In case you're not familiar with how certain terms are used in Christian subcultures, or by people criticizing such things, here's a little help.


Biblical inerrancy: The supposed truth and reliability of everything the Bible says


Biblical literalism: The belief the Bible should be interpreted “literally” and that stories in the Bible are meant to describe historical events. Often overlaps with the concept of biblical inerrancy.

In practice, biblical literalists pick and choose which parts of the bible they take literally and which they decide are symbolic or don't apply to modern people.


Complementarianism: A theological system that views men and women as having separate roles, typically believing in male leadership and female submission. It has been criticized for misogyny and enabling abuse.


Culture war: A political or social issue that Christians treat as being “us versus the world”. Abortion and LGBTQ rights are two big ones, though there have been others like teaching evolution and anti-racism efforts.


Egalitarianism: Usually refers to theology that sees men and women as not needing to play particular roles solely because of their gender. Complementarian Christians don't handle it well.


End Times: The end of the world as supposedly predicted in the Bible. Most Christians obsessed with this tend to cherry-pick biblical passages and try to make them metaphors for modern-day people, institutions, and countries.


Evangelicalism: A subset of Christianity that emphasizes sharing “the good news” of Christianity with other people in attempts to convert them to Christianity.


Evolutionism: A term Christians use to make it seem like belief in evolution is a culture war thing.


Fundagelical: A Christian who suscribes to both evangelical and fundamentalist beliefs. I'm told the two movements used to be separate and didn't like each other much. But as time has gone on and Christian dominance has weakened, they have combined forces.


Fundamentalism: A belief system that demands believers follow particular rules and mindsets or else risk watering down Christianity and going to hell. These rules include but aren't limited to Biblical literalism and inerrancy, strict rules about sexual conduct (see “purity culture”), and a negative view of current times colored by misguided nostalgia.


Grace: Often used as a synonym for mercy or forgiveness, i.e. “By grace, you are saved.”


Idolatry: Making something other than God your top priority. Considered a sin.


Legalism/legalistic: What Christians call rules and groups they think are too strict


Male headship: Usually refers to men being the leaders in their marriage. Has been criticized for sexism.


“Once saved, always saved”: The (somewhat controversial) belief that once someone becomes a Christian, they will always be a Christian. People who buy into this may claim ex-Christians were never “true” Christians.


Post-modernism: When conservative Christians use this word, it's usually to express disapproval over a supposedly ungodly idea


Purity culture: A term used by critics to refer to a set of beliefs about being sexually “pure”. It includes discouragement of sex before marriage, telling women to dress “modestly”, and avoiding sexual thoughts.


Satanic: In Christian spaces, this term often has little to do with actual satanism and more to do with deeming certain practices evil.


Saved: Being a “real“ Christian. If someone asks when you got saved, they want to know when you became a Christian.


Spiritual warfare: What Christians call attempts to address demons. And they see demons in a lot of non-Christian places.


Theodicy: Attempts to address the theological problem of a loving God allowing evil.


The Trinity: The concept of God as being three persons/having three sides. They are the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.


Witnessing: Telling non-Christians how to become Christian


The world: Often used to collectively refer to non-Christian people and ideas.


Worldly: When used in Christian contexts, this is a synonym for “sinful”, “non-Christian”, etc.