Audio Glossary: C

CAFOD
'Catholic Fund for Overseas Development'; the Roman Catholic aid agency in Great Britain.
Caliph
('Successor') One of the historical figures who assumed temporal leadership of the Muslim world.
Calvinist
(After John Calvin 1509-64) Those Christian denominations whose theology, forms of worship and denominational organisation derive from the thought of John Calvin. The most distinctive aspect of his theology is the doctrine of absolute predestination, whereby all people are held to be predestined by God to either salvation or damnation.
Catholic
Pertaining to the church known in the United Kingdom as the Roman Catholic Church; an adherent of Roman Catholicism (can also be used in relation to Anglo-Catholicism, a movement within the Church of England that emphasises historical, doctrinal and liturgical links with the Roman Catholic Church). There are other catholic churches such as the Ukrainian Catholic Church and the Liberal Catholic Church.
catholic
Derived from the Greek and meaning 'universal' (potentially confusing as traditional translations of widely used creeds refer to belief in, "one holy catholic and apostolic church" or "the holy catholic church" but this is not regarded by orthodox, Episcopalian or protestant Christians to be a reference to the Roman Catholic Church.).
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Charismatic Movement
A movement within Christianity (across almost all denominations) emphasising God's gifts, believers who speak in tongues (glossolalia), healing and prophesy.
Chrismation
A rite in Eastern and Oriental churches whereby a newly baptised person is anointed with consecrated oil.
Christ
Literally 'the anointed one', the Greek version of the Hebrew word Mashiah (or Messiah); promised in Jewish traditions as the bringer of an age of peace and God's rule on earth. Christians believe Jesus of Nazareth is Christ. The Qur'an also refers to Jesus as the Messiah.
Christadelphian
A Christian sectarian movement found in the USA (approximately 1948). It would not be regarded as Christian by the mainstream churches.
Christening
A term sometimes used for the baptism of infants particularly within the Church of England
Christian Aid
An inter-denominational Christian organisation for overseas aid and development.
Christianity
Christians believe in one God who in the person of Jesus of Nazareth was born into the world wholly God and wholly man. Christians believe in God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit as set out in the Apostolic and Nicene Creeds. Christians hold the Bible, and especially the New Testament, as their sacred book.
Christmas
Christian festival (December 25 in the western churches) celebrating the birth of Jesus.
Church / church
This can refer to the totality of Christian believers, both living and departed this life; it can also mean a Christian denomination (as in, 'The Anglican Church'), an individual Christian congregation or a place of worship.
Circle Time
Practice common in many schools of having children sit in a circle where each can contribute thoughts and feelings knowing s/he will be listened to; games are sometimes played to develop concentration and co-operation.
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Companions of the cave
Story told in the Holy Qur'an of pious youths who were persecuted by a wicked king because of their desire to worship Allah. They hid in a cave and by a miracle slept for 309 years to reawaken in the reign of a Muslim ruler.
Councils of Churches
Local groups in which members of different Christian denominations come together to pursue ecumenical understanding and action.
Creeds
Short statements of Christian belief.
Cross
A symbol of Christianity. Jesus is believed by Christians to have died after being nailed to a cross. An image of Jesus on the cross is called a crucifix.
Crucifix
An image of Jesus on the cross, often worn by Christians on a necklace.