Definitions (Part 2)

Below you will find my second batch of definitions.  The first can be accessed here [1], and as with the first this list may be updated or otherwise altered.


Science

Scientific method--procedure moving from observation to hypothesis to testing to conclusion

Hypothesis--hypothetical theory proposed as a possible explanation for something

Empirical testing--use of repeated testing to verify a hypothesis

Natural sciences--sciences which study the natural world, such as physics and geology

Physics--study of matter and energy

Cosmology--study of the universe

Cosmogony--branch of cosmology studying the beginning of the universe

Astronomy--study of celestial entities like stars

Biology--study of living organisms

Neuroscience--study of the brain and the nervous system

Matter--physical substance that occupies space

Antimatter--matter made of antiparticles with the same mass as ordinary particles but with opposite charges

Space--area in which matter resides

Subatomic particle--particle much smaller than an atom

Quantum physics--the study and theory of matter and particle behavior at a subatomic level

Quantum particle--subatomic particle

Anthropic principle--refers to the observation that earth seems to possess the ideal variables and conditions for human life to develop and/or flourish

Steady state theory--idea that the universe is eternal and never had an actual beginning

Big Bang--explosion which created our universe, including all matter, time, space within it

Universe--the material world created by the Big Bang

Multiverse--hypothetical idea of the cosmos where multiple or an infinite number of universes exist

Cosmos--totality of the material world; includes the universe and any possible multiverse


Christian Theology

Soteriology--study of salvation, its requirements, and its effects

Eschatology--study of future or last events

Christology--study of the being and nature of Christ

Ecclesiology--study of theology of the church

Justification--act of God making a sinner right with him by lifting the ultimate punishment for sin

Sanctification--act on behalf of a Christian of becoming more holy

Evangelism--sharing the Christian gospel with non-Christians

Apologetics--defense of an idea or a worldview, not necessarily of one Christian in nature

Presuppositional apologetics--defense of Christianity that presupposes or assumes its validity beforehand

Classical apologetics--apologetics that starts with rationalistic/syllogistic arguments for general theism before defending Christianity in particular

Experiential apologetics--relating personal experiences in order to persuade someone that Christianity is true

Theodicy--defense of God's existence or goodness in spite of the problem of evil

Imago Dei--Latin phrase for "image of God", which the Bible states all humans bear

Sensus divinatis--Latin phrase for "sense of the divine", coined by John Calvin to refer to supposed innate knowledge of God

Antinomianism--belief that Christians are not bound by Old Testament ethical revelation

Calvinism--theological system centered around predestination and God's sovereignty, started by John Calvin

Annihilationism--belief that unsaved humans will not suffer eternal conscious torment in hell and will at some point be destroyed or annihilated

Universalism--belief that all humans (and perhaps fallen angels) will eventually become saved beings

Marcionism--belief, started by Marcion, that the gods of the Old and New Testaments are separate deities and that the Old Testament God is evil

Pelagianism--belief, started by Pelagius, that human free will is sufficient to choose to do good apart from intervention from God


Logical Fallacies

Ad hominem--rejecting an argument out of dislike for the one making the claim instead of for its potential logical faults

Appeal to authority--claiming something is true because an authority figure, leader, or  other individual says so

Appeal to tradition--claiming an idea is true because it has been held to be so in the past

Appeal to novelty--claiming an idea is true because it is new

Appeal to popularity--claiming an idea is true because others concur that it is

Appeal to probability--claiming that a point should be accepted because it is very likely true

Appeal to ignorance--claiming something is true because it cannot be disproven or refuted

Appeal to emotion--using subjective emotions to persuade someone of an argument instead of rational proof

Naturalistic fallacy--making a moral judgment about how things should be based on observation of how things are

Moralistic fallacy--claiming that a condition (such as women serving men) is how things should be because it is how things are or have always been

Anecdotal fallacy--appealing to personal experience as verification of a conclusion instead of a logical argument

Genetic fallacy--attempting to invalidate an idea by dismissing its place of origin or background

Red herring--use of a point that has nothing to do with the subject of a debate, usually employed as a distraction

False dilemma--treating a dilemma as if only two legitimate options exist when in reality there are three or more

Slippery slope--rejecting something because of where it might lead

Fallacy of composition--assuming that what is true of the part is true of the whole

Circular reasoning--using what should be a conclusion to an argument or syllogism as a premise in it

Begging the question--assuming a statement to be true

Divine fallacy--assuming God is responsible for whatever aspects of reality are not currently understood

Fallacy fallacy--rejecting a conclusion because the argument used to reach it committed a logical fallacy


[1].  http://thechristianrationalist.blogspot.com/2016/08/defininitions-part-1.html