Free The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions by John Bowker Page A

Constitution, which states that ‘Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.’ The ‘free exercise’ provision has been interpreted very broadly by the courts, only excluding e.g. polygamy and snake-handling .
     
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Firstborn .
    Jewish law gives first-born males a special status. The detailed laws are in the tractate Bekhorot in the Mishnah et al .
     
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First diffusion (period in history of Tibetan Buddhism) :
    see TIBETAN RELIGION .
     
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First fruits
    (Heb., bikkurim ). The portion of harvest which, according to Jewish law, must be given to the Temple . In Israel today first-fruit celebrations are still held on Shavu'ot and donations are made to the Jewish National Fund.
     
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Fiscus Judaicus .
    A tax on Jews levied in the Roman Empire. The fiscus Judaicus was a poll tax levied from 71 CE until the early 3rd cent.
     
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Fish .
    As a Christian symbol, its use goes back to 2nd-cent. writers. The symbol itself may be derived from the acrostic spelling of ichthus
(Gk., ‘fish’) from the Gk. first letters of ‘Jesus Christ, God and Saviour’.
     
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Fira
    (Arab.). An important term in Islamic doctrine about humans and their moral constitution as creatures of God's creation. The pivotal passage is Qur’n 30. 30. Most exegesis takes fira to mean human nature as designed and intended for ‘religion’—understood as Islam. But some take fira to mean Islam itself.
     
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Five animals (Taoist exercises) :
    see WU-CH’IN-HSI .
     
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Five auspicious moments (Jain) :
    see TRIAL.
     
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Five Classics (of Shinto) :
    see HONJISUIJAKU .
     
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Five degrees (of enlightenment) :
    see GO-I .
     
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Five elements (in Chinese and Taoist understanding of the cosmos) :
    see WU-HSING .
     
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Five elements (Jain) :
    see ASTIKAYA .
     
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Five faces (ofiva) :
    see PAÑCNANA .
     
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Five fetters :
    see SAYOJANA .
     
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Five heavens (Jain) :
    see ANUTTARAVIMNA .
     
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Five hindrances (Buddhist) :
    see NVARAAS .
     
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Five holy beings (Jain chant) :
    see NAMASKRA-MANTRA .
     
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Five Homages (basic Jain mantra) :
    see FIVE SUPREME BEINGS .
     
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Five impediments (Buddhist) :
    see JÑNA .
     
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Five Ks ,
    Pañj Kakke. Sikh symbols. Khls Sikhs, male and female, are identifiable by five emblems which they wear. These are called the five Ks because their Pañjbnames all commence with ‘kakk’ (k).
1. Ke, uncut hair.
2. Kagh, a small comb, usually of wood or ivory. This keeps the hair neat and so symbolizes controlled spirituality. Often a miniature kirpn (see below) is embedded in the kagh.
3. Kirpn, steel sword. The kirpn signifies courage in defence of right.
4. Ka, steel bangle, worn on the right wrist.
5. Kachh, long shorts. These replaced the ‘dhot’, customarily worn by men, enabling swift action in war.

See KHAE-DI-PHUL ; SAHAJDHR ; TURBAN .
     
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Five Mountains (Buddhist temples in Japan) :
    see GOZAN .
     
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Five Ms (actions ordinarily forbidden which induce power in Tantrism) :
    see PAÑCA-MKRA .
     
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Five Peaks (pilgrimage centres) :
    see PILGRIMAGE .
     
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Five pecks of rice (school of religious Taoism) :
    see WU-TOU-MI TAO .
     
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Five periods, seven stages (Taoist analysis of progress to the goal) :
    see WU-SHIH CH’I-HOU .
     
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Five powers