dei-, div- +
(Latin: God, god [deity, divine nature])
actus Dei
Act of God.
More literally, a “driving” or the “moving forward of God”. Used in legal terminology to refer to any phenomena; such as, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, falling trees, hail storms, etc.
The greatest of all perplexities in theology has been to reconcile the infinite goodness of God with his omnipotence. Nothing puts a greater strain upon the faith of the common man than the existence of utterly irrational suffering in the universe.
—Walter Lippmann
adieu (French)
Goodbye (literally, "I commend you to god.").
ad majorem dei gloriam; A.M.D.G.
To [or for] the greater glory of God.
Motto used by the Jesuit order (Society of Jesuits).
Sometimes the full expression is cited as the rationale for actions taken by Christians.
agnostic, atheist, deist, theist
agnostic (ag NOS tik)
Someone who believes that there can be no proof of the existence of God, but does not deny the possibility that God exists: "At our theology lecture, there were several people making presentations, one of whom was an agnostic who explained that there is no proof that God exists."
atheist (AY thee ist)
A disbeliever, denier of God's existence: "I believe in the existence of God, but my brother is an atheist and doesn't have such a belief."
deist (DEE ist)
Someone who believes in God based on reason rather than revelation and involves the view that God has set the universe in motion but does not interfere with how it exists: "My friend is a deist who believes in God as the creator of the universe but that humans are allowed to determine the kind of existence they feel is appropriate whether for good or for bad."
theist (THEE ist)
Someone who believes in a personal God as creator and ruler of the universe, but not necessarily accompanied by a belief in divine revelation; such as, through the Bible: "She is a member of a theist group believing in God but not necessarily as depicted in the Bible."
D.D. (Divinitatis Doctor)
Doctor of Divinity.
A degree granted after a required curriculum of graduate theological studies has been accomplished.
deicide, deicidal
1. The act of killing a god or goddess.
2. Killing a divine being or a representation of a divinity.
A man is destroying the representation of a god which in effect is killing that divine being.
deific
1. Making someone divine or giving him/her the status of a god or goddess.
2. With a divine nature or the status of a god or goddess.
deification
1. The action or process of making someone a god or goddess.
2. The condition of having been made a god or goddess.
deifier
1. Someone who makes a god of or who raises to the condition of a god.
2. Someone who worships or reveres as a god; such as, deifying a leader.
3. Anyone who idealizes or exalts.
deiform
1. Having the form of a god; godlike in form.
2. Conformable to the character or nature of God; godlike, divine, holy.
deify, deified, deifying
1. To make someone into a god.
2. To honor or adore someone or something as if he, she, or it were divine.
deiparous
Bearing or bringing forth a god (giving birth to a god).
deipotent
With god-like power.
deism, deistic, deistical
A belief in God based on reason rather than revelation, and involving the view that God has set the universe in motion but does not interfere with how it runs. Deism was especially influential in the 17th and 18th centuries.
deist (DEE ist)
Someone who believes in God based on reason rather than revelation and involves the view that God has set the universe in motion but does not interfere with how it runs.
Related religious-word units:
church;
ecclesi-;
fanati-;
hiero-;
idol-;
-olatry;
theo-;
zelo-.
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