of or characteristic of the middle class, typically with reference to its perceived materialistic values or conventional attitudes
Chiasmus
a rhetorical or literary figure in which words, grammatical constructions, or concepts are repeated in reverse order, in the same or a modified form; e.g. ‘Poetry is the record of the best and happiest moments of the happiest and best minds.’.
Christology
the branch of Christian theology relating to the person, nature, and role of Christ.
Dialectical
relating to the logical discussion of ideas and opinions
concerned with or acting through opposing forces
Didactic
intended to teach, particularly in having moral instruction as an ulterior motive
Diffidence
modesty or shyness resulting from a lack of self-confidence
Dogma
a principle or set of principles laid down by an authority as incontrovertibly true
Ecclesiology
the study of churches, especially church building and decoration.
theology as applied to the nature and structure of the Christian Church.
Empirical
based on, concerned with, or verifiable by observation or experience rather than theory or pure logic
Endogamy
the custom of marrying only within the limits of a local community, clan, or tribe.
Episcopacy
government of a Church by bishops.
Epistemology
the theory of knowledge, especially with regard to its methods, validity, and scope. Epistemology is the investigation of what distinguishes justified belief from opinion.
Eschatology
the part of theology concerned with death, judgment, and the final destiny of the soul and of humankind
Exigency
an urgent need or demand
Exordium
the beginning or introductory part, especially of a discourse or treatise.
Extant
(especially of a document) still in existence; surviving
Funerary
relating to a funeral or the commemoration of the dead
Genitive
relating to or denoting a case of nouns and pronouns (and words in grammatical agreement with them) indicating possession or close association.
a word in the genitive case.
Haranguing
Heresy
belief or opinion contrary to orthodox religious (especially Christian) doctrine
Heterodox
not conforming with accepted or orthodox standards or beliefs
Hortatory
tending or aiming to exhort
Hypostasis
(in Trinitarian doctrine) each of the three persons of the Trinity, as contrasted with the unity of the Godhead.
Iconoclasm
the action of attacking or assertively rejecting cherished beliefs and institutions or established values and practices.
the rejection or destruction of religious images as heretical; the doctrine of iconoclasts.
Illative
of the nature of or stating an inference.
relating to or denoting a case of nouns in some languages used to express motion into something.
the illative case, or a word in this case.
Infallible
incapable of making mistakes or being wrong
Internecine
destructive to both sides in a conflict
Kenosis
(in Christian theology) the renunciation of the divine nature, at least in part, by Christ in the Incarnation.
Kerfuffle
a commotion or fuss, especially one caused by conflicting views
Lexical
relating to the words or vocabulary of a language
Metalepsis
The rhetorical figure consisting in the metonymical substitution of one word for another which is itself a metonym; (more generally) any metaphorical usage resulting from a series or succession of figurative substitutions.
Milieu
a person's social environment
Monolatry
the worship of one god without denial of the existence of other gods.
Moribund
(of a person) at the point of death.
Multivalent
having or susceptible of many applications, interpretations, meanings, or values
Normative
establishing, relating to, or deriving from a standard or norm, especially of behavior
Ontological
relating to the branch of metaphysics dealing with the nature of being
showing the relations between the concepts and categories in a subject area or domain
Ontology
the branch of metaphysics dealing with the nature of being.
a set of concepts and categories in a subject area or domain that shows their properties and the relations between them
Pantheism
worship that admits or tolerates all gods.
Paraenetic
Advisory or hortatory.
Pathos
a quality that evokes pity or sadness
Pedagogue
a teacher, especially a strict or pedantic one.
Perdurable
enduring continuously; imperishable
Pericope
an extract from a text, especially a passage from the Bible
Pluriform
Existing in many different forms; multiform.
Polemic
a strong verbal or written attack on someone or something
Polytheism
the belief in or worship of more than one god
Posit
a statement which is made on the assumption that it will prove to be true.
Praxis
practice, as distinguished from theory
Prolegomenon
a critical or discursive introduction to a book
Quotidian
of or occurring every day; daily
Rational
based on or in accordance with reason or logic
Redolent
strongly reminiscent or suggestive of (something)
fragrant or sweet-smelling
Repristinate
To restore to the original condition or position; to revive; to renew. Compare "pristine".
Semiotic
relating to signs and symbols
Symbology
the study or use of symbols.
Syncretism
the amalgamation or attempted amalgamation of different religions, cultures, or schools of thought
Synod
an assembly of the clergy and sometimes also the laity in a diocese or other division of a particular Church
a Presbyterian ecclesiastical court above the presbyteries and subject to the General Assembly.
Tautology
the saying of the same thing twice in different words, generally considered to be a fault of style (e.g., they arrived one after the other in succession).
Theophany
a visible manifestation to humankind of God or a god