Theological Lexicon - "B" Trivia Quiz

Answer: blasphemy

Blasphemy generally refers to speech or actions that show disrespect toward holy figures or things. In Judaism, blasphemy traditionally meant speaking God's name in a profane way and was considered a serious offense under biblical law. In Christianity, it can include insulting God, denying divine truth, or attributing God's work to evil.

In Islam, blasphemy involves dishonoring Allah, the Qur'an, or the Prophet Muhammad, and it is regarded as a grave sin.

Answer: bar mitzvah

A bar mitzvah is a Jewish religious coming-of-age ceremony for a thirteen-year-old boy, marking the point at which he becomes responsible for following Jewish law and participating fully in the religious community. The term means "son of the commandment", reflecting this new obligation to observe the commandments, or "mitzvot." During the ceremony, the boy is often called to read from the Torah in the synagogue.

A bat mitzvah, meaning "daughter of the commandment", serves the same purpose for girls, typically at age twelve or thirteen, depending on the Jewish tradition.

Answer: Brahmin

A Brahmin is a member of the priestly class in the traditional Hindu caste system. Historically, Brahmins have been responsible for performing religious rituals and teaching sacred texts such as the Vedas. The term is connected to Brahman, the ultimate spiritual reality in Hindu philosophy.

Although modern Indian society has changed significantly and the caste system no longer carries legal authority, a Brahmin is still often regarded as a religious scholar and spiritual leader.

Answer: beatitude

The word "beatitude" comes from the Latin "beatitudo", meaning blessedness or happiness, and it refers to the idea that true joy comes from living in harmony with divine will. In general theology, beatitudes express qualities or conditions that lead to spiritual fulfillment.

The term is most closely associated with the teachings of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, where he declares, "Blessed are the poor in spirit," and offers similar statements that highlight humility, mercy, purity of heart, and peacemaking.

In this context, the Beatitudes describe the attitudes and values that define life in God's kingdom.

Answer: bodhisattva

In Buddhist tradition, a bodhisattva is a person who seeks enlightenment but chooses to delay entering final nirvana in order to help others achieve it first. The word comes from Sanskrit and means something like "one whose goal is awakening." Especially in Mahayana Buddhism, the bodhisattva represents deep compassion and selfless commitment, placing the spiritual well-being of all living beings above personal liberation. By vowing to guide others toward wisdom and freedom from suffering, the bodhisattva embodies the ideal that true enlightenment is closely connected to compassion and service.

Answer: bloodguilt

Rooted in ancient Hebrew law, bloodguilt refers to the moral and legal responsibility for causing another person's death. In the Torah, the shedding of innocent blood was seen as a serious offense that defiled both the individual and the land itself. For example, laws in the books of Numbers and Deuteronomy describe how a murderer carried bloodguilt and could face severe punishment, while cities of refuge were established to protect those who killed someone accidentally until a fair judgment could be made.

The concept emphasizes that human life is sacred and that taking it unjustly creates a burden of guilt that demands accountability before both society and God.

Answer: bishop

Within Christian church structure, a bishop is a senior religious leader who oversees a group of congregations and provides spiritual guidance and administrative leadership. Bishops are responsible for preserving church doctrine, ordaining clergy, and representing the wider church community. The area or office under a bishop's authority is called a bishopric, or diocese.

Answer: bier

Used in funeral traditions across cultures, a bier is a stand or platform on which a coffin or a body is placed before burial or cremation. In Christianity, the bier may hold the coffin during a funeral service in a church before the procession to the cemetery.

In Islam, a simple wooden bier is often used to carry the body to the mosque and then to the grave, which reflects the faith's emphasis on simplicity in burial.

Answer: bindi

A bindi is a symbolic mark worn on the forehead between the eyebrows in both Hindu cultural and religious practice. In spiritual contexts, the bindi represents the "third eye", which is associated with inner wisdom and spiritual insight. Traditionally, a red bindi has also indicated that a woman is married, though today bindis are worn in many colors and styles.

Despite modern fashion trends, the bindi's origins are deeply connected to religious symbolism.

Answer: baptism

Baptism is a Christian sacrament that symbolizes spiritual cleansing and entry into the community of believers. The practice involves the use of water (either by immersion, pouring, or sprinkling) as a sign of washing away sin and beginning a new life in faith.

Its origins are connected to Jewish purification rituals and to John the Baptist, who baptized people as a sign of repentance. Christians view baptism as following the example of Jesus, who was baptized in the River Jordan.