Advanced Vocabulary in Theology and Critique

Study Notes

THEOLOGY: Study of God or religion; illustrates the paradox of an atheist passionately engaging with theological concepts.
TIRADE: A prolonged and bitter speech; example of use includes Percival's criticism of imitation cheese in school lunches.
TORPOR: Describes a state of sluggishness, inactivity, or apathy; can be illustrated by a boa constrictor's inactivity after eating, and the challenge of engaging apathetic students.
TOUCHSTONE: Originally a dark stone used to test the purity of precious metals; now a general term for a standard or measure of quality, such as vocabulary size as an indicator of education quality.
TOUT: To praise something highly; advertisements often tout products like chocolate-flavored toothpaste for benefits such as tooth preservation.
TRANSCEND: Means to go beyond or surpass; exemplified by someone claiming to invent a perpetual motion machine or a basketball player performing significantly better than teammates. 'Transcendent' relates to being surpassing or preeminent.
TRANSGRESS: To violate laws or rules; frequent breaches can lead to severe consequences, as seen in actions that led to war or a bully's repeated misdeeds like vandalism and aggression.
TRANSIENT: Characterizes something temporary; an example is a brief cool breeze that offers short-lived relief from heat.