Religious Studies A-Level
Religious Studies A-Level glossary
220 key terms for Religious Studies A-Level, A to Z, each linked to the topic pages that use it.
A
- A posteriori
- Reasoning based on empirical experience and observation of the physical world.Pearson Edexcel
- A priori
- Reasoning based purely on logic and definitions, independent of experience.Pearson Edexcel
- Absolutism vs Relativism
- The conflict between fixed, immutable moral laws derived from reason (Aquinas) and context-dependent decision-making based on the principle of love (Fletcher).Pearson Edexcel
- Agape
- Selfless, unconditional love, identified by Joseph Fletcher as the sole moral criterion for Situation Ethics.Pearson Edexcel
- Akhirah and Moral Accountability
- The belief in life after death, encompassing Barzakh, the Day of Judgement (Yawm al-Din), and the final states of Jannah and Jahannam.Pearson Edexcel
- Anand Karaj
- The Sikh marriage ceremony, legally recognised by the British in 1909.Pearson Edexcel
- Anicca
- The doctrine of impermanence, a central realization of the Buddha's enlightenment that informs the Sutta Pitaka.Pearson Edexcel
- Anonymous Christian
- Karl Rahner's term for a person who achieves salvation through Christ's grace by living a good life, despite not explicitly knowing the Gospel.Pearson Edexcel
- Apologetics
- The reasoned defense of the Christian faith against intellectual or historical challenges.Pearson Edexcel
- Arhat
- A 'perfected person' who has attained Nirvana; their testimony was crucial for the validation of the Tipitaka at the First Council.Pearson Edexcel
- Atonement
- The reconciliation of God and humankind through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ.Pearson Edexcel
- Authority and Revelation
- Analysis of the relationship between the divine origin of scripture and the human agency of the author, determining the extent to which texts are viewed as…Pearson Edexcel
- Authority and Succession
- The transition from Muhammad to the Rashidun and the divergent views on leadership (Nass vs.Pearson Edexcel
- Authority of the Vedas
- The transition of the Vedic Samhitas from oral tradition to canonical status as 'heard' (Shruti) revelation, establishing the Brahmins as the sole custodians…Pearson Edexcel
- Authorship and Apostolic Authority
- The tension between traditional ecclesiastical attributions of authorship and modern critical assessments of anonymous, community-based compositions.Pearson Edexcel
- Autonomy and Paternalism
- The debate over whether an individual has the sovereign right to determine the timing and manner of their death (autonomy) versus the state or religious duty…Pearson Edexcel
B
- Beatitudes
- A series of blessings taught by Jesus in the Sermon on the Plain (Luke 6), focusing on the poor, hungry, and weeping.Pearson Edexcel
- Blasphemy
- The act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God; claiming the attributes of God.Pearson Edexcel
- Blik
- A term coined by R.M.Pearson Edexcel
C
- Categorical Imperative
- Kant’s core requirement that moral maxims must be universalizable and treat humanity as an end in itself.Pearson Edexcel
- Christocentrism
- The theological priority of Jesus Christ as the sole and final revelation of God, a cornerstone of Barthian Neo-Orthodoxy that rejects natural theology.Pearson Edexcel
- Cognitivism vs Non-cognitivism
- The central debate regarding whether moral statements describe objective facts (Naturalism, Intuitionism) or express subjective emotional states and commands…Pearson Edexcel
- Consciousness and Quantum Reality
- Investigation into the parallels between the Upanishadic concept of Brahman and the observer effect in quantum mechanics, focusing on the non-dual nature of…AQA
- Contextualisation and Praxis
- The application of ancient moral and legal frameworks to contemporary socio-political environments, including liberationist and feminist re-readings.Pearson Edexcel
- Contingent being
- Something that relies on something else for its existence and could fail to exist.Pearson Edexcel
- Cosmological Order to Ethical Duty
- The evolution of the concept of Rta (cosmic order) into Dharma (individual and social duty), linking the macrocosm of the universe to the microcosm of human…Pearson Edexcel
- Covenant (Brit)
- The reciprocal and eternal relationship between God and the Jewish people, initiated with Abraham and formalized at Sinai.Pearson Edexcel
- Covenantal Identity and the Brit
- The expression of the eternal contract between God and the Jewish people through physical signs, such as Brit Milah, and the observance of the 613 Mitzvot as…Pearson Edexcel
- Covenantal Relationship
- The theological framework of the Brit (covenant) as the basis for the 613 Mitzvot, establishing the reciprocal obligations between God and the Jewish people.Pearson Edexcel
- Creation and Anthropological Mandate
- Investigation of 'Creatio ex nihilo' and the 'Imago Dei'.Pearson Edexcel
- Cyclical Cosmology and Time
- Analysis of the Kalpa and Yuga systems in relation to the oscillating universe theory and the Big Bang, emphasizing the non-linear perception of time in Hindu…AQA
D
- Deductive reasoning
- An argument where if the premises are true, the conclusion must logically be true.Pearson Edexcel
- Demythologisation
- The process, associated with Rudolf Bultmann, of stripping away the 'mythological' elements of the New Testament to uncover the essential kerygma for modern…Pearson Edexcel
- Demythologization
- Rudolf Bultmann’s process of stripping away the 'mythological' elements of the New Testament to find the underlying 'kerygma'.Pearson Edexcel
- Dhamma
- The universal truth or laws taught by the Buddha; the content of the Sutta Pitaka.Pearson Edexcel
- Dharam Yudh
- The framework of a 'Righteous War' or struggle.Pearson Edexcel
- Dharma and Social Order
- The integration of Varna (class) and Ashrama (life stage) as a framework for duty, maintaining cosmic balance (Rta) through individual adherence to Svadharma.Pearson Edexcel
- Dhimmi
- Historically, a non-Muslim citizen of an Islamic state who received protection and retained their faith in exchange for the Jizya tax.Pearson Edexcel
- Diaspora
- The scattering or dispersal of a population from their original homeland; in this case, Sikhs living outside of Punjab.Pearson Edexcel
- Din wa Dawla (Religion and State)
- The classical Islamic paradigm asserting the inseparability of spiritual and temporal authority, challenged by the introduction of the Westphalian…AQA
- Divine Revelation and the Qur'an
- The status of the Qur'an as the final, incorruptible criterion (Al-Furqan).Pearson Edexcel
E
- Ecclesiological Identity
- The role of the Eucharist in defining the 'Body of Christ', encompassing the implications of 'open' versus 'closed' communion and the rite's function in…Pearson Edexcel
- Ecclesiology and the Body of Christ
- Examination of the Church as both a mystical reality and a temporal institution.Pearson Edexcel
- Eco-Buddhism
- The application of ahimsa to the natural world, viewing environmental destruction as a form of violence against sentient beings and a violation of the…Pearson Edexcel
- Eco-Theology and Social Justice
- The conceptual link between environmental degradation and human inequality, often termed 'the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor,' emphasizing that…Pearson Edexcel
- Ecumenical Movement
- The effort to promote unity and cooperation among different Christian denominations.Pearson Edexcel
- Egalitarianism
- The belief that all people are equal and deserve equal rights and opportunities.Pearson Edexcel
- Engaged Buddhism
- The reinterpretation of traditional Buddhist teachings to address social, political, and environmental suffering.Pearson Edexcel
- Epistemological Status
- The investigation into whether religious experiences can provide objective knowledge of God or remain purely subjective psychological states.AQA
- Equivocal
- Language where the same word has entirely different meanings in different contexts, leading to ambiguity.Pearson Edexcel
- Eschatological Verification
- The philosophical argument proposed by John Hick that religious claims regarding the afterlife are 'meaningful' because they are subject to verification after…Pearson Edexcel
- Eschatology
- Theology concerned with the final events of history, or the ultimate destiny of humanity (the 'end times').Pearson Edexcel
- Ethical Monotheism
- The belief in a single God whose primary requirement of humanity is ethical behavior.Pearson Edexcel
- Evolutionary Synthesis
- Exploration of the Dashavatara (ten incarnations of Vishnu) as a metaphorical or proto-evolutionary sequence, mapping the transition from aquatic to…AQA
F
G
- Gender and Authority
- The historical marginalization of women in the Sangha versus the contemporary revival of the Bhikkhuni order and the role of the Therigatha in establishing…Pearson Edexcel
- Guruship (Human and Scriptural)
- The transition from the 'Jot' residing in the ten human Gurus to its permanent indwelling in the Guru Granth Sahib and the Guru Panth.Pearson Edexcel
H
- Hadith
- The written reports of the sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad.Pearson Edexcel
- Halakhic Authority and Revelation
- The fundamental divide between the Orthodox doctrine of 'Torah min HaShamayim' (Torah from Heaven) and the Reform concept of 'Progressive Revelation', where…Pearson Edexcel
- Halal
- Actions or things which are permitted or lawful in Islam.Pearson Edexcel
- Haram
- Actions or things which are forbidden in Islam.Pearson Edexcel
- Heilsgeschichte
- A German term meaning 'salvation history'; the idea that God's saving plan unfolds in specific stages throughout history.Pearson Edexcel
- Hermeneutical Circles
- The methodological process where understanding of the whole text informs the interpretation of individual parts, and vice versa, often influenced by the…Pearson Edexcel
- Hermeneutics of Retrieval
- An approach to reading sacred texts that seeks to uncover and highlight liberating, feminist messages.Pearson Edexcel
- High Christology
- The presentation of Jesus as divine from the outset, emphasizing pre-existence and unity with the Father, contrasting with the 'Low Christology' or…Pearson Edexcel
- Hijra
- Muhammad's migration from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE.Pearson Edexcel
- Hijrah
- The migration of Muhammad and his followers from Makkah to Madinah in 622 CE.Pearson Edexcel
- Hypostatic Union
- The union of Christ's humanity and divinity in one individual hypostasis or person.Pearson Edexcel
I
- I'jaz
- The inimitability of the Quran; often used in modern contexts to refer to 'scientific miracles' found in the text.AQA
- Identity and the Ummah
- The tension between the transnational religious identity of the global Muslim community and the territorial, secular requirements of modern citizenship.AQA
- Ihram
- The state of purity entered into for Hajj, and the white garments worn.Pearson Edexcel
- Ijtihad
- The exercise of critical thinking and independent reasoning by a jurist to find a legal solution where the Qur'an and Sunnah are not explicit.AQA, Pearson Edexcel
- Ik Onkar
- The foundational Sikh belief in One Creator.Pearson Edexcel
- Inclusivism
- The belief that while salvation comes through Christ, God's grace can save people outside the Christian faith.Pearson Edexcel
- Inductive reasoning
- An argument where the premises support the conclusion, making it probable but not certain.Pearson Edexcel
- Ineffability
- The quality of an experience being impossible to adequately describe in human language.Pearson Edexcel
- Inerrancy
- The belief that the Bible, in its original manuscripts, is without error or fault in all its teaching.Pearson Edexcel
- Institutional Adaptation
- The shift from traditional monasticism to the 'Western' model of the Triratna movement, emphasizing 'Going for Refuge' as the central act of Buddhist identity…Pearson Edexcel
- Intellectual Synthesis
- The integration of empirical observation and rationalism (Kalam) with revelation during the Abbasid period, leading to the Islamic Golden Age.Pearson Edexcel
- Interfaith Engagement
- The evolution of Jewish attitudes toward Christianity and Islam, moving from medieval defensive polemics to modern collaborative dialogue and mutual…Pearson Edexcel
- Intrinsic vs. Instrumental Value
- The philosophical debate over whether the environment has value in itself (Biocentrism/Ahimsa) or only in its utility to human beings (Anthropocentrism).Pearson Edexcel
J
- Jewish Identity and Integration
- Analysis of how both figures navigated the tension between maintaining a distinct Jewish identity and engaging with the wider non-Jewish intellectual and…Pearson Edexcel
- Jivanmukti
- Liberation while still alive, a state emphasized in Advaita where the individual realizes their identity with Brahman.Pearson Edexcel
- Jurisprudential Evolution of Offensive vs. Defensive Jihad
- Examination of classical 'Siyar' (international law) which categorized Jihad as a state-led collective obligation (fard kifaya) to protect or expand the Dar…Pearson Edexcel
- Jus ad bellum
- The set of criteria that must be consulted before entering into war to determine if doing so is permissible.Pearson Edexcel
K
- Kalam
- Speculative theology; the dialectical school of philosophy used to defend Islamic faith through rational argument.AQA
- Karuna
- Compassion; the primary motivation for the Bodhisattva to seek enlightenment for the sake of others.Pearson Edexcel
- Kenosis
- The 'self-emptying' of Jesus' own will and becoming entirely receptive to God's divine will.Pearson Edexcel
- Khalifah
- Stewardship; the religious duty of humans to investigate, manage, and protect the natural world as God's deputies.AQA
- Khalsa Tract Society
- A publishing house founded by Bhai Vir Singh to distribute affordable literature promoting orthodox Sikhism.Pearson Edexcel
- Khula
- A form of divorce initiated by the wife, usually involving the return of the Mahr to the husband.AQA
- Khums
- A 20% tax paid by Shi'a Muslims on their excess income.Pearson Edexcel
L
- Langar
- The free community kitchen in a Gurdwara, symbolising equality.Pearson Edexcel
- Legal Evolution
- The development of Halakhah (Jewish law) from the absolute commands of the Pentateuch to the nuanced, discursive legalism of the Talmudic period.Pearson Edexcel
- Legalism vs Antinomianism
- The tension between strict adherence to codified rules and the total rejection of laws in favor of spontaneous moral action, with Situation Ethics positioned…Pearson Edexcel
- Lex Talionis
- The law of retaliation ('an eye for an eye') found in the Torah, intended to ensure punishments were proportionate.Pearson Edexcel
- Liturgical and Synagogue Reform
- The evolution of worship practices, including the introduction of the vernacular, musical instruments, and egalitarian seating in Reform Judaism, contrasted…Pearson Edexcel
- Liturgical Structure and Rubrics
- Analysis of the formalised patterns of worship, comparing the fixed 'Ordo' of high-church traditions with the spontaneous or simplified structures of…Pearson Edexcel
M
- Mahants
- Hereditary priests who controlled the gurdwaras before the reform movement, often incorporating Hindu rituals.Pearson Edexcel
- Mahr
- The mandatory gift given by the groom to the bride at the time of marriage, which becomes her sole property.AQA
- Materialism vs. Dualism
- The ontological conflict between the view that the human person is a purely physical entity (monism/physicalism) and the religious assertion of a non-physical…Pearson Edexcel
- Maya
- The power of illusion that conceals the true nature of Brahman and projects the pluralistic universe.Pearson Edexcel
- Messianic Expectations
- The transition from a nationalistic, political 'Son of David' model of liberation to diverse apocalyptic and 'Suffering Servant' interpretations within the…Pearson Edexcel
- Metaphysical Contingency vs. Brute Fact
- The debate over whether the universe requires an external explanation (Principle of Sufficient Reason) or whether it must be accepted as a non-contingent,…Pearson Edexcel
- Metta
- Loving-kindness; a specific form of meditation aimed at developing unconditional goodwill toward all beings.Pearson Edexcel
- Miri-Piri
- The doctrine of dual sovereignty established by Guru Hargobind, representing spiritual (Piri) and temporal (Miri) authority.Pearson Edexcel
- Miri-Piri (Temporal and Spiritual Authority)
- The dual obligation of the Sikh community to engage in both spiritual devotion and temporal justice, established by Guru Hargobind and solidified by the Khalsa.Pearson Edexcel
- Modernist and Islamist Reinterpretations
- Evaluation of how 20th-century scholars responded to colonialism and the collapse of the Caliphate.Pearson Edexcel
- Modernity and Reform (Islah)
- Internal intellectual movements seeking to reconcile Islamic jurisprudence with modern secular governance through the reinterpretation of sacred texts.AQA
- Modernity and Secularization
- The tension between traditional Halakhic observance and the demands of civil integration following the European Emancipation, leading to the fragmentation of…Pearson Edexcel
- Monistic Experience
- A mystical experience where the boundaries between the self and ultimate reality dissolve, resulting in a feeling of absolute oneness.Pearson Edexcel
- Monotheism and the Triune God
- Analysis of the Nicene definition of God as one 'Substantia' in three 'Personae'.Pearson Edexcel
N
- Nationalism and Identity
- The evolution of Hindu identity from a cultural-religious framework to a political ideology (Hindutva) defining the nation-state.Pearson Edexcel
- Natural Theology
- The attempt to prove the existence of God and divine attributes through reason and the observation of the natural world, independent of revelation.Pearson Edexcel
- Necessary being
- A being that contains the reason for its own existence and cannot fail to exist (God).Pearson Edexcel
- New Atheism and Scientific Materialism
- The rejection of supernaturalism based on the perceived sufficiency of evolutionary biology and the 'God of the Gaps' fallacy.Pearson Edexcel
- Nirguna Brahman
- The Supreme Reality without attributes, qualities, or personality in Shankara’s Advaita.Pearson Edexcel
- Noetic Quality
- The feeling that an experience has revealed deep, profound knowledge or insight about reality.Pearson Edexcel
- Non-violent Resistance
- The use of ahimsa as a political tool for liberation, contrasting the passive withdrawal of traditional asceticism with active, non-violent confrontation of…Pearson Edexcel
- Numinous
- An experience of the holy as 'wholly other', characterised by awe, dread, and fascination.Pearson Edexcel
O
- Objective vs Subjective Atonement
- Analysis of whether the work of Christ effected a change in the status of humanity before God (Anselm, Calvin) or whether it serves as a moral catalyst for…Pearson Edexcel
- Orthopraxis
- Correct practice or action; in Liberation Theology, it is argued that theological reflection must follow active engagement with the poor.Pearson Edexcel
P
- Pali Canon
- The standard collection of scriptures in the Theravada Buddhist tradition, also known as the Tipitaka.Pearson Edexcel
- Panj Kakke
- The Five Ks; the physical symbols of faith worn by initiated (Khalsa) Sikhs.Pearson Edexcel
- Parousia
- The anticipated second coming of Jesus Christ.Pearson Edexcel
- Particularism (Exclusivism)
- The belief that salvation is only possible through explicit faith in Jesus Christ.Pearson Edexcel
- Patriarchal Revisionism
- Jakobsh's concept that male-dominated institutions have rewritten or framed history to downplay women's roles.Pearson Edexcel
- Personhood and Moral Status
- The ontological investigation into when a human being acquires the rights of a person, focusing on criteria such as ensoulment, viability, and the development…Pearson Edexcel
- Pluralism
- The coexistence of different religious and non-religious worldviews within a single society, challenging the exclusive truth-claims of traditional Christianity.Pearson Edexcel
- Pluralism and 'Ekam Sat'
- The theological assertion that 'Truth is one, but the wise call it by many names' (Rig Veda 1.164.46), providing a scriptural basis for religious tolerance…Pearson Edexcel
- Prapatti
- The path of total self-surrender to God (Vishnu/Narayana) as the most effective means of liberation in Ramanuja’s tradition.Pearson Edexcel
- Principle of Credulity
- Swinburne's principle that we should trust our perceptions: if something appears to be the case, we should assume it is, unless proven otherwise.Pearson Edexcel
- Process Theology
- A theological movement based on Alfred North Whitehead's philosophy, suggesting that God is not immutable but is involved in the process of the evolving…Pearson Edexcel
- Prophetic Exemplar (Uswa Hasana)
- The role of Muhammad as the perfect model for human conduct.Pearson Edexcel
- Proportionality
- The ethical requirement that the force used in war, or the response to a moral dilemma, must be balanced against the objective.Pearson Edexcel
- Psychological and Neuroscientific Challenges
- Critiques from Freud, Jung, and Persinger suggesting that experiences are products of the subconscious or temporal lobe stimulation rather than external…AQA
Q
- Qiwamah
- The concept of male guardianship or responsibility over women, often debated in the context of domestic and social hierarchy.AQA, Pearson Edexcel
R
- Rationalism and Revelation
- The synthesis of secular philosophical systems (Aristotelianism for Maimonides; Enlightenment Deism for Mendelssohn) with the revealed truth of the Torah,…Pearson Edexcel
- Realized Eschatology
- The theological position that judgment, resurrection, and eternal life are present realities accessed through belief in Jesus, rather than purely…Pearson Edexcel
- Replacement Theology
- The conceptualization of Jesus as the fulfillment and replacement of Jewish institutions, festivals (Passover, Tabernacles), and the Temple, establishing a…Pearson Edexcel
- Revelation and Authority
- The process by which God's will is communicated through the Torah (Written Law) and interpreted through the Talmud (Oral Law).Pearson Edexcel
- Risalah (Prophethood and Revelation)
- The mechanism of divine guidance through a lineage of prophets (Anbiya) and messengers (Rusul).Pearson Edexcel
- Roman Imperialism and Jewish Autonomy
- The friction between the Roman provincial administration (Prefects/Procurators) and the Jewish religious authorities (Sanhedrin), specifically regarding…Pearson Edexcel
S
- Sacramental Efficacy
- Theological investigation into whether the rite conveys grace 'ex opere operato' (by the work worked) or serves primarily as an external sign of internal faith.Pearson Edexcel
- Sahajdhari
- A person who believes in Sikhism but has not taken Amrit initiation and may not wear all the Five Ks (e.g., may cut their hair).Pearson Edexcel
- Samatha
- Calm-abiding meditation; techniques used to develop single-pointed concentration and tranquility.Pearson Edexcel
- Sanctity of Life vs. Quality of Life
- The conflict between the absolute intrinsic value of life as a gift from God (Sanctity) and the instrumental value of life based on the avoidance of suffering…Pearson Edexcel
- Sangha
- The monastic community responsible for the preservation, chanting, and eventual writing of the Buddha's teachings.Pearson Edexcel
- Sarbat da Bhala
- The concept of universal altruism which mandates that Sikhs pray for and actively work toward the prosperity of all humanity, regardless of creed or caste.Pearson Edexcel
- Sectarianism and Identity
- The internal theological disputes between the Sadducees, Pharisees, Essenes, and Zealots regarding the interpretation of Torah, the afterlife, and the…Pearson Edexcel
- Secularisation
- The process by which religion loses its influence over public and social life, becoming a private matter.Pearson Edexcel
- Sedition
- Conduct or speech inciting people to rebel against the authority of a state or monarch.Pearson Edexcel
- Sewa and Equality
- The practical application of the Gurus' teachings through selfless service and the rejection of the Varna (caste) system, institutionalized through Langar and…Pearson Edexcel
- SGPC (Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee)
- The organisation established in 1920 to manage and control Sikh places of worship (gurdwaras).Pearson Edexcel
- Shari'ah
- Islamic law based on the Qur'an and the Sunnah.Pearson Edexcel
- Shura
- The principle of consultation in decision-making, often cited as the Islamic basis for democratic or participatory governance.Pearson Edexcel
- Sikh Rehat Maryada
- The official Sikh code of conduct and conventions, finally published in 1945.Pearson Edexcel
- Singh Sabha
- A Sikh reform movement started in the 1870s aimed at reviving Sikh teachings, promoting Punjabi literature, and affirming a distinct Sikh identity.Pearson Edexcel
- Social Cohesion and the Established Church
- The evolving role of the Church of England as a 'hospitable host' for minority faiths, balancing its constitutional status with the requirements of a…AQA
- Social Justice (Tzedek)
- The application of prophetic traditions and the concept of Tikkun Olam to contemporary issues of racial discrimination, economic inequality, and human rights.Pearson Edexcel
- Social Reform and Modernity
- The impact of 19th-century 'Renaissance' movements and 20th-century political activism on traditional practices, specifically addressing the transition from…Pearson Edexcel
- Social Reform and Seva
- The shift from ritualistic focus to 'Daridra Narayana' (serving God in the poor) as a religious duty and path to Moksha.Pearson Edexcel
- Social Stratification and Varna
- The development of the Varna system as a divinely ordained social order, justified through the cosmogonic myth of the Purusha Sukta.Pearson Edexcel
- Socio-Spiritual Equality
- The practical application of the belief that all humans possess the divine spark (Jot), leading to the rejection of caste, gender discrimination, and…Pearson Edexcel
- Sola Scriptura
- The theological doctrine that the Bible is the sole infallible source of authority for Christian faith and practice.Pearson Edexcel
- Soteriology and Ethics
- The relationship between Karma (action), Samsara (cycle of rebirth), and Moksha (liberation), framed within the ethical obligations of Sanatana Dharma.Pearson Edexcel
- Soteriology and Yoga
- The systematic application of physical, mental, and spiritual disciplines to achieve liberation from Samsara, emphasizing the diversity of paths suited to…Pearson Edexcel
- Soul-Making Theodicies
- Theological justifications, primarily associated with Irenaeus and John Hick, which argue that evil is a necessary requirement for human moral and spiritual…Pearson Edexcel
- Spiritual Interiority
- The development of Sufism as a reaction to the perceived worldliness of the Umayyad and Abbasid caliphates, emphasizing Ihsan (perfection of faith).Pearson Edexcel
- State Patronage and Expansion
- The role of Emperor Ashoka in the geographical dissemination of the Dhamma through edicts and missions to Sri Lanka and beyond, establishing Buddhism as a…Pearson Edexcel
- Stewardship vs. Dominion
- The theological tension between the mandate to rule over creation (Genesis 1:28) and the responsibility to protect it as a divine trust (Khalifa in Islam;…Pearson Edexcel
- Subjectivist View
- The perspective that religious experiences are entirely internal and generated by the human mind/brain.Pearson Edexcel
- Sunnah
- The teachings, deeds, and established way of life of the Prophet Muhammad.Pearson Edexcel
- Sunyata
- Emptiness; the Mahayana teaching that all phenomena are devoid of intrinsic existence (Svabhava).Pearson Edexcel
- Sutak
- The Hindu concept of ritual impurity associated with bodily fluids, childbirth, and menstruation.Pearson Edexcel
T
- Tawhid
- The oneness of God; in science, it refers to the belief in a single, unified source of all natural laws.AQA
- Tawhid (The Oneness of Allah)
- The central monotheistic doctrine that Allah is unique, indivisible, and without partners.Pearson Edexcel
- Teleology and the Final End
- Comparison of Aristotle's teleological worldview, where all actions aim at 'Eudaimonia' (human flourishing), against Kant's deontological rejection of…Pearson Edexcel
- Telos
- The inherent purpose or 'end' of a human act, used in Natural Law to determine if an action aligns with God's design.Pearson Edexcel
- Textual Authority
- The primacy of the Tenakh as the revealed word of God and the subsequent authority of the Sages in interpreting these texts for contemporary application.Pearson Edexcel
- The 'Reverse Mission' and Global South Influence
- The phenomenon of Christian growth in Africa, Asia, and Latin America impacting the UK through migration, leading to the establishment of Black Majority…AQA
- The Arhat vs. Bodhisattva Tension
- A comparative analysis of the goal of individual cessation of suffering (Nirvana) in the Sravakayana tradition versus the Mahayana commitment to remain in the…Pearson Edexcel
- The Authority and Nature of Halakhah
- A comparison of Maimonides' codification of law in the Mishneh Torah as a means of preserving tradition, versus Mendelssohn's view of Judaism as 'revealed…Pearson Edexcel
- The Dichotomy of Jihad al-Akbar and Jihad al-Asghar
- Analysis of the spiritual struggle for self-purification versus the physical struggle in defense of the faith.Pearson Edexcel
- The Doctrine of Avatara
- Examination of divine descent into the material world to restore Dharma, specifically focusing on the theological necessity of Vishnu's incarnations during…Pearson Edexcel
- The Enlightenment
- An intellectual movement in the 17th/18th centuries emphasizing reason, science, and historical criticism over blind faith and tradition.Pearson Edexcel
- The Evidential Problem of Evil
- An inductive argument, championed by William Rowe, which suggests that while God and evil might be logically compatible, the sheer quantity and intensity of…Pearson Edexcel
- The Fact-Value Distinction
- Hume’s Law and the logical challenge of the 'is-ought' gap, asserting that descriptive statements about the world cannot logically entail prescriptive moral…Pearson Edexcel
- The Guru-Sikh Relationship
- The evolution of authority from the ten human Gurus to the Guru Granth Sahib (Gurbani) and the Guru Panth (the community).Pearson Edexcel
- The Hermeneutics of Suspicion
- Westphal’s application of Marx, Freud, and Nietzsche to critique the psychological and sociological motivations behind religious adherence, suggesting faith…Pearson Edexcel
- The Hierarchy of Authority
- The systematic prioritization of sources in Islamic jurisprudence (Fiqh), where the Qur'an holds absolute primacy, followed by the Sunnah, and subsequently…Pearson Edexcel
- The Impact of Evolutionary Biology
- Analysis of how Darwinian evolution challenged the unique status of the human soul and the traditional teleological arguments for an afterlife, leading to…Pearson Edexcel
- The Interdependence of the Truths
- The conceptual necessity of understanding all four truths as a singular, integrated framework for liberation; the realization of one truth necessitates the…Pearson Edexcel
- The Logical Problem of Evil
- A deductive argument, famously formulated by Epicurus and refined by J.L.Pearson Edexcel
- The Medical Analogy
- The systematic presentation of the Truths as a diagnosis (Dukkha), etiology (Samudaya), prognosis (Nirodha), and prescription (Magga), establishing the Buddha…Pearson Edexcel
- The Middle Way (Majjhima Patipada)
- The ethical and philosophical stance that avoids the extremes of eternalism and nihilism, and self-indulgence and self-mortification, as the prerequisite for…Pearson Edexcel
- The Nature of Brahman
- Analysis of Brahman as the ultimate reality, distinguishing between Nirguna (the formless, attribute-less Absolute) and Saguna (the personal God with…Pearson Edexcel
- The Nature of Human Purpose
- The teleological drive towards the 'Beatific Vision' in Natural Law versus the maximization of 'Utility' or 'Happiness' in secular Utilitarian frameworks.Pearson Edexcel
- The Nature of the Divine
- Exploration of Akal Purakh as both Nirgun (transcendent) and Sargun (immanent), articulated through the Mool Mantar and the concept of the Divine Word (Shabad).Pearson Edexcel
- The Primacy of Duty vs. The Primacy of Character
- Analysis of Kant's insistence that moral worth is derived solely from acting 'from duty' (Deon) versus Aristotle's focus on the 'Arete' (excellence) of the…Pearson Edexcel
- The Role of Reason and Rationality
- Examination of Kant's 'Pure Practical Reason' as the source of universal moral law, contrasted with Aristotle's 'Phronesis' (practical wisdom), which requires…Pearson Edexcel
- The Six Paramitas (Perfections)
- The ethical and mental framework (Generosity, Morality, Patience, Energy, Meditation, Wisdom) that defines the Bodhisattva's path and distinguishes it from…Pearson Edexcel
- The Synoptic Problem
- The investigation into the literary dependencies and structural similarities between Matthew, Mark, and Luke, primarily addressed through the Two-Source…Pearson Edexcel
- Theological Intentionality
- The analysis of how Gospel writers (Evangelists) functioned as theologians rather than mere chroniclers, shaping material to address specific communal crises…Pearson Edexcel
- Theological Pluralism
- The shift from an exclusivist soteriology to a model where multiple religious traditions are viewed as equally valid responses to the 'Real', as proposed by…Pearson Edexcel
- Theological Responses to Religious Diversity
- Analysis of the shift from traditional Exclusivism (Barth) to Inclusivism (Rahner's 'Anonymous Christian') and the radical Pluralism of John Hick,…AQA
- Theological Responses to Suffering
- The re-evaluation of the 'God of History' and the Covenant in light of the systematic genocide of European Jewry, challenging traditional concepts of divine…Pearson Edexcel
- Theological Voluntarism
- The meta-ethical position that morality is derived solely from the will of God, necessitating an analysis of divine sovereignty versus the autonomy of ethics.Pearson Edexcel
- Theotokos
- A title of Mary, mother of Jesus, used in Eastern Christianity, meaning 'God-bearer'.Pearson Edexcel
- Typology of Experience
- Classification of phenomena into categories such as mystical, numinous, visions, and voices to facilitate systematic philosophical analysis.AQA
U
- Ummah
- The collective community of Islamic peoples, transcending national, ethnic, and racial boundaries.Pearson Edexcel
- Universalism vs. Exclusivism
- The tension between the inclusive, pluralistic framework of Neo-Vedanta and the 'Vedas-alone' dogmatism of the Arya Samaj.Pearson Edexcel
- Universalism vs. Particularism
- The dialectic between maintaining a distinct Jewish identity (Particularism) and the shared moral obligations of all humanity (Universalism) as expressed…Pearson Edexcel
- Univocal
- Language that carries exactly the same meaning regardless of the context in which it is used.Pearson Edexcel
- Upaya-kausalya (Skillful Means)
- The doctrine originating in the Lotus Sutra which justifies the adaptation of teachings to the capacity of the listener, serving as a mechanism for the…Pearson Edexcel
V
- Varnashrama Dharma
- The traditional framework of social duties (Varna) and stages of life (Ashrama).Pearson Edexcel
- Vipassana
- Insight meditation; the practice of observing the true nature of reality to gain wisdom into the Three Marks of Existence.Pearson Edexcel
- Vishishtadvaita
- Qualified non-dualism; the doctrine that Brahman is the sole reality but contains real diversity (souls and matter).Pearson Edexcel
Z
- Zionist Ideologies
- The divergence between Political Zionism (Herzl), Cultural Zionism (Ahad Ha'am), and Religious Zionism (Rav Kook) as responses to persistent European…Pearson Edexcel
Where these terms come from
Each definition is one we publish on a Religious Studies A-Level topic page or study guide. Open a term to see how each exam board words it and which topic it belongs to. For the full course, go to Religious Studies revision or the glossary for every subject.
Revise Religious Studies with these terms
Create a free account to practise exam questions and get feedback on your answers.
Start free
Religious Studies topics7 days Premium · Then free forever · No card, no charge