies, politics
the opinion you hold with respect to political questions
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phenomenology
a philosophical doctrine proposed by Edmund Husserl based on the study of human experience in which considerations of objective reality are not taken into account
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philosophical doctrine, philosophical theory
a doctrine accepted by adherents to a philosophy
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states' rights
a doctrine that federal powers should be curtailed and returned to the individual states
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commandment, precept, teaching
a doctrine that is taught
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theological doctrine
the doctrine of a religious group
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utilitarianism
doctrine that the useful is the good; especially as elaborated by Jeremy Bentham and James Mill; the aim was said to be the greatest happiness for the greatest number
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theism
the doctrine or belief in the existence of a God or gods
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heathenism, pagan religion, paganism
any of various religions other than Christianity or Judaism or Islamism
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Christian religion, Christianity
a monotheistic system of beliefs and practices based on the Old Testament and the teachings of Jesus as embodied in the New Testament and emphasizing the role of Jesus as savior
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Hindooism, Hinduism
a body of religious and philosophical beliefs and cultural practices native to India and based on a caste system; it is characterized by a belief in reincarnation, by a belief in a supreme being of many forms and natures, by the view that opposing theories are aspects of one eternal truth, and by a desire for liberation from earthly evils
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Brahmanism, Brahminism
the religious beliefs of ancient India as prescribed in the sacred Vedas and Brahmanas and Upanishads
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Jainism
religion founded in the 6th century BC as a revolt against Hinduism; emphasizes asceticism and immortality and transmigration of the soul; denies existence of a perfect or supreme being
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Sikhism
the doctrines of a monotheistic religion founded in northern India in the 16th century by Guru Nanak and combining elements of Hinduism and Islam
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Buddhism
the teaching of Buddha that life is permeated with suffering caused by desire, that suffering ceases when desire ceases, and that enlightenment obtained through right conduct and wisdom and meditation releases one from desire and suffering and rebirth
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Hsuan Chiao, Taoism
popular Chinese philosophical system based in teachings of Lao-tzu but characterized by a pantheism of many gods and the practices of alchemy and divination and magic
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Shinto, Shintoism
the ancient indigenous religion of Japan lacking formal dogma; characterized by a veneration of nature spirits and of ancestors
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Manichaeanism, Manichaeism
a religion founded by Manes in the third century; a synthesis of Zoroastrian dualism between light and dark and Babylonian folklore and Buddhist ethics and superficial elements of Christianity; spread widely in the Roman Empire but had largely died out by 1000
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Mithraicism, Mithraism
ancient Persian religion; popular among Romans during first three centuries a.d.
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Mazdaism, Zoroastrianism
system of religion founded in Persia in the 6th century BC by Zoroaster; set forth in the Zend-Avesta; based on concept of struggle between light (good) and dark (evil)
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Bahaism
a religion founded in Iran in 1863; emphasizes the spiritual unity of all humankind; incorporates Christian and Islamic tenets; many adherents live in the United States
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Asian shamanism, shamanism
an animistic religion of northern Asia having the belief that the mediation between the visible and the spirit worlds is effected by shamans
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shamanism
any animistic religion similar to Asian shamanism (especially as practiced by certain Native American tribes)
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Wicca
the polytheistic nature religion of modern witchcraft whose central deity is a mother goddess; claims origins in pre-Christian pagan religions of western Europe
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amateurism
the conviction that people should participate in sports as a hobby (for the fun of it) rather than for money
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descriptivism
(linguistics) a doctrine supporting or promoting descriptive linguistics
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descriptivism
(ethics) a doctrine holding that moral statements have a truth value
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prescriptivism
(linguistics) a doctrine supporting or promoting prescriptive linguistics
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prescriptivism
(ethics) a doctrine holding that moral statements prescribe appropriate attitudes and behavior
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church doctrine, creed, gospel, religious doctrine
the written body of teachings of a religious group that are generally accepted by that group
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Kingdom of God
the spiritual domain over which God is sovereign
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deity, divinity, god, immortal
any supernatural being worshipped as controlling some part of the world or some aspect of life or who is the personification of a force
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aeon, eon
(Gnosticism) a divine power or nature emanating from the Supreme Being and playing various roles in the operation of the universe
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angel
spiritual being attendant upon God
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faerie, faery, fairy, fay, sprite
a small being, human in form, playful and having magical powers
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disembodied spirit, spirit
any incorporeal supernatural being that can become visible (or audible) to human beings
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trickster
a mischievous supernatural being found in the folklore of many peoples
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millennium
(New Testament) in Revelations it is foretold that those faithful to Jesus will reign with Jesus over the earth for a thousand years; the meaning of these words have been much debated; some denominations (e.g. Jehovah's Witnesses) expect it to be a thousand years of justice and peace and happiness
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popular sovereignty
the doctrine that government derives its authority from and is subject to the will of the people
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popular sovereignty
pre-Civil War doctrine that people living in a new territory could decide whether or not slavery would be allowed there