definition
strict definition
temple
A place of religious worship in traditions outside Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, or in sects calling it a temple.
Space dedicated to religious worship, prayer, rituals, or other religious activity by adherents to miscellaneous religions outside the Judeo-Christian-Islamic tradition, or by sects which use this word specifically for their houses of worship.
The space is dedicated to worship or other religious activity by the community concerned. The term can therefore describe a worship space without prescribing one structural form.
The stated exception includes religious groups that specifically call their houses of worship temples. That use of the name is distinct from assuming that every sacred space belongs to the same tradition.
More specific definitions
10 sub-definitions-
baha'i temple
A house of prayer and worship in the Baha'i faith, open to people of different religious backgrounds. -
buddhist temple
A temple used for Buddhist prayer and worship, without a required architectural form. -
confucian temple
A temple dedicated to Confucian reverence and ritual, rather than a prescribed building form. -
gurdwara
A Sikh place of worship and religious ceremonies, serving a congregation in Sikhism. -
jain temple
A sacred place dedicated to worship and religious ritual in the Jain tradition. -
mandir
A Hindu temple dedicated to worship or reverence of one or more deities in the Hindu faith. -
mormon temple
A temple in the Mormon religious tradition, dedicated to prayer, worship, and temple ceremonies. -
shinto temple
A Shinto place of prayer, worship, and ceremonial rites, including Shinto shrines. -
shrine
A separate sacred structure dedicated to reverence for a religious being or object. -
taoist temple
A temple dedicated to Taoist worship, prayer, and ritual, irrespective of its architectural style.
Related definitions
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church
A space dedicated to Christian worship, prayer, and religious services by a congregation or other group. -
mosque
A space dedicated to Islamic worship, prayer, and services, including spaces in buildings of other forms. -
spirituality
Spaces used for gatherings or practice of spirituality outside of traditional religions. -
synagogue
A space dedicated to Jewish religious worship, prayer, and services, including a house of prayer.