Definition

Noun: 1. Sacred text: A body of written work that is considered holy, authoritative, and foundational to a religion, often believed to be divinely inspired or revealed. It is venerated and used in worship, ritual, and spiritual guidance. 2. Devotional literature: Written material intended to inspire religious devotion, theological understanding, or moral instruction within a faith tradition.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The Bible, the Quran, and the Vedas are all examples of major religious writing.
  • Scholars study ancient religious writing to understand the beliefs of past civilizations.
  • The monastery's library contained centuries-old religious writing.

Advanced Usage

• "Canonical religious writing": Refers to texts that are officially accepted as part of the sacred canon or scripture of a religion.
  • The decision on which gospels became canonical religious writing was made by early church councils.
• "Apocryphal religious writing": Refers to texts of a religious nature that are not included in the official canon of scripture, often meaning "of doubtful authenticity."
  • The Dead Sea Scrolls include both canonical and apocryphal religious writing.

Variants and Related Words

• Scripture (n): Often used synonymously with religious writing, especially to refer to the sacred texts of a religion.
• Sacred text (n): A direct synonym emphasizing the holy nature of the writing.
• Holy writ (n): A formal term for sacred religious writing.
• Theology (n): The study of the nature of God and religious belief, often conducted through the analysis of religious writing.

Synonyms

• Scripture
• Sacred text
• Holy writ
• Canon

Related Phrases

• Religious text: A common alternative phrasing with identical meaning.
• Sacred literature: Emphasizes the body of written work as a collective literary and spiritual heritage.

Noun

1. writing that is venerated for the worship of a deity