Glossary - O

Occam’s Razor: principle in philosophy and science that when choosing among suitable explanations for an unknown phenomenon, the one with the least assumptions is to be preferred; also known as Ockham’s Razor.

omnipotent: having all powers; a commonly assigned attribute of God.

omniscience: having all knowledge; a commonly assigned attribute of God.

ontology: a branch of philosophy and subset of metaphysics that deals with the nature of existence or being.

oracle: religious specialist functioning as a medium communicating with gods or spirits or the message derived from this or other forms of divination.

ordination: ceremony or ritual act that confers special religious status on someone who has left lay life for a more full commitment to religious vows and pursuits.

orthodoxy: correct belief; essential beliefs and practices; opposite of heresy.

orthopraxy: correct action/practice; emphasized in traditions where practice is more central than belief; e.g., Hinduism and many other Asian traditions.

outsider: term used in Religious Studies to refer to those not belonging to a religious tradition under examination.

100. (C)Hillary Rodrigues and John S. Harding 2008; Courtesy Routledge
     

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