Religious Studies GCSE

Religious Studies GCSE glossary

1044 key terms for Religious Studies GCSE, A to Z, each linked to the topic pages that use it.

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A

Abortion: The deliberate termination of a human pregnancy.AQA
Accessibility of salvation: Bhakti is widely considered the most accessible path to moksha because it does not require extensive scriptural study or rigorous physical asceticism.AQA
Adalat: Divine justice emphasised in Shi'a Islam, teaching that God is inherently fair and holds humans accountable for their moral choices.AQA
Adulthood: Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah mark the transition to religious adulthood.AQA
Afterlife and judgement: Belief that death is not the end but a transition to an afterlife such as heaven, hell, or reincarnation, with God judging individuals based on their actions.AQA
Agape: The practical expression of Jesus' teachings on love that the Christian Church acts out in local and worldwide communities.AQA
Agape and Christian charity: Love demonstrated by Christian charities putting faith into action, for example Tearfund working through local churches to lift communities out of poverty.AQA
Agape love: The commandment to 'love our neighbour' is an essential duty requiring practical action, not just a feeling.AQA
Ahimsa: Non-violence, a principle in Eastern religions which opposes harming animals and often leads to opposing animal experimentation entirely.AQA
Ahimsa (non-violence): A principle strongly emphasised in Eastern traditions such as Buddhism and Hinduism, leading many followers to adopt a vegetarian diet to avoid causing harm…AQA
Aims of punishment: Reformation is one of these, focused on changing an offender's behaviour and mindset so they do not commit crimes in the future.AQA
Akhand Path: Continuous reading of the Guru Granth Sahib, which celebrations typically involve.AQA
Akhirah: The Islamic belief in everlasting life after death, which fundamentally shapes how Muslims live today.AQA
Akhirah (Life after death): The Day of Judgement, for which the balance between predestination and human freedom is crucial.AQA
Al-Qadr: Predestination, on which teachings are vital alongside Akhirah.AQA
Al-Qadr (Predestination): The Islamic belief that Allah knows and determines everything that happens in the universe.AQA
Amanah: A trust; the Islamic belief that wealth ultimately belongs to Allah and is entrusted to humans.AQA
Amidah: A cornerstone of Jewish worship, known as the 'standing prayer', which forms the core of every Jewish worship service.AQA
Amrit Sanskar: The Sikh initiation ceremony, establishing a Sikh as a member of the Khalsa.AQA
Amritdhari: Sikhs who are fully initiated and strictly follow this discipline.AQA
Anatta: No fixed self or soul; the belief that there is no permanent identity.AQA
Anatta (No-self): The absence of a permanent soul or self, illustrated by the changing elements of the Five Aggregates interacting to create the illusion of a permanent self.AQA
Anicca: Impermanence, reinforced during worship by offerings such as decaying flowers.AQA
Animal rights: An issue the precept applies to, since it covers abstaining from harming any sentient being, including animals.AQA
Annulment: A declaration that a marriage was never valid in the first place, unlike a divorce which legally ends a valid marriage.AQA
Antaryami: The concept of the divine being intimately present within the heart of every living being, translating to the 'controller within'.AQA
Application of sacred texts: Integrating relevant sacred texts into arguments, such as the Bible or the Catechism of the Catholic Church for a Christian response.AQA
Arhat: A 'perfected person' in Theravada Buddhism who has overcome the three poisons and achieved Nirvana through their own rigorous effort, escaping samsara.AQA
Arhat and Bodhisattva: In Theravada the goal is a perfected person who has attained Nirvana; in Mahayana the ideal delays their own Parinirvana out of compassion to help all…AQA
Arhat vs Bodhisattva ideals: Theravada focuses on the individual effort to become an Arhat, whereas Mahayana traditions emphasise the Bodhisattva ideal, aiming for the enlightenment of…AQA
Aron Hakodesh: The holiest feature, situated on the wall facing Jerusalem, housing the handwritten Torah scrolls.AQA
Artha: The legitimate pursuit of wealth, career and material prosperity to support oneself and society.AQA
Asceticism: The practice of severe self-discipline and avoiding indulgence, which Siddhartha followed for six years to overcome suffering.AQA
Asceticism and Humility: John's ascetic lifestyle, wearing camel's hair and eating locusts and wild honey, aligns him with the prophet Elijah, and he points away from himself.AQA
Ashura: A commemoration; for Shi'a Muslims it marks the martyrdom of Husayn at Karbala, while Sunni Muslims observe it as the day Musa was saved from the Egyptians.AQA
Atheism: The position that the lack of empirical evidence for God and comprehensive scientific explanations render the hypothesis of a creator unnecessary.AQA
Atheism and scepticism: The view that because evil and suffering exist, an omnipotent and omnibenevolent God cannot exist.AQA
Atman: The eternal, individual inner self or soul, present in all living beings and entirely distinct from the temporary material mind and physical body.AQA
Atman and Brahman: The true nature of the soul and its unity with Brahman, which practitioners aim to realise by withdrawing the senses from the material world.AQA
Atonement: The act of repairing the relationship between God and humanity through Jesus' death, acting as a sacrifice that paid the ultimate penalty for human wrongdoing.AQA
Atonement and salvation: Understanding Jesus' messianic mission through the phrase 'ransom for many', as a crucial piece of evidence for Jesus' understanding of his own death and…AQA
Attachment (Tanha): A root cause of suffering that Buddhists aim to reduce by practising this precept, along with greed.AQA
Authority: The Qur'an holds supreme authority as the final, universal and perfectly preserved word of Allah, superseding all previous holy books.AQA
Authority and inspiration: Many Christians view St Mark's Gospel as an authoritative account of the life of Jesus, providing foundational truths about his ministry, miracles, and…AQA
Authority in religion: Beliefs, teachings and practices should be linked directly to their foundational sources of wisdom and authority.AQA
Authority of Jesus: Mark portrays Jesus as a rabbi with supreme authority, teaching through parables and direct instruction, and performing miracles to demonstrate his divine…AQA
Authority of scripture: Scripture provides a more direct understanding of the divine by recording God's laws, teachings, and historical interactions with humanity.AQA
Authority of Texts: The Guru Granth Sahib is the eternal living Guru for all Sikhs, while the Dasam Granth contains texts attributed to Guru Gobind Singh with varying levels of…AQA
Authority of the Guru: The takht is an elevated platform where the Guru Granth Sahib rests, showing its supreme authority.AQA
Avatara: The physical incarnation or descent of a deity on Earth, most commonly associated with Lord Vishnu, the preserver.AQA
Avatars: Forms in which the divine presents as it descends to earth to restore dharma.AQA
Awe and wonder: Responses to the complexity and beauty of the universe which inspire believers to see the cosmos as a reflection of God's omnipotence.AQA

B

Bandi Chhor Divas: The Day of Liberation, commemorating the release of the sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind, from Gwalior Fort in 1619.AQA
Beliefs: The fundamental truths that Christians accept regarding the nature of God, the universe, and humanity, such as the Trinity or the incarnation.AQA
Beliefs and practices: The beliefs, teachings and practices of Sikhism specified below, which students should study and their basis in Sikh sources of wisdom and authority.AQA
Believers' baptism: Practised by Baptists and Pentecostals, it involves full immersion of an adult or older child who can make a conscious, personal commitment to Christ.AQA
Beneficence: All-loving, all-good and generous nature, one of the supreme attributes Muslims believe Allah possesses.AQA
Betrayal and Abandonment: Judas betrays Jesus with a kiss, and all the disciples flee, emphasising Jesus' total isolation before his trials.AQA
Bhagavan: The supreme personal God who exists beyond the material universe but can be worshipped directly through love and devotion.AQA
Bhakti: A loving relationship with deities like Vishnu or Shiva, who represent the one God, cultivated when worshipping a personal God.AQA
Bhakti (devotion): Hindu worship takes many forms, each holding unique significance, and loving devotion to Vishnu and his avatars is typically the focus of Vaishnavism.AQA
Biblical interpretation: Christians hold contrasting views on the historicity of the miracle stories, with conservative or fundamentalist Christians viewing them as literal,…AQA
Bigamy: Marrying someone while already legally married, which is illegal in the UK.AQA
Bimah: A raised reading platform from which the Torah is read, typically central in Orthodox synagogues and at the front in Reform synagogues.AQA
Blasphemy: The religious charge the High Priest accuses Jesus of after tearing his clothes, leading the council to condemn him to death.AQA
Bodhisattva: The Mahayana ideal of an enlightened being who chooses to remain in the cycle of samsara out of supreme compassion (karuna) to help all other sentient beings…AQA
Bodhisattva ideal: The path of a Bodhisattva seeking enlightenment to help all sentient beings, for which the Six Perfections are the primary path.AQA
Brahman: The one Supreme God in Hindu practice, a singular divine reality that can be approached as a personal God or as a non-personal, abstract force.AQA
Brahmaviharas (Four Sublime States): The four sublime states, of which compassion is one and which is essential for overcoming selfishness and achieving enlightenment.AQA
Breaking the cycle of violence: Ending further retaliation and renewed conflict after a war, which forgiveness is essential for.AQA
Brit Milah: The covenant of circumcision, performed on eight-day-old boys by a trained mohel.AQA
British context: The setting in which Christianity is the main religious tradition and Islam is a significant and established part of the diverse landscape.AQA
British cultural context: The setting in which Christianity remains the main religious tradition, shaping many of the country's laws, festivals, and cultural norms.AQA
British society: A society that is highly diverse and pluralistic, encompassing religious traditions and non-religious beliefs.AQA
Buddha rupa: A statue acting as a visual aid for meditation and a reminder of the Buddha's qualities.AQA
Buddha-nature: The inherent potential for Buddhahood that exists within every human personality, obscured only by ignorance and waiting to be awakened.AQA
Buddhahood: The enlightened nature revealed by following the Buddhist path, a potential open to everyone because all beings possess Buddha-nature.AQA
Buddhahood and Pure Land: The ultimate state of awakening, and a realm created by Amitabha Buddha where attaining enlightenment is much easier.AQA
Buddhist Ethics and Practice: Following the Noble Eightfold Path is a concrete example of the Dhamma in practice, providing ethical and mental guidelines to overcome craving.AQA
Buddhist practices: Practices that students must explore alongside core beliefs and teachings, always linked to their foundational sources of wisdom and authority.AQA

C

Capital punishment: The death penalty, which generates complex ethical debates about whether it is right to take life as a punishment.AQA
Catholic identity: Catholic Christianity is a significant and distinct denomination within the broader Christian landscape of Great Britain.AQA
Catholic Social Teaching: Teaching that the SVP puts into direct action, reflecting the command to love thy neighbour and the Corporal Works of Mercy.AQA
Catholic tradition and teaching: The source of the definition of prayer as 'the raising of the mind and heart to God', coming from St John Damascene and the Catechism, not scripture.AQA
Cause and effect: The universal law that everything that exists has a cause, which gives the argument its logical basis.AQA
Causes and conditions: The multiple factors upon which all things depend in order to arise and continue to exist.AQA
Celebration: Describing the celebrations without explaining their meaning is an error; physical practices should be linked to their spiritual significance.AQA
Celebrations: Major festivals like Christmas and Easter that play a crucial role in remembering key events in the life of Jesus.AQA
Challenging religious authority: Contrasting Jesus' inclusive behaviour with the strict attitudes of the religious authorities, like the Pharisees, to highlight why his actions were radical.AQA
chametz: Leavened food, which must be completely removed from the home for the seven or eight days of the festival.AQA
Charity: Organisations like the Barnabas Fund and Christian Solidarity Worldwide send financial aid to persecuted communities to help them rebuild or escape danger.AQA
Charity and Giving: Responsible giving encouraged by most traditions, rather than total impoverishment of the believer.AQA
Charity and justice: Catholic agencies put faith into action by addressing global poverty, injustice, and the spread of the Gospel.AQA
Chastity: Traditional Christian teachings often emphasise this, viewing sex as a sacred gift reserved exclusively for marriage.AQA
Chastity and fidelity: Chastity is promoted before the wedding, and absolute fidelity is expected afterwards.AQA
Chesed: Acts of loving-kindness, such as hospitality, supporting the vulnerable, and showing compassion.AQA
Christ (Messiah): Understood by 1st-century Jews as a victorious, political king who would liberate Israel from Roman rule, but reinterpreted by Jesus to mean a suffering…AQA
Christian beliefs and teachings: Part of the content of Christianity that students should study, together with Christian practices.AQA
Christian heritage: The religious traditions of Great Britain are, in the main, Christian, and this historical dominance is visible in everyday life.AQA
Christian practices: Part of the content of Christianity that students should study, together with Christian beliefs and teachings.AQA
Christian traditions: The main religious tradition in Britain, whose teaching or denominational view on an ethical issue must be described and contrasted with another religion.AQA
Christianity as the main tradition: The main religious tradition in Great Britain, which students must explicitly recognise.AQA
Christianity in Britain: The main religious tradition in Britain, whose teachings on moral issues must be referenced when explaining contrasting beliefs.AQA
Christianity in modern Britain: Both festivals remain culturally and religiously important in Great Britain today as national public holidays marked by charitable giving, school nativity…AQA
Christology: A comprehensive understanding of Jesus balancing divine authority with human empathy, shaped by his understanding of his titles.AQA
Church authority: A varying practice arising from theological differences, alongside the role of sacraments and styles of worship.AQA
Church community: The body into which Baptism initiates a person and whose relationship with God the sacraments affect.AQA
Church growth: Both numerical, increasing the number of believers globally, and spiritual, deepening the faith of existing members.AQA
Civil disobedience: A deliberate, often non-violent method of opposing unjust laws that individuals believe violate fundamental moral or religious principles.AQA
Cohabitation: A couple living together in a sexual relationship without being married, which secular society widely accepts as a practical step but many traditional…AQA
Comfort and mourning: The rite provides comfort to the grieving community while praying for the soul of the deceased.AQA
Commitment: The total commitment discipleship demands, shown by denying oneself and taking up one's cross.AQA
Commitment and covenant: A lifelong commitment, viewed in some traditions as a sacred ordinance or covenant rather than a sacrament.AQA
Communication with God: Prayer serves as a bridge between God and humanity, building a personal relationship with the Almighty, expressing gratitude, and seeking forgiveness.AQA
Community: The synagogue unites the Jewish community, providing a venue for social gatherings, community meetings, and charitable activities.AQA
Community (Klal Yisrael): Emphasised in public worship, it ensures the continuity of Jewish traditions passed down through generations.AQA
Community (Panth): The Sikh community, within which festivals foster a strong sense of identity and unity.AQA
Community (Sangat): The congregation whose collective identity is strengthened by the gurdwara acting as a community centre.AQA
Community (Sangha): The monastic community for whom laypeople provide food, and who in turn offer spiritual guidance.AQA
Community and celebration: The festival fosters community cohesion and reinforces core dharma through the retelling of the Ramayana.AQA
Community and equality (Ummah): Worship unites the global Muslim community, strengthening it by promoting equality as all pray shoulder-to-shoulder.AQA
Community and faith: Diverse worship practices and festivals strengthen individual faith and foster community within the global Church.AQA
Community and Family: Special meals, specific rituals and synagogue attendance reinforce community bonds and bring families together.AQA
Community and fellowship: Public worship unites the local church community, fostering a sense of belonging and shared belief.AQA
Community and identity: Daily practices such as keeping kosher and observing Shabbat reinforce Jewish identity, and family practices link back to the importance of community.AQA
Community and unity: Pilgrimage brings together Hindus from diverse backgrounds to share in communal worship and reinforce their shared faith.AQA
Community celebration and worship: Celebrating by lighting divas, setting off fireworks and attending Gurdwara services.AQA
Community cohesion: Public celebrations allow Sikhs to share their values of equality and sewa with the wider British public, promoting interfaith harmony and a strong, cohesive…AQA
Community support: Mourning rituals, particularly the seven-day period of Shiva, provide structured support and affirm life.AQA
Companionship and mutual support: Offering mutual companionship, love, and spiritual growth within the marriage.AQA
Comparative religion: Explaining contrasting beliefs with reference to Christianity and one or more other religious traditions, such as Islam or Buddhism.AQA
Compassion: An ethical principle that, where a marriage involves abuse, infidelity or severe conflict, forcing a couple to remain together causes greater harm, so…AQA
Compassion (Karuna): The supreme compassion that drives a Bodhisattva to remain in samsara and take a vow to help all other sentient beings achieve liberation.AQA
Compassion and forgiveness: Jesus' radically inclusive attitude, shown by touching lepers, eating with sinners, and blessing children, demonstrating that God's love, grace, and…AQA
Compassion and healing: Filled with compassion, Jesus reaches out and touches the man and cures him instantly.AQA
Compassion and justice: While religions teach obedience to the law, they generally advocate compassion, treatment and rehabilitation for these offenders rather than purely punitive…AQA
Compassion and loving-kindness: Cultivated by the Five Moral Precepts and driving ethical actions to alleviate suffering.AQA
Compassion and mercy: Emphasised by most modern Christians who reject physical discipline, alongside Jesus' teachings of love and non-violence, and often emphasised by many Muslims…AQA
Compassion and Merit: Families donate to monks to transfer merit to the deceased, and sky burials show impermanence and compassion.AQA
Compassion and Provision: Jesus feels compassion for the crowd, viewing them as 'sheep without a shepherd', and commands the disciples to feed the people.AQA
Compassion and situation ethics: Ethics that aim to do the most loving thing in a specific context, contrasted with absolute moral rules regarding the preservation of life.AQA
Compassion for the Marginalised: Jesus responds with compassion to the outcast woman, calling her 'Daughter' and telling her to go in peace.AQA
Complementarianism: The view that men and women have different, complementary roles, with men as primary providers and spiritual leaders and women focusing on raising children…AQA
Conflict resolution: Actively resolving conflicts, which believers are driven to do by religious meanings of peace.AQA
Conflict with authority: The cleansing of the Temple challenges religious corruption and initiates the conflict of the final days with the religious authorities.AQA
Conflict with religious authorities: The clash between Jesus' inclusive actions and strict purity laws, as his mission to demonstrate the Kingdom of God prioritized human need over strict…AQA
Conflict with Religious Leaders: The teachers of the law silently accuse Jesus of blasphemy, believing only God can forgive sins, and Jesus challenges their thoughts.AQA
Conscientious objection: Pacifist action in society, alongside peaceful protest, through which pacifists work for peace.AQA
Contemporary British society: A pluralistic society where secular views, such as humanism, often contrast with religious stances on issues like nuclear deterrence or military intervention.AQA
Contemporary Relevance: The enduring relevance of Jesus' example and teaching for 21st-century Christians seeking moral guidance and ethical decision-making.AQA
Contraception: Methods to prevent pregnancy, which the Catholic Church regards as separating the unitive and procreative purposes of sex when artificial.AQA
Contrasting beliefs: Comparing views between two different religions, or examining divergent views within a single religion, such as differences between Catholic and Protestant…AQA
Contrasting perspectives: Differing viewpoints, including secular or philosophical ones, that exist in contemporary British society on the issues studied.AQA
Contrasting worldviews: Comparing how a Christian might interpret the world using faith and revelation, whereas an atheist or humanist would rely on empirical evidence and human…AQA
Core beliefs: Buddhist beliefs that students must explore alongside teachings and practices, always linked to their foundational sources of wisdom and authority.AQA
Core Doctrines: The Six Articles of Faith for Sunni Muslims and the Five Roots of Usul ad-Din for Shi'a Muslims are the foundational frameworks of the two traditions.AQA
Corporal punishment: Involves inflicting physical pain on an offender as a penalty, such as caning or whipping.AQA
Corporal Works of Mercy: Works reflected in the SVP's practical assistance, such as visiting vulnerable individuals in homes, hospitals and prisons and providing food, clothing and…AQA
Cosmology: The understanding of the physical universe as formed of matter (prakriti), shaped by the three qualities (tri-guna), with origins expressed in Rig Veda…AQA
Cosmology and origins: The First Cause argument concerns the origin of the universe, focusing on where it came from rather than its complexity.AQA
Covenant: A lifelong bond in which marriage is viewed by religious traditions, often described as this rather than a merely social arrangement.AQA
Covenant at Sinai: A foundational agreement between God and the Jewish people, establishing them as God's chosen nation.AQA
Craving (Tanha) and Suffering (Dukkha): Controlling sensory desires reduces craving and prevents the suffering that arises from chasing fleeting physical pleasures.AQA
Creation: God is revered as the Creator of the universe out of nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating omnipotence and omnipresence.AQA
Creation and design: The belief that God is the omnipotent designer who intentionally brought all life into existence.AQA
Creation and origins: Religious teachings about the origins of human life, and different interpretations of these.AQA
Cultural influence: Christian traditions shape public holidays like Christmas and Easter and influence national values, legal systems and civic institutions.AQA
Cultural variations in practice: The different ceremonies and rituals associated with death and mourning in Theravada communities and in Japan and Tibet.AQA
Cyclical Time: Time moves through a cycle of four ages (yugas), currently in the declining Kali Yuga.AQA

D

Daily religious observance: The texts are used to make ethical decisions, guide prayer, and dictate practices like kashrut and Shabbat observance.AQA
Dana (Giving): The first of the Six Perfections in Mahayana Buddhism, involving giving freely without expecting any reward, recognition, or personal gain.AQA
Darshan: A spiritual connection achieved by devotees through representations of the divine, which make the divine accessible and aid concentration.AQA
Declaration of faith: The fundamental Islamic statement that there is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his messenger.AQA
Definition of terms: In religious studies, this involves defining a concept accurately within its specific religious and secular contexts.AQA
Denominational differences: Orthodox girls become Bat Mitzvah at age twelve, often marked by a presentation rather than reading from the Torah, whereas Reform girls celebrate at thirteen…AQA
Denominational diversity: Significant common and divergent views in how beliefs and teachings are understood and expressed across the Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant traditions.AQA
Denominations: Major Jewish groups, specifically Orthodox, Reform and Liberal Judaism, which must be named and differentiated between in exam answers.AQA
Destiny and prophecy: A prophecy declared that Siddhartha would become either a great king or a supreme spiritual leader, establishing his unique destiny.AQA
Deterrence: The threat of mutually assured destruction, which some believers argue prevents global conflicts and might justify possessing, but not using, WMDs.AQA
Devotion: The continuous recitation immerses the congregation in the Guru's teachings and demonstrates deep devotion to the Guru Granth Sahib.AQA
Devotion (Bhakti): Expressed through physical interaction with the murti, allowing devotees to experience a deep, personal connection with God.AQA
Devotion and reverence: Worship is the act of showing reverence, adoration, and honour to God.AQA
Devotion and worship: Bhakti yoga is the path of loving devotion to a personal deity, expressed through acts of worship, prayer and chanting.AQA
Devotion to Waheguru: Symbolised by Amrit placed on the baby's tongue, representing a sweet life devoted to God.AQA
Dhamma (Dharma): The universal truth; the teachings of the Buddha; the path to enlightenment.AQA
Dhamma (Teaching): The teaching that British Buddhists deepen their practice of through festivals and retreats.AQA
Dharma: Duty, which with non-violence is one of the concepts in which environmental protection is deeply rooted in Hinduism.AQA
Dharma and Adharma: Righteousness, which is declining when avataras appear, and evil, which is rising at that time, so that cosmic balance is restored.AQA
Dharma and duty: The festival reinforces core dharma through the retelling of the Ramayana.AQA
Dignity of work: The value of work that religions encourage people to undertake so they can support themselves if they are able.AQA
Discipleship: The following of Jesus by his early followers, whose impact students should understand, and which his example and teaching continue to shape today.AQA
Discipleship (Inner Circle): Jesus takes only Peter, James, and John to witness the raising, allowing only the parents and three disciples inside the room.AQA
Discipleship and failure: The great distress of the disciples at Jesus' prediction of his betrayal, contrasted with his calm acceptance of his impending death.AQA
Discipleship and fear: Mark distinguishes between the disciples, who are astonished, and the others following, who are afraid, as Jesus and his followers are on the road to Jerusalem.AQA
Discipleship and misunderstanding: The other ten were indignant because they were jealous and also desired positions of power, showing their shared misunderstanding.AQA
Discipleship and Sacrifice: Jesus demanded that the rich man sell all his possessions, give the money to the poor and follow him, highlighting the cost of discipleship.AQA
Discipline (Nitnem): A daily discipline involving reciting specific prayers (Banis) at dawn, evening, and bedtime.AQA
Discipline and devotion: Prayers occur at five set times daily and consist of set sequences of movements with specific Arabic recitations.AQA
Discrimination: The active unfair treatment resulting from prejudices, an external action or unfair treatment.AQA
Diversity: Judaism contains diverse traditions and interpretations rather than being a single, uniform religion with no internal disagreements.AQA
Diversity of belief: Perspectives vary both within and between belief systems, including differing views within a single religion and between distinct religions.AQA
Diversity of Expression: Referring to a range of different Muslim perspectives, including Sunni and Shi'a, demonstrates a nuanced grasp of how Islamic teachings are understood and…AQA
Diversity of Jewish Belief: Beliefs about life after death are diverse and less dogmatic, with Orthodox and Reform Jews differing on resurrection and the soul.AQA
Diversity of practice: Buddhism encompasses both shared foundational beliefs and significant divergent views across its traditions, and the expression of core teachings varies.AQA
Diversity within Sikhism: Sikhs share core beliefs, but divergent views exist in how these teachings are understood and expressed, for example between sahajdhari and amritdhari Sikhs…AQA
Divine attributes: The qualities attributed to God, such as omnipotence (all-powerful), omniscience (all-knowing), and omnibenevolence (all-loving).AQA
Divine authority: The authority of Jesus highlighted by the foundational narratives of his early ministry, setting the theological tone for the entire Gospel.AQA
Divine command: A blessing and instruction from God, such as the biblical instruction to be fruitful and multiply.AQA
Divine consciousness: Nirguna Brahman is God as a pure, divine consciousness without form, attributes or gender.AQA
Divine Creation: Religious teachings about the origins of the universe centring on God as the sole creator.AQA
Divine feminine (Shakti): The worship of female deities (goddesses) is linked to the concept of Shakti, the divine feminine creative power.AQA
Divine foreknowledge: Jesus' prediction that one who is eating with him will hand him over, demonstrating his knowledge of his betrayal before it happens.AQA
Divine Grace: The unconditional love and unmerited favour of God, given freely through faith in Jesus Christ's atoning sacrifice, rather than earned by good deeds.AQA
Divine Identity and Sonship: A pivotal event confirming his divine identity, with a heavenly voice declaring, "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased," establishing his…AQA
Divine Immanence (Sargun): The belief that God is immanent and actively present within all creation, so the physical world acts as a medium through which humans can experience the divine.AQA
Divine Judgement: Beliefs about judgement vary; some believe judgement happens shortly after death, while others anticipate a Day of Judgement after the Messiah arrives.AQA
Divine Justice: Allah holding humans accountable because they have the freedom to choose between right and wrong, rewarding the righteous with Paradise and punishing the…AQA
Divine Justice vs Predestination: Contrasts the Shi'a focus on Adalat, emphasising God's perfect justice and human free will, with the Sunni emphasis on Al-Qadr, predestination.AQA
Divine law: Major moral codes, such as the Ten Commandments or the Five Precepts, which strictly forbid theft.AQA
Divine mercy: Allah's all-forgiving nature, which Muslims believe humans should emulate.AQA
Divine Power: Jesus sensed power had left him even in a dense, chaotic crowd, highlighting his divine power.AQA
Divine Power and Authority: The miracle demonstrates Jesus' divine authority over nature, echoing God providing manna in the wilderness.AQA
Divine presence: The Shekhinah, referring to the presence of God on Earth.AQA
Divine Promises: God promises to make Abraham a great nation, to bless him, and to bless all families of the earth through him.AQA
Divine Purpose: The understanding of ultimate purpose that key beliefs actively dictate for adherents.AQA
Divine revelation: Authority communicated to humanity through the Qur'an, which Muslims consider the direct, unaltered word of God and the ultimate source of guidance.AQA
Divine revelation and glory: Jesus is transfigured and his clothes become dazzlingly white, symbolising his divine purity and heavenly glory.AQA
Divine Sonship: The Roman centurion's declaration of Jesus as the Son of God is the first human recognition of this in Mark's Gospel.AQA
Divine Sovereignty: God alone causes the spiritual growth, so the Kingdom's growth relies on God's power, not human intervention.AQA
Divine spark (jot): The same divine light that exists within everyone, which is the basis of the belief in the oneness of humanity.AQA
Divorce: The legal ending of a marriage, with practical and emotional reasons why couples choose it such as adultery, domestic abuse, falling out of love, or financial…AQA
Doctrine: The core teachings of the faith, such as the nature of God, the Trinity, creation, heaven and hell, and the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.AQA
Dominion: The belief held by many Christians that God gave humans authority over animals, allowing their use for human benefit provided they are treated humanely.AQA
Dukkha: The First Noble Truth, translating to suffering, unsatisfactoriness or frustration, identifying that suffering is an inescapable part of human existence.AQA
Dukkha (Suffering): A difficult truth of existence that patience helps a Buddhist accept, without giving rise to anger or resentment.AQA
Duty: Unselfish action performed without attachment to rewards, which is the path of Karma yoga.AQA
Duty and responsibility: Parents provide a safe, loving environment to meet their children's physical and emotional needs, while children care for their parents in old age as a…AQA

E

Economic justice: Religious believers campaign for this as a matter of social justice and human dignity, opposing the denial of fair pay as a form of exploitation.AQA
Ecumenism: The Corrymeela Community is an ecumenical Christian community, bringing together Catholics, Protestants and others.AQA
Education: The synagogue is a house of study where children and adults learn Hebrew and study the Torah, ensuring the continuation of Jewish faith and traditions.AQA
Education and study: Considered an act of worship and a lifelong duty, often taking place in a yeshiva.AQA
Egalitarian: The view that men and women should share all family responsibilities equally, reflecting the belief that all are made in the image of God.AQA
Egalitarianism: The view that both genders are created equally in God's image and should share domestic, financial, and leadership responsibilities.AQA
Empiricism: Reliance on observable, testable data, which science uses and which atheists argue shows a lack of evidence for God.AQA
Emptiness (Sunyata): A core Buddhist concept concerning the true nature of reality, which wisdom requires a profound understanding of.AQA
Encouragement and Hope: The parable reassured early persecuted Christians regarding the Church's future.AQA
Enlightenment: A goal towards which Samatha meditation acts as a crucial stepping stone by settling turbulent thoughts and preparing the mind for deeper insight.AQA
Enlightenment (Nibbana): A state attainable by a human being, achieved by the Buddha and open to Buddhists through personal effort.AQA
Enlightenment and Nibbana: The Dhamma is a practical path to enlightenment, and understanding it ultimately leads Buddhists towards Nibbana.AQA
Environmentalism: Active respect for the environment, often demonstrated through cow protection and participating in environmental projects like tree planting.AQA
Equality: The fundamental equality of all human beings, demonstrated by everyone sitting together to share a meal in the langar regardless of social status or background.AQA
Equality and egalitarianism: The names Singh and Kaur established a community based on absolute equality, reinforcing the Sikh commitment to egalitarianism and unity.AQA
Equality and inclusion: The teaching that all humans possess inherent value and are equal before God, shown through Jesus' compassion, respect, and inclusion towards outcasts.AQA
Equality and prejudice: The belief that all humans are created equal and share divine dignity, so hate crimes are universally condemned.AQA
Equality and the divine spark: Because the divine spark exists within everyone, Sikhism asserts the absolute equality of all human beings, regardless of gender, caste, or race.AQA
Equality and unity: Circling the Ka'aba seven times demonstrates unity and devotion to Allah, and the actions collectively signify the profound equality of the global ummah…AQA
Equality and universalism: Four entrances symbolise that people from all castes and directions are welcome, reflecting the core Sikh belief in equality.AQA
Eschatology: The final harvest symbolises the eschatological end of time and the final judgement when the Kingdom reaches its ultimate completion.AQA
Eschatology and the future: The future eschatological hope that the Kingdom will be fully realised at the end of time, alongside its present reality inaugurated through Jesus' ministry…AQA
Eternal life: The spiritual rescue believers achieve through grace, described as salvation leading to eternal life in heaven.AQA
Ethical arguments: Reasoned points that, alongside religious teachings and philosophical arguments, must be analysed in relation to the issues studied.AQA
Ethical business: Practices such as paying the Living Wage or engaging in ethical trade, which religious individuals or groups campaign for.AQA
Ethical conduct (Sila): The section of the Eightfold Path that the five moral precepts form the foundation of right action within.AQA
Ethical decision making: Applying religious teachings and beliefs to contemporary ethical and philosophical issues rather than merely describing them.AQA
Ethical theory: Philosophical and ethical arguments such as Just War theory or pacifism, which must be analysed alongside religious teachings.AQA
Eucharist: A different name for the same sacrament of Holy Communion.AQA
Eucharistic Symbolism: The miracle foreshadows the Eucharist through the Eucharistic language of taking, blessing, breaking, and giving.AQA
Evangelisation: Sharing the Gospel message to invite others into the faith, part of the Church's ongoing mission to continue Jesus' ministry on Earth.AQA
Evangelism: The practical actions required in evangelism are taught in this passage, along with trusting God and the importance of teamwork.AQA
Evidence for God: For believers, visions provide powerful, personal evidence suggesting direct communication from the divine.AQA
Evolution and natural selection: A scientific theory, such as Charles Darwin's, explaining human origins, which some believers argue contradicts literal interpretations of sacred texts.AQA
Evolution and the Big Bang: Scientific explanations for the origins of life, with the Big Bang theory explaining the universe and evolutionary biology explaining the development of…AQA
Evolution by natural selection: The scientific theory of evolution by natural selection, accepted by non-religious views and many religious believers.AQA
Evolution of family structures: The way family structures have changed over time, encompassing non-traditional units and practices such as cohabiting couples, single-parent families, blended…AQA
Exploitation: Forced labour, sexual exploitation or modern slavery for which human beings are illegally traded and moved.AQA
Expression of faith: Beliefs are expressed in practice in divergent ways, such as Shabbat observance or dietary laws, and a specific practice can be linked back to the underlying…AQA
Expressions of faith: The ways in which devotion varies significantly across traditions, including specific practices, texts, and forms of worship.AQA
Extempore: Spoken or done without preparation; spontaneous.AQA
Extempore prayer: Spontaneous prayer, which is also highly valued and encouraged among Catholics.AQA
Extended family: A family unit that includes relatives beyond parents and children, such as grandparents or cousins.AQA
Extremism: The misuse of religion to justify extremist violence and conflict, contrasted with religious teachings such as 'Do not murder'.AQA
Extremism vs mainstream religion: Extremist groups sometimes misuse religious texts to justify violent actions, while mainstream religions universally condemn terrorism.AQA

F

Faith: The profound trust and humility the woman shows in Jesus' power, which he recognises when he declares the demon has left her daughter.AQA
Faith and Action: The four men, unable to enter the crowded house, dig through the roof to lower their paralysed friend to Jesus, and seeing their faith Jesus responds.AQA
Faith and belief: Jesus rebukes the eleven disciples for their stubbornness and lack of faith in the resurrection accounts.AQA
Faith and failure: The immense challenges and human failings inherent in following Christ, shown in incidents such as Peter's denial or the disciples' failure to understand…AQA
Faith and Healing: Jesus is depicted as a powerful miracle worker, performing healings, exorcisms, and nature miracles to demonstrate his divine authority and compassion.AQA
Faith and unbelief: The people's lack of faith meant Jesus could not perform any miracles there, except healing a few sick people, and he was amazed by their unbelief.AQA
Faith in action: Christian charities responding to Jesus' teachings, such as the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats, which commands believers to help those in need.AQA
Faith versus reason: Religious faith in the Gospel's authority is weighed against contemporary secular evidence, such as modern historical analysis, scientific rationalism, and…AQA
Faith vs Fear: Jesus tells Jairus "Don't be afraid; just believe" when messengers arrive stating the girl is dead, contrasting the mourners' lack of faith with Jairus'…AQA
Family and community: Shabbat strengthens both family bonds and the wider Jewish community's covenant with God.AQA
Family dynamics: The practical arrangements of family life, such as parenting and financial provision, which differing interpretations impact.AQA
Family life: Families often set aside a quiet space or a dedicated room containing a Gutka to maintain focus and purity, reinforcing the spiritual education of children…AQA
Family planning: Deciding when to have children, an overarching goal of spacing children for which contraception is a specific method.AQA
Family structures: The different types of family, such as nuclear, extended, blended, single-parent, and same-sex families.AQA
Fear and Awe: The profound fear in which the women flee the tomb in trembling and bewilderment, saying nothing to anyone, emphasising the awe-inspiring nature of the…AQA
Festival and celebration: Christmas and Easter are the most significant Christian festivals, celebrated with practices such as midnight Mass, nativity scenes, sunrise services and the…AQA
Fidyah: Compensation given by those who cannot fast and do not make up missed days later.AQA
Five evils: Lust, anger, greed, worldly attachment and pride, which are direct manifestations of ego that block spiritual progression.AQA
Five Khands: The five stages or realms through which spiritual progress towards liberation occurs, namely Piety, Knowledge, Effort, Grace and Truth.AQA
Food banks: Initiatives that provide emergency food parcels to people experiencing financial crisis, hosted or supported by many churches.AQA
Foreshadowing of the Passion: By stating she has prepared his body for burial beforehand, the anointing points forward to Jesus' impending death.AQA
Forgiveness: Christians advocate for reformation because it aligns with Jesus' teachings on this, alongside compassion and the belief that everyone can repent and change.AQA
Forgiveness and judgement: At Arafat pilgrims stand in prayer seeking forgiveness, reflecting the Day of Judgement.AQA
Forgiveness and revenge: Most religious teachings encourage forgiveness and reconciliation over retaliatory violence, which is the natural human desire for revenge.AQA
Formal prayers: Prayers that use set, traditional words passed down through generations, such as the Our Father or the Hail Mary.AQA
Formulaic prayer: Set prayers used by Catholics, such as the Lord's Prayer or the Hail Mary.AQA
Free will: Humans are endowed with free will, meaning their actions generate karma, which determines their future spiritual progression or continued entrapment in the…AQA
Freedom of religion and belief: A fundamental human right allowing individuals to choose, change, or abandon their faith without persecution.AQA
Freedom of religious expression: The right to manifest one's beliefs publicly, such as wearing religious symbols, attending public worship, or preaching.AQA
Fulfilment of prophecy: 'Son of David' connects Jesus to Jewish messianic prophecy, reassuring believers of God's fulfilled promises.AQA
Fulfilment of Scripture: Jesus submits to arrest to fulfil the scriptures.AQA
Fulfilment of the Old Testament: Moses and Elijah appear, representing the Law and the Prophets, showing Jesus as the fulfilment of the Old Testament.AQA

G

Gender equality: Complete equality in roles, asserting that both genders are created equally in God's image and should share responsibilities.AQA
Gender roles: Men and women sit separately in Orthodox synagogues, often divided by a mechitza, while Reform synagogues have mixed seating and permit female Rabbis.AQA
General deterrence: Uses an offender's punishment as a warning to the public.AQA
General revelation: Discovering God through ordinary, everyday experiences, such as observing the beauty of nature, the complexity of the universe, or experiencing the human…AQA
Generosity (Dana): The positive virtue the precept requires Buddhists to cultivate, alongside respecting the property and rights of others.AQA
Genesis: The text describing God creating the world in six days, which fundamentalist Christians interpret as exact historical and scientific fact.AQA
Global justice and advocacy: Campaigning work for global justice and fair trade undertaken by agencies such as CAFOD, Christian Aid or Tearfund.AQA
Global unity: The worldwide Church fosters this by transcending national and cultural boundaries to form a single, unified community of believers.AQA
God as creator: An all-powerful being who exists outside of space and time, suggested by the vastness and power of the natural world.AQA
God as Creator and Judge: Beliefs linked to these festivals, as Rosh Hashanah marks the anniversary of creation and the days focus on seeking forgiveness from God.AQA
God as lawgiver: A moral lawgiver and merciful judge revealed through scripture, who actively intervenes in human history.AQA
Gompas: Specific halls used by Tibetan Buddhists for meditation and learning.AQA
Good over evil: Holi celebrates the triumph of good over evil, shown by the devoted Prahlad being saved from fire while the demoness Holika burned.AQA
Grace: An inward, spiritual gift that a sacrament outwardly signifies and through which God imparts divine blessing and spiritual strength to a believer.AQA
Grace and salvation: God's grace is a free gift, not dependent on human understanding, while others believe salvation comes through personal faith alone.AQA
Greater jihad: The personal, internal struggle of every Muslim to live a good life, follow the Five Pillars, and resist temptation.AQA
Greed: A negative use of wealth, contrasted with positive uses such as charity and family provision.AQA
Greed vs Generosity: The distinction between craving wealth and using it generously to help others, rather than just possessing money.AQA
Grief and celebration: Marriage rituals highlight joy, commitment and historical memory, while mourning rituals honour the deceased.AQA
Grief and comfort: Jewish mourning rituals provide a structured pathway for grief, balancing respect for the dead with comforting the living.AQA
Growth of the Church: Despite small numbers and persecution, the Church would grow unstoppably, providing immense encouragement to early Christians.AQA
Guidance: Sikhs consult the Guru Granth Sahib for daily guidance, taking a random reading to hear the Guru's voice.AQA
Gurdwara practices: There are no reserved seats and everyone sits together on the floor at the same level, symbolising that no individual is superior to another.AQA
Gurmukh: Being God-centred and focused on spiritual devotion and the Guru's teachings.AQA
Gurpurbs: Sikh festivals celebrating the lives of the Gurus, such as anniversaries of their births or martyrdoms.AQA
Guru: A teacher who guides students from ignorance to enlightenment and is given immense spiritual respect.AQA

H

Halakhah (Jewish Law): Jewish law, which Orthodox Judaism observes strictly because it views the Torah as the literal, unchanging word of God.AQA
Halal and Haram: Meat that is lawful and slaughtered mercifully in the name of Allah, as opposed to certain meats like pork, which are strictly forbidden.AQA
Harmony and justice: What true peace requires the presence of, rather than just the absence of war.AQA
Hate: An intense feeling of prejudice, which can motivate violent crimes or vandalism.AQA
Haumai: Pride or ego, the root cause of being manmukh, which creates a false sense of separation from God and others.AQA
Healing: What pilgrims visit Lourdes seeking, whether physical or spiritual, with many going for acceptance of their condition.AQA
Heritage: Celebrating festivals helps British Sikhs connect with their heritage, passing traditions and the Punjabi language to younger generations.AQA
Historical context: The situation of early persecuted followers, which must be distinguished from the ethical application for 21st-century believers.AQA
Historical reliability: Secular critics often argue that the Gospel is a theological document rather than a reliable historical biography, while some view it as literal historical…AQA
Historical Remembrance: Festivals are rooted in biblical events or agricultural cycles and connect Jews to their shared history.AQA
Holy Communion: A sacrament, also known as the Eucharist, commemorating Jesus' Last Supper.AQA
Holy man: The fourth sight, who appeared peaceful despite having no possessions.AQA
Holy rituals: Outward, visible signs of an inward, spiritual grace that outwardly express an inward spiritual grace.AQA
Holy Spirit: A bishop anoints the candidate's forehead with sacred chrism oil, saying, "Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit."AQA
Holy War: Fighting believed to be authorised by God to defend the faith, sometimes invoked by radical factions to recruit followers and validate violence.AQA
Hukam: God's divine will, through which the universe was brought into existence.AQA
Human destiny: Determined by a person's actions (karma) and their pursuit of enlightenment, with the ultimate goal of breaking free from samsara.AQA
Human dignity: The belief that all humans are made in God's image (imago Dei), which Catholic social teaching emphasises.AQA
Human fallibility: The frailty recognised by some denominations, alongside the need for forgiveness, in allowing divorce as a last resort and permitting remarriage.AQA
Human frailty: The narrative highlights human weakness, showing that even the most devoted followers can fail when tested.AQA
Human frailty and failure: Mark frequently highlights the disciples' failures, misunderstandings and lack of faith to teach about human frailty.AQA
Human nature: The flawed condition all humans are born with, an inherent urge to do wrong, according to many Christians, particularly Catholics.AQA
Human nature and identity: A person is simply a temporary collection of the five aggregates, just as a chariot is merely a collection of wheels and axles.AQA
Human rights: The basic rights of offenders that religious believers argue must be protected, even while criminals face justice and society is protected.AQA
Human sexuality: The topic covering heterosexual and same-sex relationships, which this topic examines from religious and secular perspectives.AQA
Humanae Vitae: A papal encyclical written by Pope Paul VI in 1968, which reaffirmed the Catholic Church's traditional teaching against artificial contraception.AQA
Humanism: An ethical framework relying on reason rather than divine command, and it is a non-religious belief that may be drawn upon in thematic studies.AQA
Humanist ethics and reason: An ethical worldview relying on reason and science rather than divine revelation, contrasted with Christian reliance on faith and revelation.AQA
Humility: A quality promoted by the practice of langar, which actively demonstrates Guru Nanak's teachings.AQA
Humility and Trust: Characteristics of a child required for entering God's Kingdom, together with complete dependence on God rather than wealth, intellect or social standing.AQA
Hypocrisy versus genuine piety: A warning against religious hypocrisy and ostentatious displays of piety, set against the widow's quiet, total devotion.AQA

I

Id-ul-Adha: Originates from Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son, meaning the festival of sacrifice, coinciding with the end of Hajj.AQA
Id-ul-Fitr: Marks the end of Ramadan, originating as a celebration commanded by Allah for completing the fast, meaning the festival of breaking the fast.AQA
Identity: Festivals play a crucial role in maintaining cultural and religious identity as a minority group for Sikhs living in Great Britain today.AQA
Ignorance (avidya): The root cause of suffering, where individuals mistakenly identify with the temporary physical body and material world rather than the eternal atman.AQA
Illusion (maya): The temporary material world, which practitioners of jnana yoga use deep meditation and philosophical reflection to see past.AQA
Illusion and deception: Individuals might be lying for personal gain, fame or to manipulate others, or could be genuinely mistaken, misinterpreting natural phenomena as divine…AQA
Illusion and Reality: Humans often misunderstand reality due to illusion (maya), mistaking the temporary material world for the eternal spiritual truth (Brahman).AQA
Illusion of Ego: Realising anatta helps Buddhists overcome selfishness and this, which is a root cause of suffering.AQA
Imago Dei: The belief that humanity was created deliberately by God in his image, giving human life intrinsic value.AQA
Imamate: A core belief in Shi'a Islam representing the divine appointment of the Imams who succeeded the Prophet Muhammad.AQA
Immanence: The belief that God is present within the heart, as well as being transcendent and beyond.AQA
Immanence of Brahman: The belief that the divine is present in all living things, linking reverence for plants and animals to Brahman being present in all living beings.AQA
Immanence of the divine: The belief that the divine is present in nature and that the physical environment is spiritually alive.AQA
Impact and influence: The effect that religious teachings and arguments have in the modern world, such as on practices like prison reform or restorative justice.AQA
Impact of belief in the modern world: The influence these beliefs have on individuals and communities today, such as how belief in miracles might shape a person's response to illness.AQA
Impact of religion: The influence of religious beliefs in the modern world, which must be evaluated rather than simply stated as a belief.AQA
Impermanence: The constant state of change affecting all physical and mental things, known in Pali as Anicca.AQA
Impermanence (anicca): The core belief that death rituals reflect, shown in Tibetan sky burials demonstrating non-attachment to the physical body.AQA
impersonal God: An abstract force, a supreme energy, or an ultimate reality lacking human-like characteristics or emotions.AQA
Incarnation: A core theological belief reinforced by celebrations, commemorated at Christmas as a central event of Jesus' life.AQA
Inclusion of Gentiles: Birds nesting in the branches symbolise people of all nations finding refuge in God's Kingdom.AQA
Indissoluble: Catholic Christianity teaches that marriage is this, making divorce unacceptable.AQA
Infallible: A characteristic of the twelve Imams, meaning they are free from sin.AQA
Infant baptism: Practised by Catholics and Anglicans, it involves pouring water on a baby's head, with parents and godparents making promises on their behalf to raise them in…AQA
Influence and impact: The effect of the beliefs, teachings and practices studied on individuals, communities and societies, examined across three distinct levels.AQA
Informal prayer: Spontaneous, personal words, allowing believers to express their immediate feelings and specific needs intimately.AQA
Informal prayers: Spontaneous prayers using the believer's own words to communicate with God in a highly personal, conversational way.AQA
Initiation: Confirmation is a Sacrament of Initiation that completes the grace given at Baptism.AQA
Injustice: Pilate condemning Jesus to satisfy the crowd and prevent a riot rather than uphold justice, though he did not find him legally guilty.AQA
Insight: A profound understanding of the nature of reality, which meditation aims to achieve.AQA
Insight and wisdom: Vipassana means insight and is a meditation practice designed to help Buddhists see the true nature of reality.AQA
Intention (Cetana): The underlying intention that is just as important as the physical action in Buddhist ethics.AQA
Intentions and motivations: The focus is on judging the intention and circumstances behind the action, not just the action itself.AQA
Intercession: A prayer to God on behalf of another person or group.AQA
Interconnectedness: The state in which everything exists, since all things arise and continue to exist dependent upon multiple causes and conditions.AQA
Interfaith perspectives: Contrasting beliefs between Christianity and at least one other distinct religious tradition, such as Islam, Judaism, or Buddhism.AQA
Internal worship: Represented by 'the space of the heart' (hridayakasha), this is worship through meditation (dhyana), emphasising that true connection with Brahman occurs…AQA
International charity: Large-scale charitable initiatives coordinated by the worldwide Church on a global scale.AQA
Interpretation: Specific teachings are understood differently by various Jewish groups, and divergent views exist in both the understanding of ancient teachings and their…AQA
Interpretation of Dhamma: Theravada relies strictly on the Pali Canon, while Mahayana traditions emphasise the Bodhisattva ideal, aiming for the enlightenment of all beings.AQA
Interpretation of sacred texts: The contrasting readings of sacred texts such as the Genesis creation account, which traditional teachings use to promote heterosexuality as the ideal.AQA
Interpretation of scripture: Varying interpretations lead to different expressions of faith in modern Christianity.AQA
Interpretation of the Torah: Orthodox Jews strictly observe the dietary laws as binding, while Reform and Liberal Jews often view them as a matter of personal choice.AQA
Intoxication and morality: Religious teachings against intoxication act as a preventative measure against addiction-related crime.AQA
Intrinsic value: The worth human life has because humans are created in God's image, regardless of its physical or mental condition.AQA
Ishta-devata: A personal deity chosen because it resonates with a family tradition, worshipped by devotees alongside many other deities.AQA

J

Jahannam: Hell, a place of fire and torment, faced by those who reject Allah and commit evil.AQA
Jannah: Heaven, described as a paradise of eternal peace, where those whose good deeds outweigh the bad are rewarded.AQA
Jataka 075: The scriptural reference for the story of the Four Sights.AQA
Jesus' divine authority: The narrative highlights his divine authority, his deep compassion for outcasts, and the growing tension surrounding his identity.AQA
Jewish Identity: Celebrating festivals helps maintain a distinct cultural and religious identity within a secular society.AQA
Jewish identity and community: Keeping the dietary laws helps Jews maintain purity, holiness, and a distinct cultural identity.AQA
Jihad: The struggle to maintain faith and defend Islam, representing both the internal spiritual struggle and the outward defence of the faith.AQA
Jummah: The special communal Friday midday prayer, obligatory for men, which replaces the standard Zuhr prayer and includes a sermon from the Imam.AQA
Just cause: A criterion that must be met before a war can be declared, such as self-defence.AQA
Just War: A theory under which war may sometimes be reluctantly accepted if it meets strict criteria.AQA
Just War criteria: Key ethical principles including proportionality and non-combatant immunity, which the use of WMDs violates.AQA
Just War theory: The theory that using weapons of mass destruction fundamentally violates, as they cannot distinguish between combatants and innocent civilians and the…AQA
Justice: A principle that religious teachings promote alongside equality, in contrast to teachings sometimes misused to justify gender prejudice.AQA
Justice and greed: Religions universally condemn greed, fighting to gain territory, resources like oil, or wealth, as selfish and contrary to teachings on justice.AQA
Justice and human rights: Sikh virtues shown by Guru Hargobind refusing to leave unless fifty-two imprisoned Hindu princes were also freed.AQA
Justice and mercy: The balance religious believers seek, ensuring criminals face justice and society is protected while not being subjected to degrading, inhumane or overly…AQA
Justice and the law: Breaking an unjust law can be supported if the law violates religious teachings.AQA

K

Kamma: Positive kamma is generated by actively abstaining from harming living beings, taking what is not given, sexual misconduct, false speech and intoxicating…AQA
Kamma (Karma): Developing good kamma is essential, and breaking the precept results in negative kamma as a natural consequence of unskilful action.AQA
Kamma and rebirth: Generated by the intention behind actions, it influences rebirth.AQA
Karma: Intentional actions generate consequences, and past karma shapes current circumstances while individuals have free will to choose how they respond, generating…AQA
Karma and intention: Generosity is cultivated with a pure motivation to alleviate the suffering of others, giving without attachment to the result.AQA
Karma and purification: Pilgrimage purifies the devotee, washing away accumulated bad karma and generating positive merit (punya).AQA
Karma and Samsara: The cycle of birth, death, and rebirth, within which human actions generate karma and so determine future reincarnations.AQA
Karma and spiritual progress: Both worship and festivals serve to accumulate good karma and express devotion.AQA
Karta Purakh: The Sikh term for God the Creator, found in the Mool Mantar.AQA
Karuna: Compassion; feeling pity for the suffering of others on a deep level.AQA
Kashrut: The Jewish dietary laws, which dictate what foods are permissible to eat and how they must be prepared.AQA
Khalsa: The community of the pure, a dedicated community committed to defending faith and protecting the vulnerable.AQA
Khalsa identity: Shared names Singh and Kaur strip away caste-identifying surnames to unite all Sikhs.AQA
Khalsa Initiation: Amritdhari Sikhs are initiated into the Khalsa and strictly wear the Five Ks, while Sahajdhari Sikhs have not taken Amrit.AQA
Khums: In Shi'a Islam, a 20% tax on surplus income, half going to religious leaders for Islamic education and half supporting the poor and descendants of Muhammad.AQA
Khutbah: A sermon delivered by the Imam as part of the Jummah prayer.AQA
Kingdom of God: Compared to a mustard seed, it has tiny beginnings represented by Jesus and his few disciples but will grow into a vast, universal reality.AQA
Kingship: The claim behind Pilate's question 'Are you the king of the Jews?', which framed Jesus as a political threat to Roman authority.AQA
Kirtan: Hymns sung in the gurdwara as a communal form of nam japna.AQA
Knowledge of God: Understanding of the divine nature provided by sources such as revelation and enlightenment.AQA
Kosher: Foods Jews are allowed to eat according to Leviticus, including animals with cloven hooves that chew the cud and fish with both fins and scales.AQA

L

Langar: A free community kitchen that serves vegetarian food to all visitors regardless of their religion, caste, gender, or wealth.AQA
Last resort: A criterion requiring that all peaceful methods have failed before a war is declared.AQA
Law of karma: A principle of moral action and reaction where every thought, word, and deed generates consequences that determine a person's future rebirths.AQA
Lesser jihad: The outward, physical struggle to defend Islam from threat, which can only be declared by a legitimate religious leader.AQA
Lesser of two evils: The argument that divorce may be justified because remaining in a destructive marriage causes greater harm than ending it.AQA
Liberalism: The view of these teachings metaphorically, interpreting the 'days' as long epochs and accepting scientific explanations like the Big Bang theory.AQA
Liberation (moksha): The goal achieved through the path of knowledge and wisdom, focusing on intellectual and spiritual realisation.AQA
Liberation and Enlightenment: Buddhists seek this through the Eightfold Path, with the goal of achieving Nibbana.AQA
Life after death: Jewish teachings encompassing beliefs about judgement and resurrection, with Orthodox Jews often holding more literal views of physical resurrection and…AQA
Light overcoming darkness: Reflecting on the triumph of freedom over oppression, with the Golden Temple illuminated with thousands of candles to welcome the Guru.AQA
Literalism: The interpretation of Genesis as exact historical and scientific fact, believing the universe was created in six 24-hour periods.AQA
Liturgical Prayer: A form of prayer that follows a set structure and uses prescribed texts.AQA
Liturgical worship: Worship that follows a set structure and rituals, such as the Mass.AQA
Liturgy: Both traditions centre their services around the Shema, the Amidah, and the reading of the Torah, maintaining the core structure of Jewish worship.AQA
Liturgy and symbolism: A structured rite that uses symbols such as the Paschal candle, holy water and incense to reinforce the hope of salvation.AQA
Lived religion: How beliefs, teachings and practices actively shape lives across the individual, community and wider society.AQA
Love and Agape: Loving God with all one's heart, soul, mind, and strength, and loving your neighbour as yourself.AQA
Love and commitment: Liberal religious perspectives may argue that if a couple demonstrates these, along with mutual respect, premarital sex can be a valid expression of their bond.AQA
Love and compassion: The quality of relationships emphasised by liberal religious views, focusing on love and security over the specific family structure.AQA
Love and stability: Liberal religious arguments support same-sex parenting on the basis that the family offers a loving and stable environment.AQA

M

Magga: The truth that prescribes the cure for suffering: the Eightfold Path.AQA
Magisterium: The teaching authority of the Catholic Church, whose role includes interpreting scripture and tradition.AQA
Mahaparinirvana Sutra: A text from which Buddhists read when observing this day.AQA
Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions: Traditions in which visualisation is primarily found, rather than Theravada Buddhism.AQA
Mahayana Buddhism: The tradition in which the Six Perfections are fundamental, serving as the primary path for a Bodhisattva seeking enlightenment to help all sentient beings.AQA
Mahdi: The twelfth Imam, believed to be in occultation and to return at the end of time to bring justice and peace.AQA
Majority Christian tradition: The main religious tradition in Great Britain, shaping many laws, festivals, and cultural norms.AQA
Malaikah (Angels): Spiritual beings created by Allah from light (nur), whose fundamental nature is absolute obedience because they lack free will.AQA
Manifestation: Saguna Brahman is the manifestation of God in a physical form with distinct attributes.AQA
Manifestations of Brahman: The many male and female deities are different manifestations of the one supreme reality, Brahman.AQA
Manifestations of the Divine: The many deities are different forms or expressions of the one supreme Brahman, validated as real manifestations or powers rather than dismissed.AQA
Manmukh: Being self-centred, driven by material wealth, lust, anger, and worldly attachments.AQA
Marginalised people: Those such as children, who lacked social status in the first-century view and whom Jesus radically included.AQA
Material Nature: The physical universe is formed of matter (prakriti), which is shaped by three fundamental qualities (tri-guna): goodness (sattva), passion (rajas), and…AQA
Material wealth vs spiritual wealth: A life of extreme luxury was provided to ensure he became a great king rather than a supreme spiritual leader.AQA
Matrimony: A Catholic Sacrament at the Service of Communion, establishing a lifelong, exclusive covenant between a baptised man and woman.AQA
matzah: Unleavened bread eaten to remember the haste with which the ancestors fled Egypt.AQA
maya: The belief that the physical world is an illusion compared to the eternal reality of the soul.AQA
Mechitza: A partition used to separate men and women.AQA
Meditation: A dedicated practice through which a Buddhist develops wisdom within themselves, alongside mindful reflection on the Buddha's teachings.AQA
Meditation and discipline: Intense personal effort through which enlightenment is typically achieved, rather than through an external deity communicating a message.AQA
Meditation and Worship: Buddhist practices including various forms of meditation (Samatha and Vipassana), chanting, and ethical precepts.AQA
memorialism: Many Protestant traditions view Jesus' words symbolically, seeing the meal as a memorial to remember his sacrifice.AQA
Mental Discipline: Meditation (samadhi), one part of the Threefold Way, covering right effort, mindfulness and concentration.AQA
Mercy: What Jesus' teachings reflect and what Christians emphasise the ultimate goal of punishment should include.AQA
Mercy and forgiveness: God's willingness to forgive those who genuinely repent, especially during Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.AQA
Merit: Something generated by the Sangha when it unites on festivals.AQA
Messiah: The 'Anointed One' promised in the Old Testament to save God's people.AQA
Messianic identity: The identity and mission of Jesus established from the outset, revealed at his baptism through the descent of the Spirit and the heavenly voice.AQA
Messianic Secret: Jesus preferred 'Son of Man' to avoid this being broken, showing caution about accepting titles like 'Christ' or 'Son of God' in public.AQA
Metta: Loving-kindness; a pure, selfless love for all beings.AQA
Metta (Loving-kindness): A virtue that practitioners actively cultivate towards all life forms instead of taking life.AQA
Metta Bhavana: Loving-kindness meditation in which a practitioner sequentially directs well-wishes towards themselves, a good friend, a neutral person, a difficult person,…AQA
Mezuzah: A case placed on doorposts containing the words of the Shema, constantly reminding Jews of God's singular authority and their duty to Him.AQA
Migration and demographics: Diversity driven by historical migration, globalisation, and changing social attitudes, alongside a rapidly growing demographic of non-religious people.AQA
Mind and sense control: Crucial for overcoming material desires and distractions, often practised through yoga and meditation to focus on the divine.AQA
Mindfulness (Sati): Awareness that is lost through intoxication and is fundamental for meditation and spiritual progress.AQA
Minority faiths: Significant faiths, such as Judaism, that contribute to the diverse religious landscape of modern Britain.AQA
Minyan: A quorum of ten adults required for certain prayers like the Kaddish or the reading of the Torah.AQA
Miracles: A rare remote healing, in which Jesus' power is not limited by distance and the demon leaves the daughter from afar.AQA
Miracles and healing: Healing miracles highlight the importance of faith, as when Jesus states, "Your faith has healed you."AQA
Miracles and the Holy Spirit: Promised signs accompanying believers, such as speaking in tongues and healing, explain charismatic Christian beliefs or the ongoing power of the Holy Spirit.AQA
Mission: The calling of Christians to go out into the world to spread their faith, often through practical actions like charity work or building schools.AQA
Mitzvot: The commandments of the Jewish faith, for which a boy becomes responsible at his Bar Mitzvah and which are emphasised in the joy of accepting personal…AQA
Mitzvot and Free Will: The 613 duties that guide daily life, with Orthodox and Reform interpretations differing over their strictness.AQA
Mitzvot between humans: Commandments that govern ethical behaviour, such as giving to charity or not stealing, ensuring a just and harmonious society.AQA
Mitzvot between humans and God: Commandments that guide religious duties, such as observing Shabbat or keeping kosher, focusing on building a spiritual relationship with the Almighty.AQA
Modern British values: Changing attitudes in contemporary British society, where same-sex relationships are legally and socially recognised and same-sex marriage is legal.AQA
Modern Christian living: Views vary: some see discipleship as requiring radical lifestyle changes such as entering the priesthood or giving up wealth, others as everyday faithful…AQA
Modern Christian practice: Christian worship, moral decision-making and personal faith that Jesus' life events influence today.AQA
Modern relevance of faith: The practical application of faith in contemporary society, for instance how religious teachings on social justice inspire modern charities to combat poverty.AQA
Modern slavery: A form of exploitation into which people are trafficked, alongside forced labour and sexual exploitation.AQA
Modern warfare: Conflict in which religious identity is often intertwined with non-religious factors like politics, economics, and ethnicity.AQA
Moksha: The ultimate goal of liberation and freedom from the cycle of samsara, with different types or understandings.AQA
Moksha (liberation): Liberation from the cycle of rebirth, which positive karma ultimately helps a Hindu progress towards.AQA
Moksha and grace: God's grace is available to everyone and helps the devotee overcome karma and escape the cycle of samsara, achieving moksha.AQA
Monism vs Polytheism: The passage teaches that while there are many manifestations and deities, they are all ultimately expressions of a single, unified, supreme reality.AQA
Monogamy: The ideal in Christianity, reflecting the Genesis account of two becoming "one flesh" and Jesus' teachings on marriage.AQA
Monotheism: The foundational belief of Judaism that God is a single, indivisible entity who is the sole source of all existence and law.AQA
Monotheism (Tawhid): Worship is strictly reserved for Allah alone.AQA
Mool Mantra: The expression of the nature of God as One Universal Creator, without fear or hate, and beyond the cycle of birth and death.AQA
Moral absolutes versus relative morality: Absolute moral rules regarding the preservation of life are contrasted with situation ethics that aim to do the most loving thing in a specific context.AQA
Moral conduct: Ethics (sila), one part of the Threefold Way, encompassing right speech, action and livelihood.AQA
Moral decision-making: Aspect of a believer's life that the importance and impact of a concept influences, alongside their life and worldview.AQA
Moral evil: Evil caused by human actions, like murder.AQA
Moral responsibility: Taking responsibility for one's actions, which is essential and made possible by the freedom to choose between good and evil.AQA
Moral responsibility in parenting: The moral responsibilities involved in family life, which are affected by societal changes and evaluated in relation to religious teachings.AQA
Moses: The mediator who received the law directly from God and delivered it to the Israelites.AQA
Mukti: Liberation, the ultimate spiritual goal, pursued through overcoming haumai and balancing karma.AQA
Multi-faith society: A society characterised by diverse religious traditions, home to significant populations of Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, Jews, and Buddhists alongside the…AQA
Murtis: Consecrated images or statues that serve as a focal point for devotion, containing the deity's spiritual presence rather than being worshipped as idols.AQA
Mutual support: Families offer mutual support, companionship, and care for the elderly or vulnerable members.AQA
Mythology: Exploring mythological roots, such as the return of Rama and Sita for Diwali, reveals core Hindu teachings like the triumph of good over evil.AQA
Mythology and narrative: Festivals are vibrant celebrations marking mythological events, seasonal changes, or deities' birthdays.AQA

N

Nagar Kirtan: Vibrant street processions featuring hymns, martial arts, and the sharing of free food.AQA
Nagar kirtans: Massive street processions held during celebrations in India, and still occurring in British cities with large Sikh populations.AQA
Nam japna: Meditating on the Lord's Name, which the Guru Granth Sahib (GGS 305:4) states a true Sikh should do after rising early in the morning and bathing.AQA
Namaste: A greeting that acknowledges the divine presence within the heart of the other person, showing deep spiritual respect.AQA
Natural evil: Evil caused by natural events, like earthquakes.AQA
Natural Law: What the Catholic Church says artificial contraception violates by disrupting the natural purpose of sex.AQA
Nature as evidence: Observing the beauty, order, and complexity of the natural world may lead believers to conclude that God is a powerful and intelligent creator.AQA
Nature of Brahman: A single, unified, supreme reality of which the many manifestations and deities are ultimately expressions.AQA
Nature of God: Understood as One, the Creator of the universe, and the ultimate Lawgiver and Judge who provides the mitzvot and evaluates human actions.AQA
Nature of God (Brahman): The infinite, formless divine, which the murti helps believers focus their minds on as a tangible representation.AQA
Nature of Jesus: Shown in his indignant reaction to the disciples' rebuke, his command to let the children come, and his taking them in his arms and blessing them.AQA
Nature of the divine: Brahman, the ultimate reality, is often understood and worshipped through various male and female deities, each representing different aspects of the divine.AQA
Ner Tamid: An ever-burning light above the Ark, symbolising God's eternal presence and the menorah in the ancient Temple.AQA
Nibbana (Nirvana): A state of complete enlightenment, happiness, and peace; the extinction of the Three Poisons.AQA
Night of Power: Laylat al-Qadr, marking when the Qur'an was first revealed to Muhammad, as detailed in Qur'an 96:1-5.AQA
Nirgun: The concept of God as separate from the universe, without form or physical qualities.AQA
Nirguna Brahman: The non-personal reality, recognised as an omnipresent, formless spirit, approached through deep meditation, yoga and philosophical realisation.AQA
Nirodha: The truth offering hope that suffering can end by extinguishing craving.AQA
nisab: The minimum threshold of wealth that must be exceeded for Zakah to be given annually.AQA
No-self: The concept that human beings have no permanent, unchanging soul or self, known in Pali as Anatta.AQA
Non-attachment: The Buddhist idea that wealth is acceptable if gained ethically but must not become a source of craving.AQA
Non-Liturgical Prayer: Spontaneous prayer that does not have a set structure or wording.AQA
Non-religious worldviews: Beliefs such as atheism and humanism, which may be integrated alongside religions to construct balanced arguments in evaluation questions.AQA
Non-theistic religious experience: Enlightenment as understanding an ultimate reality or universal truth without necessarily relying on a creator God, as seen in traditions like Buddhism.AQA
Non-violence: Pax Christi promotes peace and justice through non-violent means, using non-violent campaigns, education and advocacy to promote peace and challenge the arms…AQA
Nuclear family: Consisting of two heterosexual parents and their children, often seen as the ideal environment for raising children based on biblical models.AQA
Nurture: Families provide a secure, loving environment where children can be nurtured, educated, and protected.AQA

O

Obedience and Submission: Jesus asks for the "cup" of suffering to be removed, yet ultimately submits to God's will.AQA
Obedience to Allah: Complete submission to Allah's commands, ensured in angels because they lack free will and cannot sin.AQA
Obedience to God: Following God's teachings and commandments, such as the Ten Commandments, demonstrating obedience and righteous living.AQA
Occultation: The state of being hidden in which the twelfth Imam, the Mahdi, is believed to be.AQA
Olam Ha-Ba (The World to Come): The afterlife, which Judaism focuses on less than the present life, so beliefs about it are diverse and less dogmatic.AQA
Omnipotence: Genesis 1 outlines a structured six-day creation, demonstrating this attribute of God.AQA
omnipotent: God is all-powerful and capable of performing any action that is logically possible, such as creating the universe from nothing.AQA
Omnipresence of God: The belief, emphasised by many Protestant denominations, that God can be encountered anywhere through prayer and scripture, making special journeys to sacred…AQA
Omnipresence of the divine: The belief that the divine is everywhere, which is reflected in the diverse locations where Hindus worship.AQA
Omnipresent: God is hidden within every heart and every part of the natural world, and can be experienced anywhere in and through the universe.AQA
omniscient: God is all-knowing, possessing complete and perfect knowledge of the past, present, and future, including human thoughts and choices.AQA
Oneness of humanity: Belief that Waheguru created everyone, so all human beings possess the same divine spark, eradicating distinctions based on caste, race or social status.AQA
Original sin: That from which baptism brings cleansing for many denominations, alongside following Jesus' example and receiving the Holy Spirit.AQA
Origins: The question of how everything began, encompassing both scientific explanations and religious perspectives.AQA
Origins of the universe: Religious and scientific explanations for how the universe began, including the Genesis creation narrative and the Big Bang theory.AQA
Orthodox: Jews who strictly observe the dietary laws, maintaining completely separate sets of utensils, crockery and sometimes sinks and dishwashers for dairy and meat…AQA
Orthodox vs Reform Perspectives: Orthodox Jews pray daily for a specific, personal Messiah, while Reform Jews generally reject the idea of a single Messianic figure.AQA
Overcoming greed: Generosity is essential for overcoming attachment, selfishness, and greed, which are root causes of suffering.AQA
Overcoming Hatred: Developing metta so that ill will, anger, and hatred are overcome, thereby reducing suffering and progressing towards enlightenment.AQA
Overcoming temptation (Mara): The demon who tried to distract Siddhartha with fear and desire during his meditation, and who represents psychological forces of greed, hatred, and delusion.AQA

P

Pacifism: An absolute position that strictly prohibits the use of violence, contrasting with the belief that violence can sometimes be justified.AQA
Palliative care: An alternative to euthanasia that aims to provide dignity and pain relief at the end of life without artificially hastening death.AQA
Panj Pyare: The Beloved Five, resulting from the Guru testing his followers' devotion during the founding of the Khalsa.AQA
Parable: A simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson.AQA
Parables and teaching: Stories such as the Parable of the Mustard Seed that illustrate the Kingdom's growth from small beginnings to universal significance.AQA
Parental duties: A primary duty for parents in many traditions is passing on religious beliefs to the next generation.AQA
Parental responsibilities: Parents have a moral obligation to shield their offspring from physical and emotional harm, providing consistent boundaries, emotional support and physical…AQA
Pareve: Neutral foods, such as vegetables, eggs and fish, that can be eaten with either milk or meat.AQA
Parinirvana: The final nirvana reached by the Buddha at the age of 80 when he died.AQA
Paschal Mystery: The collective description of Jesus' passion, death, resurrection, and ascension.AQA
Passion: From the Latin 'patior' meaning to suffer; refers to the suffering and death of Jesus.AQA
Pastoral care: Supporting the vulnerable through parish initiatives, including supporting families, the sick, and the bereaved within the parish community.AQA
Paths to salvation (Margas): One of several paths, alongside bhakti, karma and jnana yoga, rather than the only way to achieve moksha.AQA
Paticcasamupada: Dependent arising; the belief that everything in existence is because other things are.AQA
Patriarchs: Abraham is the first of these, and the Abrahamic Covenant marks the foundational agreement between God and him.AQA
Peace: An absence of conflict and a state of harmony, justice, and wellbeing, and a divine attribute and ultimate goal for humanity.AQA
Peace and conflict: The issues studied through religious teachings and religious, philosophical and ethical arguments, and their impact and influence in the modern world.AQA
Peace and justice: Concepts religious believers reference when explaining why they oppose terrorism.AQA
Peace and reconciliation: Pax Christi aims to promote peace and justice through non-violent means, while the Corrymeela Community aims to promote reconciliation and heal religious…AQA
Peace-making: Active efforts to resolve conflict, described in the note as a central duty in many religions driven by teachings on the sanctity of life, compassion and…AQA
Peaceful Messiah: Jesus presenting himself as a humble, peaceful king rather than a military conqueror.AQA
Persecution: Suffering and social rejection that disciples must be prepared for, promised alongside the hundredfold reward in this present age.AQA
Personal autonomy: A secular argument emphasised in discussions of contraception and family planning, alongside financial stability.AQA
Personal deities (Saguna Brahman): Bhakti focuses on cultivating a deep, emotional connection with God, with festivals dedicated to deities like Krishna, Rama or Shiva.AQA
Personal devotion: The fostering of personal devotion is a feature of the home, the primary place for daily puja with a dedicated shrine where families offer prayers.AQA
Personal devotion (Bhakti): A path taught by Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita, through which Hindus develop a personal, loving relationship with the divine.AQA
Personal faith vs communal faith: Baptists and Pentecostals argue baptism should follow personal faith, whereas infant baptism welcomes the child into the global Christian family.AQA
personal God: A conscious being with whom humans can build a relationship, much like a parent, often described as loving and answering prayers.AQA
Personal relationship with God: A deeply personal relationship with God that Christians develop through private worship, free from the structure of liturgical worship.AQA
Personal responsibility: The responsibilities of those living in poverty to help themselves overcome the difficulties they face.AQA
Personal spirituality: Prayer in the home is central to daily spiritual life, allowing individuals to connect with Waheguru outside the Gurdwara.AQA
Pesach: A major Jewish festival commemorating the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt, as detailed in the book of Exodus.AQA
Philosophical arguments: Arguments that explore the logical foundations of beliefs, questioning concepts like free will or the problem of evil.AQA
Philosophical arguments for God: Arguments relating to the existence of God, such as the First Cause argument or the design argument, which are logical deductions rather than faith-based…AQA
Pikuach Nefesh: The principle that saving a human life overrides almost all other religious laws.AQA
Pilgrimage: A physical journey to a sacred place that serves a deeply spiritual role for many Christians, offering a dedicated time for prayer, reflection, and seeking…AQA
Pilgrimage (yatra): A physical and spiritual journey to a sacred place, often associated with a deity, a holy river, or a significant mythological event.AQA
Pilgrimage and devotion: The annual pilgrimage to Makkah, originating from the trials of Prophet Ibrahim and his family, demonstrating devotion to Allah.AQA
Pilgrimage and sacred spaces: Visiting historical gurdwaras is a profound spiritual practice for many Sikhs, offering a tangible connection to the history and sacrifices of the Gurus.AQA
Pluralism: A rich coexistence of multiple religious groups that participate in public life, visible in the physical landscape through mosques, gurdwaras, and temples.AQA
Pluralism and conflicting truth claims: Multiple religions claim truth based on subjective experiences, and this conflicting evidence undermines the reliability of religious experiences as proof for…AQA
Pluralism in contemporary British society: Modern Britain contains diverse religious views alongside secular, agnostic, and atheist standpoints.AQA
Plurality and diversity: Hinduism is a diverse family of traditions with shared core concepts alongside distinct sectarian differences, rather than a single, monolithic religion.AQA
Political and territorial disputes: Disputes with which religious identity is often intertwined in modern warfare, such as sacred land claims compounding political tensions.AQA
Political authority: The Roman power represented by Pilate, to whom the Sanhedrin handed Jesus over with a charge of treason.AQA
Polygamy: The practice of having more than one spouse simultaneously.AQA
Polygyny: A form of polygamy in which a man has multiple wives, permitted in Islam up to four under strict conditions of equal treatment.AQA
Positive discrimination: Favouring individuals from historically disadvantaged groups to promote equal representation, such as reserving university places or jobs for marginalised…AQA
Post-conflict healing: Recovering after a war, which forgiveness is primarily about.AQA
Poverty: A situation tackled by addressing immediate needs such as food and shelter and by dismantling its underlying causes.AQA
Power over Death: The miracle demonstrates Jesus' absolute power over death and reinforces his divine authority, as the girl immediately stands and walks at his command.AQA
Practical application: Connecting abstract theology directly to real-world impacts across the individual, community and societal levels.AQA
Practical application of Dhamma: Ancient teachings remain actively lived and relevant today, shaping the lives of adherents across multiple levels.AQA
Practical application of faith: Beliefs and teachings studied are linked to practical actions, such as prayer, charity work or campaigning, rather than discussed in the abstract.AQA
Practical Buddhism: Generosity extends beyond material wealth to three main types of giving: material goods, protection from fear, and the Dharma.AQA
Practical equality: Equality is expressed in the Amrit ceremony, where initiates drink from the same bowl.AQA
Prayer: Communicating with God, serving as a vital way for Christians to express gratitude, seek forgiveness, and request help.AQA
Prayer and dependence on God: Jesus explains that this kind of spirit can only be driven out by prayer, emphasising dependence on God's power rather than human ability.AQA
Prayer and worship: Communal prayer with a minyan is one way Jews experience the Shekhinah today.AQA
Prejudice: Holding biased attitudes or stereotypes based on a person's gender, an internal attitude or belief.AQA
Preservation of Scripture: Earlier texts were lost, altered or corrupted over time, whereas the Qur'an is believed to be perfectly preserved.AQA
Preservation of the universe: The role of Lord Vishnu, with whom avataras are most commonly associated, appearing to restore cosmic balance and guide humanity.AQA
Private prayer: Allows Jews to connect personally with God, expressing gratitude, seeking forgiveness, or asking for guidance, and can happen anywhere and at any time.AQA
Private worship: A believer praising or honouring God on their own, outside of a formal church service.AQA
Procreation: Viewed by traditional religious interpretations as a fundamental purpose of sex, so that sexual relationships should exclusively occur within a heterosexual…AQA
Procreation and family stability: Providing a stable environment for the procreation and upbringing of children.AQA
Procreation versus companionship: The contrast between traditional religious teachings linking heterosexuality to procreation and the biblical command to multiply, and liberal views…AQA
Procreative: Relating to the purpose of producing new life; having children.AQA
Prophecy and divine necessity: The passage highlights Jesus' prophetic knowledge, his willing submission to God's plan, and the necessity of his suffering for human salvation.AQA
Prophecy and fulfilment: John the Baptist is the prophesied messenger who fulfils Old Testament prophecy, specifically Isaiah's vision of a voice calling in the wilderness.AQA
Prophecy Fulfilment: The fulfilling of Old Testament prophecy through the preparatory role of John the Baptist in preparing the way for Jesus.AQA
Prophethood: The prophethood of Muhammad, which the second part of the declaration affirms alongside the oneness of Allah.AQA
Prophethood (Ibrahim): The origins of Hajj are traced to the trials of Prophet Ibrahim and his family, which pilgrims commemorate.AQA
Prophethood (Risalah): The Islamic belief that Allah communicates his guidance to humanity through chosen messengers.AQA
Proportional: A requirement that the force used in war must be proportional to the threat.AQA
Protection: One of the primary aims of punishment, alongside retribution, deterrence and reformation.AQA
Protection and deterrence: Arguments that the death penalty protects society permanently and deters future crimes, maximising overall happiness.AQA
Protection of society: A reason the death penalty is permitted in Islam for severe crimes like murder or treason, to protect the community (ummah).AQA
Psychological and physiological explanations: Factors such as hallucinations, mental illness, extreme stress, drugs, alcohol, fasting or sleep deprivation can induce altered states of consciousness that…AQA
Public Expression of Faith: Public celebrations, such as Nagar Kirtan street processions in cities like London or Birmingham, allow Sikhs to share their values with the wider British…AQA
Puja: Daily worship, shaped by deep reverence for sacred plants and animals, in which the Tulsi is worshipped daily in many homes.AQA
Purgatory: A distinct belief in Catholic eschatology, held alongside heaven and hell.AQA
Purification and Karma: Rivers are worshipped as goddesses and sources of purification, and the Ganges is believed to wash away bad karma and help achieve moksha.AQA
Purity and preparation: Formal worship requires physical and spiritual purity, achieved through Wudu, the ritual washing performed before prayer.AQA
Purpose of family: The family unit is viewed by religious traditions as the fundamental building block of society, designed to offer a secure environment where vulnerable young…AQA
Purpose of life: Human life is a rare and precious opportunity, the only life form in which a soul can consciously meditate on God, perform selfless service, and achieve mukti.AQA
Purusharthas: The four fundamental aims that guide human life in Hinduism, balancing spiritual and material needs.AQA

Q

Quality of life: The standard of health, comfort, and happiness an individual experiences, suggesting the value of life depends on well-being and living free from unbearable…AQA

R

rabbi: A teacher and spiritual leader who provides spiritual guidance and leads the community, not a priest.AQA
Racial discrimination: Prejudiced actions or unfair treatment based on a person's race or ethnicity.AQA
Reality: All life and reality are defined by the fundamental characteristics of the Three Marks of Existence.AQA
Rebirth: The continuation of karmic energy into a new existence, rather than the transmigration of a permanent soul.AQA
Rebirth and Karma: The belief that death rituals reflect, with merit transferred to the deceased to aid their favourable rebirth and karmic transition.AQA
Reconciliation: The process of restoring broken relationships, both spiritually through the Sacrament of Reconciliation and socially by resolving conflicts and forgiving…AQA
Redemption: What Jesus Christ's sacrifice offers to humanity by restoring the broken relationship with God.AQA
Reform: Jews who may adapt or choose not to follow the dietary laws strictly.AQA
Reformation: The aim of punishment achieved by providing structure and potentially teaching new skills to the offender.AQA
Rehabilitation: Rather than seeking revenge, reformation aims to achieve this for the criminal through education, counselling, or community service, allowing reintegration…AQA
Rehabilitation and healing: Religions generally advocate treatment and rehabilitation for offenders with mental health problems or addiction, rather than purely punitive measures,…AQA
Reincarnation: The process in which the atman discards an old body to take on a new one, like a person discarding old garments for new ones.AQA
Reincarnation and karma: Human life is the highest stage of reincarnation, and actions generate karma, which determines future spiritual progression or continued entrapment in the…AQA
Rejection: If rejected, the apostles are told to shake the dust off their feet as a warning of judgement.AQA
Rejection and Suffering: Jesus returns to his hometown of Nazareth, where the locals take offence at him, and he notes a prophet is honoured everywhere except in his own hometown and…AQA
Rejection of the caste system: The names were designed to eliminate the caste system, which was traditionally identifiable by a person's surname.AQA
Relationship with God: Devotion to God shown by loving God completely, which true faith requires alongside active compassion for others.AQA
Religious Authority: Sunni Muslims recognise the authority of the elected Caliphs, while Shi'a Muslims believe leadership remained within the Prophet's family through the Imamate.AQA
Religious diversity: Contrasting views that often exist within the same religion, such as liberal versus conservative interpretations, so a religion is not treated as entirely…AQA
Religious diversity and pluralism: Great Britain is a multi-faith society characterised by a wide variety of diverse religious traditions and beliefs.AQA
Religious duties: The Five Pillars and jihad in both Sunni and Shi'a Islam, together with the additional duties of Shi'a Islam.AQA
Religious duty: The obligation believers feel to give to charity, explained through concepts such as stewardship or Zakah.AQA
Religious experience: An account in which a believer claims to have experienced God, and from which different ideas about the divine arise.AQA
Religious extremism: Extremist groups manipulating sacred teachings to justify acts of terror and armed conflict.AQA
Religious freedom: A freedom ensured by the Human Rights Act 1998, while the Equality Act 2010 prohibits discrimination based on religion or belief.AQA
Religious ideals of marriage: In Christianity, marriage is often seen as the ideal foundation for a secure environment, ensuring that offspring grow up with consistent boundaries,…AQA
Religious ideals versus modern reality: Traditional religious teachings often focus on the nuclear family, while modern society includes extended, single-parent, blended, and same-sex families.AQA
Religious identity: Sahajdhari Sikhs are recognised members of the Sikh community who believe in the Gurus, even if uninitiated, and may cut their hair.AQA
Religious influence: The impact of teachings on the modern world, influencing decisions made by religious believers, politicians, and activists today.AQA
Religious law and ethics: Islamic law (Shari'ah), moral conduct and daily religious practices are dictated by these sources of authority.AQA
Religious Leadership: Roles from which people may be excluded as an example of gender discrimination, such as the Catholic Church's refusal to ordain female priests.AQA
Religious Leadership (Imamate): A key Shi'a difference, being belief in divinely appointed leaders after Muhammad, succeeding him as infallible leaders.AQA
Religious Pluralism: The presence in Great Britain of a wide diversity of religious traditions and non-religious beliefs alongside Christianity.AQA
Religious teachings in practice: Explaining how a specific text influences the beliefs and actions of believers today.AQA
Religious upbringing: Parents are expected to educate their children in their faith, for example by teaching them how to pray and taking them to places of worship.AQA
Religious versus secular perspectives: Contrasting a traditional religious argument, like the design argument, with a modern secular perspective, showing how differing worldviews influence daily…AQA
Remarriage: Marrying again after a divorce, which some Christian denominations view as adultery if the original spouse is still alive.AQA
Renewal and spring: Holi is a vibrant Hindu spring festival celebrating the arrival of spring and encouraging renewal.AQA
Renunciation: What Siddhartha was inspired to do with his royal life after seeing the holy man, so as to seek a spiritual solution to human suffering.AQA
Reparation: The aim of punishment where the offender directly repays society, as community service strongly aligns with.AQA
Repentance and forgiveness: John preaches a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, drawing crowds from Judea and Jerusalem to the River Jordan.AQA
Respect and Reverence: Deep reverence shown to many deities, gurus and elders, demonstrated through actions like touching their feet to seek blessings.AQA
Respect for elders: Children demonstrate respect and obedience to their parents, and as parents age this evolves to include providing care and support so the elderly are treated…AQA
Responsibility: At age thirteen a boy takes responsibility for following Jewish law, and both ceremonies emphasise accepting personal responsibility for the Jewish faith and…AQA
Responsible parenthood: A view held by the Church of England and many Protestant denominations that artificial contraception is a responsible way to plan a family and ensure children…AQA
Rest and renewal: A mandatory pause from weekday labour to focus on spiritual renewal.AQA
Restorative justice: Often runs alongside legal punishment to facilitate the process of forgiving a criminal, which does not mean pardoning their legal consequences.AQA
Resurrection: The event Easter commemorates, representing victory over sin and death and guaranteeing life after death for believers.AQA
Resurrection and eternal life: The rite reflects core Catholic beliefs about the resurrection of the body and the reality of eternal life.AQA
Resurrection and the Soul: Orthodox Jews often believe in a physical resurrection of the dead during the Messianic age, while Reform Jews generally reject physical resurrection and…AQA
Retribution: An aim of punishment focused on making the offender pay for their crime, ensuring the punishment fits the severity of the offence.AQA
Revelation: The Qur'an was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad through the Angel Jibril over a period of 23 years, beginning on the Night of Power.AQA
Revelation through Nature: Observing the beauty, order and complexity of nature allows individuals to witness God's greatness and wisdom, since the universe is a direct reflection of…AQA
Reverence: In the gurdwara it is treated with the utmost reverence, resting on a raised throne under a canopy and fanned with a chauri to show respect.AQA
Reverence and submission: Worshippers stand facing Jerusalem, demonstrating respect and readiness to serve God.AQA
Risalah: Prophethood, through which Allah communicates with humanity, including key figures like Ibrahim and Muhammad, the seal of the prophets.AQA
Rites of passage: An Akhand Path is performed to mark significant life events, such as births, marriages, or funerals.AQA
Ritual and symbolism: Celebrations such as lighting lanterns, making offerings, chanting scriptures, and bathing Buddha statues, representing the purification of the mind.AQA
Ritual Purity: Her bleeding made her ritually unclean, making her touch a taboo act that Jesus ultimately accepts and praises.AQA
Ritual purity and the Law of Moses: Leprosy rendered a person ritually unclean and socially isolated under Jewish law, and Jesus commands him to show himself to the priest to offer the…AQA

S

Sacrament: An outward sign of inward grace, instituted by Christ to sanctify humanity, with a meaning relating to its spiritual significance and effects bringing…AQA
Sacramental connections: Holy water used during the service recalls baptism and its promises.AQA
Sacramental nature of reality: The belief that the entire created world can reveal God's presence and love.AQA
Sacramental theology: Divergent views on the sacraments, such as the Eucharist, which Catholics and Orthodox Christians believe involves the real presence of Christ while many…AQA
Sacraments: Confirmation is one of the Sacraments of Initiation in Catholic Christianity, a sacrament that imparts an indelible spiritual mark and active grace.AQA
Sacraments of Healing: Reconciliation, also known as Confession or Penance, is one of these in Catholic Christianity.AQA
Sacred scripture: Scripture and/or sacred texts should be referred to where appropriate, and some texts are prescribed for study.AQA
Sacred spaces: These include the home, the mandir (temple), outdoor shrines at crossroads or under sacred trees, and 'the space of the heart'.AQA
Sacred texts: Dhammapada 190–191, which emphasises that taking refuge in the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha leads to understanding the Four Noble Truths.AQA
Sacrifice: The death on the cross is viewed as an atoning sacrifice, paying the price for human sin and repairing the relationship with God.AQA
Sacrifice and Atonement: Jesus' death, referred to in the phrase "poured out for many", is sacrificial and brings the forgiveness of sins.AQA
Sacrificial devotion: The woman's pouring of expensive nard on Jesus' head is presented as a beautiful act of giving that Jesus defends against criticism.AQA
Sacrificial giving: Giving in which the value of an offering is determined by the sacrifice involved and the attitude of the giver's heart, not by its monetary amount.AQA
Sadaqah: Voluntary charity given out of compassion, beyond the obligatory Zakah.AQA
Saguna Brahman: The personal God, approached with specific attributes, using murtis and puja to cultivate a loving relationship with deities like Vishnu or Shiva.AQA
Sahajdhari: Sikhs who believe in the Gurus but have not taken Amrit, often viewing initiation as a personal choice or a future goal.AQA
Salvation: What Catholics achieve through grace, which was won through Jesus' redemptive actions, alongside human cooperation.AQA
Salvation and Grace: While salvation is impossible for humans alone, all things are possible with God, so salvation depends entirely on God's grace.AQA
Samatha (calmness): Meditation that involves focusing on a single object, such as breathing or a kasina, to develop deep concentration and tranquility.AQA
Samsara: The continuous cycle of birth, death, and reincarnation, seen as a cycle of suffering and bondage that Hindus seek to escape.AQA
Samudaya: The truth that identifies the root cause of suffering as craving and the Three Poisons.AQA
Sanctity and quality of life: Religious teaching that life is sacred, contrasted with the philosophical and ethical argument about the quality of life.AQA
Sanctity of life: Life is seen as a sacred gift that must be protected and respected, because cutting life short interferes with the divine plan and the soul's ultimate journey.AQA
Sanctity of life versus quality of life: A Christian sanctity of life view can be contrasted with a humanist approach that prioritises personal autonomy and quality of life over divine laws.AQA
Sanctity of marriage: The belief that marriage is special and should be upheld, so that sexual intimacy is reserved exclusively for the commitment of marriage to ensure family…AQA
Sanctity of marriage vows: The belief that vows made before God are a lifelong, unbreakable covenant, so divorce breaks a sacred promise and undermines family stability.AQA
Sangha: The Buddhist community whose faith Wesak strengthens and encourages adherence to the Dhamma.AQA
Sangha (Community): The community of fellow Buddhists, which festivals help to foster through communal chanting, offerings and sharing food.AQA
Sanhedrin: The supreme religious council of the Jews, led by the High Priest.AQA
Sargun: The aspect of God that is immanent, intimately present within every part of creation.AQA
Sawm: The obligatory duty of fasting during Ramadan, the ninth Islamic month, abstaining from food, drink, smoking, and sexual activity during daylight hours.AQA
Science and religion: The relationship between scientific explanations and religious beliefs, which many believers harmonise by seeing the Big Bang and evolution as mechanisms…AQA
Scientific compatibility: The argument is compatible with the Big Bang theory, where God is seen as the initiator of the explosion.AQA
Scientific versus religious explanations: Evolution by natural selection explains biological complexity without needing a divine creator, which is a weakness of the argument.AQA
Scriptural authority: The basis in Sikh sources of wisdom and authority on which students should study the beliefs, teachings and practices of Sikhism specified.AQA
Scriptural interpretation: Believers hold different interpretations of these texts, ranging from literalist to liberal readings.AQA
Scripture: A text that students should be able to refer to where appropriate when studying Catholic beliefs, teachings and practices.AQA
Scripture as Guru: The Akhand Path demonstrates deep devotion to the Guru Granth Sahib as the living Guru and the ultimate source of spiritual authority.AQA
Sectarian differences (Sunni and Shi'a): For Shi'a Muslims authority extends to the Imamate, a line of divinely appointed leaders, while Sunni Muslims rely on consensus and scholarly leadership.AQA
Sectarian traditions: Distinct traditions within Hinduism, such as Shaivism and Vaishnavism, which hold divergent perspectives on the nature of the divine.AQA
Sectarian violence: Violence arising from religious differences that create deep societal divisions in the contemporary world.AQA
Secular attitudes: Students must evaluate contrasting religious views alongside these.AQA
Secular versus religious values: Religious perspectives are contrasted with contemporary secular views, which often accept premarital sex as a normal part of relationship development provided…AQA
Secularisation: A rise in secularism is seen despite census data consistently showing Christianity remains the largest single religious affiliation in the country.AQA
Secularisation and multi-faith society: Catholics live alongside people of many different religions and worldviews in a diverse, multi-faith British context rather than in isolation.AQA
Secularism and modernity: Secular sources of contemporary authority, such as modern historical analysis, scientific rationalism, and archaeological evidence, pose significant…AQA
Secularism and pluralism in Britain: The diverse religious and non-religious stances found in contemporary British society, including secular or alternative views.AQA
Seder meal: The focal point of the festival, held on the first night, where families read from the Haggadah to retell the story of the Exodus.AQA
Self-centredness (haumai): The primary obstacle to mukti, which traps individuals in illusion and makes them rely on themselves rather than God.AQA
Self-reliance vs faith-based practice: Zen focuses on rigorous meditation (zazen) to achieve sudden awakening, whereas Pure Land relies on faith in Amitabha Buddha to reach the Sukhavati where…AQA
Selflessness: Acting without attachment to the results or personal reward, which reduces the ego and purifies the mind.AQA
Separation from God: The broken relationship between humanity and God that sin causes and that requires salvation.AQA
Separation of meat and dairy: A fundamental requirement for a meal to remain kosher, involving the strict separation of meat and dairy products.AQA
Servant leadership: A radical model of leadership taught by Jesus, contrasting secular rulers who lord their power over others, stating that whoever wishes to be great must…AQA
Set prayers: Written down and repeated, offering comfort and unity, especially in communal settings.AQA
Sewa: Selfless service performed without any expectation of personal reward or recognition, demonstrating love for God through serving humanity.AQA
Sewa (Selfless Service): Selfless service expressed through langar, performed physically by cooking, serving and cleaning, and materially by donating food or funds.AQA
Sexual ethics and relationships: The precept is often interpreted as avoiding sexual misconduct, adultery and exploitation, and promotes healthy, respectful relationships.AQA
Shabbat: A weekly day of rest observed by Jews because God rested on the seventh day, directly linking their religious practice to the creation narrative.AQA
Shakti: Divine feminine energy, honoured through practical, empowering ways.AQA
Shechitah: The specific method by which an animal must be slaughtered, performed by a trained shochet, for meat to be kosher.AQA
Shekhinah: The divine presence representing God's dwelling or presence in the world, historically associated with the Tabernacle and Temple.AQA
Shema: A declaration of faith recited in daily prayers.AQA
Shi'a practices: The Ten Obligatory Acts, within which Shi'a Islam structures the core practices it shares with Sunni Islam.AQA
Shi'a Theology: Structures core beliefs around the Five Roots of Usul ad-Din: Tawhid, Adalat, prophethood, Imamate, and Resurrection.AQA
Shirk: The association of partners with God, which is the gravest sin in Islam.AQA
Short-term vs long-term aid: Giving money for immediate needs contrasted with funding sustainable projects that tackle the root causes of poverty.AQA
Siddur: The prayer book that guides daily prayers like the Amidah.AQA
Significance: The deeper theological, moral, and spiritual meanings embedded within the text, moving beyond mere historical narrative.AQA
Sila (Ethics): Morality forming a core section of the Eightfold Path through Right Speech, Right Action and Right Livelihood, providing the ethical foundation required for…AQA
Simchat Bat: A naming ceremony for girls, taking place in the synagogue, where a Torah blessing is recited and the name announced.AQA
Sin: Human wrongdoing that separates people from God, a concept rooted in original sin.AQA
Sin and Grace: Confession of sin leads to absolution and a renewed state of grace, while venial sins are lesser sins confessed regularly for spiritual strength.AQA
Sin and morality: Crimes motivated by greed or hate are strongly condemned as they stem from selfishness and violate the Golden Rule.AQA
Sin and spiritual damage: The idea that crimes harm society and also damage the perpetrator's spiritual state.AQA
Situation Ethics: An ethical theory, developed by Joseph Fletcher, which proposes that the morality of an action is determined by the specific situation, and that the most…AQA
Social action: Charitable work that serves the physical needs of humanity, a practical expression of faith alongside the Church's spiritual work.AQA
Social action and Engaged Buddhism: Movements inspired by Buddhist principles which address social injustice, environmental protection and peacebuilding.AQA
Social cohesion: Shared identity and mutual support fostered at the community level by practices such as celebrating Diwali or attending the mandir.AQA
Social justice: The moral imperative to fight discrimination and support the vulnerable, inspiring contemporary Christian charities and social justice movements to care for…AQA
Social justice (Tikkun Olam): Healing the world, a practice that drives broader social justice initiatives and influences how Jewish populations support the wider secular society.AQA
Social justice and charity: On a societal scale, Christian teachings have shaped large-scale charitable organisations which campaign for global social justice and systemic change.AQA
Social Justice and Compassion: Active compassion for others, shown by loving your neighbour as yourself.AQA
Social justice and equality: Jesus challenged social boundaries, showing that faith and repentance matter more than social status or ritual purity laws.AQA
Social Order: What punishment is accepted as necessary to maintain as a consequence of crime.AQA
Social outcasts and the marginalized: Those disregarded by society, such as women, children, tax collectors, and those with illnesses like leprosy, who faced harsh attitudes in 1st century…AQA
Solidarity: Churches worldwide engage in intercessory prayer for persecuted believers, demonstrating solidarity and the belief that the global Church is one body.AQA
Son of David: The messianic title Bartimaeus uses to address Jesus, recognising his true identity while others remain spiritually blind.AQA
Son of God: Implied a unique, divine relationship with God, often recognised by demons or the Roman centurion, though less openly claimed by Jesus.AQA
Son of Man: Jesus' preferred title, drawn from Daniel, emphasising both his humanity and his future eschatological authority, allowing him to define his mission of…AQA
Source of Wisdom and Authority: A religious text, leader, or tradition that provides guidance for believers.AQA
Source of Wisdom and Authority (SoWA): A source from which Christians get their beliefs and moral guidance.AQA
Sources of authority: Specific teachings, sacred texts, or denominational stances used to illustrate why differences exist and how they influence believers' actions regarding human…AQA
Sources of wisdom: The basis in Sikh sources of wisdom and authority on which students should study the beliefs, teachings and practices of Sikhism specified.AQA
Sources of wisdom and authority: The basis in which the beliefs, teachings and practices of Christianity are grounded, to which students should be able to refer.AQA
Special revelation: Direct, specific events through which the divine nature is communicated, such as visions, dreams, or the inspiration of sacred scriptures like the Bible or…AQA
Specific deterrence: Aims to stop the individual from reoffending.AQA
Spiritual and moral transformation: Entering the Kingdom requires repentance, childlike faith and a willingness to serve others, challenging earthly concepts of power and status.AQA
Spiritual authority: The Guru Granth Sahib is the focal point of all Sikh worship and ceremonies, embodying the ultimate spiritual authority in Sikhism.AQA
Spiritual blindness: The state of those who fail to recognise Jesus' true identity, contrasted with Bartimaeus's clear spiritual sight.AQA
Spiritual cleansing: Bathing in the amrit sarovar, the pool of nectar, is for spiritual cleansing.AQA
Spiritual commitment: Maintained by practitioners through festivals and retreats, helping them keep their spiritual focus and cultivate mindfulness.AQA
Spiritual development and compassion: Cultivating deep compassion within themselves, for example by visualising Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of compassion.AQA
Spiritual Discipline: Worship maintains spiritual discipline and constantly reminds Muslims of God's greatness and their duty to submit to His will.AQA
Spiritual effort: Mental and spiritual resilience that prevents laziness and discouragement, rather than merely physical stamina.AQA
Spiritual growth: Fostered by the sangat, since meditating on God's name is believed to be more powerful when done collectively.AQA
Spiritual Ideals: The different ideals for human destiny offered by the Theravada and Mahayana traditions: the Arhat and the Bodhisattva.AQA
Spiritual insight: Profound understanding and ultimate truth gained through meditation, prominent in traditions like Buddhism.AQA
Spiritual journey: A Catholic's lifelong path, in which understanding each sacrament's purpose, outward sign and inward grace is essential.AQA
Spiritual knowledge (jnana): True knowledge that overcomes ignorance, revealing the unity of the atman with Brahman and ultimately leading to moksha and the end of suffering.AQA
Spiritual liberation: Freedom from the cycle of samsara, understood in different ways such as personal union with a specific deity or realising the complete oneness of the atman…AQA
Spiritual liberation (mukti): What Sikhs achieve together with overcoming ego through worship and service.AQA
Spiritual maturity: Confirmation signifies a person's spiritual maturity and their conscious decision to commit to the Catholic faith.AQA
Spiritual milestones: Significant stages in a Christian's spiritual journey which the sacraments mark and which bind the community together.AQA
Spiritual paths (margas): Ways of progressing towards moksha, of which karma yoga is considered highly accessible because anyone can practise it in everyday life.AQA
Spiritual purification: Ritual purification (wudu) is performed before praying to ensure spiritual and physical cleanliness.AQA
Spiritual realms: Divine realms where liberated souls reside in eternal bliss, free from the cycle of samsara.AQA
Spiritual reflection: Quiet retreat activity at Iona, where Christians read the Bible and reflect in nature.AQA
Spiritual relationship: A two-way relationship with God involving both speaking and listening, shown when a Catholic silently focuses their entire being on the Real Presence.AQA
Spiritual renewal: A benefit offered by pilgrimage, alongside healing and a chance to express devotion, as part of its vital role in Catholic life.AQA
Spiritual truth: The deeper spiritual meanings embedded within the text, shaping contemporary worship, prayer, and personal faith.AQA
Spiritual upbringing: Educating children in a faith, involving formal instruction alongside informal practices like praying together at home or observing religious festivals.AQA
Spiritual vs Material: The belief that spiritual growth is far more important than accumulating material riches.AQA
Stability: Families are viewed as the foundational building blocks of a stable society, forming its foundational unit.AQA
State religion: The Church of England has established status, with bishops sitting in the House of Lords and the monarch serving as the 'Defender of the Faith'.AQA
Stewardship: The responsibility to care for God's creation, meaning animals must not face unnecessary suffering, which forbids unnecessary cruelty or cosmetic testing.AQA
Stewardship and global responsibility: Together, the agencies demonstrate the Catholic duty of stewardship and love for one's neighbour.AQA
Stewardship and Respect: Recognising God in and through all things encourages Sikhs to treat the environment and all living beings with profound respect, as harming creation is akin…AQA
Street Pastors: Christian volunteers who patrol local streets at night to care for, listen to, and help vulnerable people, such as those leaving nightclubs.AQA
Subjectivity versus Objectivity: Visions are subjective and cannot serve as objective proof of God's existence, as sceptics explain them by psychological factors, hallucinations, sleep…AQA
Submission and Worship: Ultimate devotion, trust, and submission directed solely towards Allah, influencing both spiritual practices and daily moral conduct.AQA
Submission to Allah: Obligatory acts of worship, such as the Five Pillars and the Ten Obligatory Acts, demonstrate this and build self-discipline.AQA
Substitution: The theme seen in the contrast between Jesus, the innocent suffering servant, and Barabbas, the guilty rebel who goes free.AQA
Suffering: The universal experience of suffering and unsatisfactoriness, known in Pali as Dukkha, which includes emotional dissatisfaction and the general…AQA
Suffering (Dukkha): The first truth, which acknowledges universal suffering and includes emotional dissatisfaction, frustration and the general unsatisfactoriness of life.AQA
Suffering Servant: Jesus redefined 'Christ' (Messiah) from a political conqueror to this, guiding Christians to serve others rather than seek power.AQA
Sunni and Shi'a traditions: Two traditions within Islam whose expressions of faith diverge, with Sunni Muslims following the Six Articles of Faith and Shi'a Muslims adhering to the Five…AQA
Sunni practices: The Five Pillars, which form the foundation of Sunni Islamic practice, guiding daily life and worship.AQA
Sunni Theology: Structures core beliefs around the Six Articles of Faith: Tawhid, angels, holy books, prophets, the Day of Judgement, and supremacy of God's will (Al-Qadr).AQA
Sunyata: The Mahayana concept of emptiness, meaning nothing has a fixed, independent self and everything is interconnected and empty of inherent existence.AQA
Sunyata (Emptiness): The Mahayana teaching that even the aggregates lack independent existence.AQA
Supplication: The act of asking or begging for something earnestly or humbly from God.AQA
Sustainable development: Support, education and infrastructure provided by organised charities to tackle the root causes of poverty rather than just treating the symptoms.AQA
Sustenance: Physical and spiritual provision, including rain, thunder and lightning sent by Mika'il to Earth and the rewarding of righteous deeds.AQA
Symbolism: Physical features of a murti, such as Ganesha's elephant head, represent divine qualities like wisdom and the removal of obstacles.AQA
Symbolism vs literalism: The difference between Protestant traditions understanding sacraments as symbolic ordinances of remembrance and Catholics and Orthodox Christians believing…AQA
Synagogue: Serves as a focal point for the community where public acts of worship take place.AQA
Systemic poverty: Systemic issues, illness, or lack of opportunity that can make self-help impossible.AQA

T

Talmud: The oral law, consisting of the Mishnah and Gemara, which interprets the Torah and applies its teachings to everyday situations.AQA
Tanha (Craving): The root cause of suffering, identified in the second truth, Samudaya.AQA
Taqwa: God-consciousness, which fasting is commanded to develop.AQA
Tawhid: The fundamental Islamic belief in the absolute oneness, indivisibility, and uniqueness of God (Allah).AQA
Teachings: The moral and spiritual instructions derived from sacred texts, primarily the Bible, and church tradition, which guide how believers should live.AQA
Tefillin: Prayer boxes in which the words of the Shema are physically worn during weekday morning prayers.AQA
Teleology and purpose: The idea that complexity and purpose in the universe imply a deliberate designer.AQA
Temptation and Spiritual Warfare: In the wilderness for forty days, he faces temptation by Satan, demonstrating his obedience to God and victory over evil.AQA
Ten Commandments: The Decalogue found in Exodus 20:1-17, outlining fundamental duties towards God and towards others.AQA
Tenakh: The Jewish written law, comprising the Torah, Nevi'im and Ketuvim, containing the 613 mitzvot that guide Jewish life.AQA
Terrorism: The unlawful use of violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, to achieve political or ideological aims.AQA
The Big Bang: The primary scientific explanation that the universe expanded from a hot, dense singularity approximately 13.8 billion years ago.AQA
The Bodhisattva Path: By developing patience, a Bodhisattva overcomes hatred and anger and progresses towards enlightenment.AQA
The Body of Christ: The theological belief that all Christians form one unified body regardless of geography.AQA
The common good: The focus of Gaudium et Spes paragraph 26, teaching that the social order must continually improve to benefit everyone.AQA
The cost of discipleship: Total commitment, self-denial and taking up one's cross, as taught by Jesus and seen in the calling of the first disciples who abandoned their livelihoods.AQA
The covenant: A central pillar established with Abraham and renewed with Moses at Sinai, binding the Jewish people to God through the Torah.AQA
The Design Argument: Argues that the universe's complexity requires an intelligent designer.AQA
The Dhamma: Core teachings that are central to this topic, alongside the Three Marks of Existence, the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path.AQA
The Dhamma (Dharma): The universal truth about the nature of existence as realised and taught by the Buddha, and a practical path to enlightenment and the cessation of suffering.AQA
The Eightfold Path: 'Right Speech' on this path aligns with the precept, demonstrating how ethical conduct underpins spiritual development.AQA
The Eightfold Path (Magga): The treatment prescribed by the fourth truth, also called the Middle Way, followed to achieve Enlightenment.AQA
The Fall: The first disobedience of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, told in Genesis 3, from which original sin is traced.AQA
The Father: The transcendent creator and sustainer of the universe.AQA
The First Cause Argument: Argues that everything has a cause, leading back to an uncaused first cause: God.AQA
The Five Aggregates (Skandhas): The five constantly changing elements of form, sensation, perception, mental formations and consciousness that make up human beings.AQA
The Five Moral Precepts: Voluntary training rules that Buddhists undertake to aid their spiritual development, the fifth of which instructs abstaining from intoxicants that cloud the…AQA
The Four Noble Truths: The teaching that includes the noble eightfold path, which brings a clear understanding and release from suffering.AQA
The Four Sights: Illness, old age, death, and a holy man, encountered by Siddhartha Gautama and shattering his sheltered existence.AQA
The Golden Rule: A teaching found in many faiths that believers should treat others as they wish to be treated, promoting respect and protection of others' rights.AQA
The Great Commission: Jesus' command to "make disciples of all nations", which is the biblical foundation for mission and evangelism.AQA
The Guru Granth Sahib: A sacred text that students should be able to refer to as appropriate when studying the beliefs, teachings and practices of Sikhism.AQA
The High Holy Days: The most solemn days in the Jewish calendar, namely Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.AQA
The Holy Spirit: Dwells within believers to guide, empower, and transform them, helping them to live a holy life and sustain their faith until salvation is fully realised.AQA
The Human Condition: The limitations of human existence, which understanding dukkha diagnoses, prompting the search for enlightenment.AQA
The Identity of Jesus: The locals questioned his authority, noting his ordinary background as a carpenter and naming his mother, Mary, and his brothers.AQA
The identity of Jesus as the Son of God: A heavenly voice from the cloud declares Jesus to be God's Son, confirming his divine identity.AQA
The influence of religion on modern law and society: How religious teachings impact the modern world, such as influencing legislation, medical ethics, or personal behaviour.AQA
The Jewish home: Considered a sanctuary and the primary place for worship, often viewed as equally important as the synagogue.AQA
The Journey to Jerusalem: The later ministry, in which Jesus turns his focus towards Jerusalem, knowing it will lead to his suffering and death.AQA
The Khalsa and Amrit Sanskar: The names were introduced by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699 during the formation of the Khalsa, and their introduction is a key part of the initiation ceremony.AQA
The Kingdom of God: Compared to a man scattering seed on the ground, its growth is a divine, mysterious process independent of human effort.AQA
The Law and Commandments: The commandments Jesus discusses when asked to identify the most important of all.AQA
The Life and Work of Jesus Christ: The biblical accounts of Jesus, encompassing his incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension.AQA
The Lord's Prayer: The most famous set prayer, taught by Jesus, which models adoration, confession, and supplication.AQA
The Marginalised: Jesus' mission was to offer salvation to the marginalised, challenging the strict social and religious boundaries of first-century Judaism.AQA
The Mass: The central act of Catholic liturgical worship, the source and summit of Catholic life, involving the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist.AQA
The Messianic Age: An age of global peace where all nations recognise the God of Israel.AQA
The Messianic Secret: Jesus strictly orders the parents to keep the miracle secret, showing his desire to avoid being seen merely as a miracle worker.AQA
The Middle Way: Buddhism teaches avoiding harmful overindulgence and attachment rather than demanding total sensory deprivation for laypeople.AQA
The nature of God: Seen by some believers as the creator who brought the universe into existence through the Big Bang.AQA
The nature of God's rule: God's dynamic rule and reign rather than a physical geographical place, representing a central religious, moral and spiritual truth in St Mark's Gospel.AQA
The Nature of Miracles: Mark records that Jesus could not perform any miracles there, except healing a few sick people, because of their lack of faith.AQA
The nature of prayer: Defined by St John Damascene as 'the raising of the mind and heart to God', directing intellect and engaging emotions, will and love.AQA
The nature of the divine: God's omnipotence, creativity, and love, which many religious people believe are revealed through experiencing the awe of a sunset or the power of a storm.AQA
The Nature of the Mashiach: An anointed human leader, descended from King David, not a divine being.AQA
The Nature of the Messiah: John declares that one more powerful is coming, who will baptise with the Holy Spirit rather than with water, highlighting Jesus' divine authority.AQA
The New Covenant: A new relationship between God and humanity, established by Jesus through the bread and wine of the Last Supper, replacing the old covenant.AQA
The Path to Liberation: A practical framework for living, compared to a raft used to cross a river of suffering to reach the shore of Nibbana.AQA
The power of Jesus: Jesus healed the boy solely through a verbal command to the impure spirit to leave and never return.AQA
The problem of evil: The philosophical challenge created by God being omnipotent, omnibenevolent and perfectly just while evil and suffering exist.AQA
The Promised Land: Canaan, to which God commands Abraham to travel, becomes this and is a central element of the Abrahamic Covenant.AQA
The purpose of life: Earthly life is often viewed as a crucial period of testing or spiritual preparation, giving immense value and purpose to human life.AQA
The purpose of the family: A concept students should apply to this contemporary issue, linked to fundamental religious purposes such as providing stability and teaching faith.AQA
The role of religion in modern Britain: Christianity remains the main religious tradition in Great Britain, historically and demographically shaping its laws, festivals, and culture.AQA
The Rosary: A significant traditional Catholic prayer combining vocal and mental prayer while meditating on the life of Christ.AQA
The Self (Atman): The eternal soul, pure and unchanging, which shares the essence of the supreme spirit (Brahman) and is joined with a physical body in human life.AQA
The Shema: The prayer declaring God's oneness, recited daily: 'Hear, O Israel!AQA
The Six Perfections: Followed by Mahayana Buddhists, including morality and patience, to develop the character of a Bodhisattva.AQA
The Six Perfections (Paramitas): In Mahayana traditions, patience is emphasised as the third of these, which a Bodhisattva develops on the Bodhisattva path.AQA
The Son of Man: The figure Jesus explicitly states will be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the law, who will condemn him to death.AQA
The suffering and death of Jesus: Jesus states that the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the law, condemned to death, handed over to the Gentiles to be mocked,…AQA
The suffering Messiah: Jesus' reality as a suffering servant, contrasted with the disciples' expectation of a glorious, political Messiah.AQA
The Suffering Servant: The model of Messiahship Jesus teaches his disciples, rejecting the popular expectation of a victorious military leader.AQA
The suffering Son of Man: The crucifixion and burial demonstrate Jesus' identity as the suffering Son of Man and the ultimate sacrifice for salvation.AQA
The Temple: Historically, the Shekhinah was associated with the Holy of Holies in the Jerusalem Temple.AQA
The Three Marks of Existence: The fundamental Buddhist concept of impermanence forms one of these, and anicca is named as one of them.AQA
The Three Poisons (Hatred): Hatred and anger are considered powerful poisons that create negative kamma, and patience overcomes them.AQA
The Three Refuges: Buddhists 'take refuge' in the Dhamma, the second of these, to guide their daily lives.AQA
The Trinity: The belief that there are three persons in one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.AQA
The Ummah (community): The community that is strengthened through congregational prayers at the mosque, particularly Jum'ah, and the collective fasting during Ramadan, fostering…AQA
The Word of God: What the seed represents in the allegory explained in verses 14–20.AQA
Theistic evolution: The belief that evolution is simply the mechanism God used to develop human life.AQA
Theodicy and Faith: Christian responses to suffering, such as free will or suffering as a test of faith, as in the biblical story of Job.AQA
Theological divergence: The distinct theological focus of traditions such as Shaivism, which focuses on Shiva as the Supreme Being, and Vaishnavism, which elevates Vishnu.AQA
Theological foundations: Authentic Jewish theology in which answers are grounded rather than generalisations, showing how ancient scripture dictates modern Jewish life.AQA
Theological impact: The profound theological importance of Jesus' life events for both early and modern Christians.AQA
Theological interpretation: The way beliefs and teachings are understood and expressed, which differs across Christian traditions even where core beliefs are common.AQA
Theological justification for ethics: Distinct theological foundations that lead to different ethical conclusions on the specified issues.AQA
Theological meaning: The deeper meaning embedded within the text of St Mark's Gospel, moving beyond mere historical narrative.AQA
Theology (Aqidah): The foundational theology that underpins a Muslim's entire worldview, daily actions, and moral framework.AQA
Theravada beliefs: Humans lack a permanent soul, being instead composed of five changing elements called the Five Aggregates (skandhas).AQA
Three Poisons: In Buddhism, greed and hate represent two of these, which lead to unskilful actions and suffering.AQA
Tikkun Olam: The duty to take action to improve the world, often through environmental or social justice initiatives.AQA
Tikkun Olam and Social Justice: Collective human effort, social justice and ethical living to bring about world peace.AQA
Tirtha: A 'crossing place' where the boundary between the human and divine worlds is thinnest, facilitating a closer connection with Brahman.AQA
Tradition: The synagogue ensures the continuation of Jewish faith and traditions through study of the Torah by children and adults.AQA
Tradition and continuity: Family life and festivals serve as the primary vehicles for passing down faith and traditions.AQA
Tradition and law: Mourning follows structured stages: Shiva lasting seven days, Sheloshim of thirty days, and for a parent a full year.AQA
Tradition and spontaneity: The view that formal prayer roots the believer in tradition, while informal prayer nurtures personal devotion, and that both are vital.AQA
Tradition vs Modernity: The contrast between Orthodox Judaism's strict observance of halakhah and Reform and Liberal Judaism's adaptation to modern life.AQA
Transcendence: The concept of God as 'beyond' the physical universe, existing outside its limitations.AQA
Transcendence and immanence: Existing outside of space and time as an omnipotent creator, contrasted with a benevolent God who sustains life within the world.AQA
Transcendent: God's nature as separate from the universe, not limited by its physical laws, time, or space.AQA
Transfiguration: The event where Jesus' appearance changed and became radiant, and he was seen speaking with Moses and Elijah.AQA
Transmission of faith: A primary function is passing on faith and moral values to the next generation.AQA
Transubstantiation: Roman Catholics believe the elements literally become Christ's body and blood, offering direct spiritual nourishment.AQA
Trefah: Literally means 'torn' but describes any food that is forbidden or incorrectly prepared, such as pork and shellfish.AQA
Tri-murti: Represents the three primary manifestations of Brahman, responsible for the continuous cycle of the universe.AQA
True discipleship: The narrative highlights this through the woman's profound devotion, contrasted with the religious leaders' secret plot to kill him.AQA
Trust in God: Complete reliance on God's provision is emphasised by the strict poverty of taking only a staff and wearing sandals.AQA
Turbah: A clay block from Karbala on which Shi'a Muslims rest their foreheads during prostration.AQA
Tzedakah: A mandatory act of justice rather than optional philanthropy, typically involving giving ten percent of one's income.AQA
Tzedek: A fundamental Jewish obligation to ensure fairness and uphold the law in society.AQA

U

Ultimate reality: That about which enlightenment provides direct, transformative knowledge, freeing the individual from ignorance and the cycle of rebirth.AQA
Ummah: Festivals unite the Muslim community, which is crucial for Muslims in Great Britain today to maintain cultural and religious identity.AQA
Unitive: Relating to the purpose of uniting a couple in love and strengthening their bond.AQA
Unity: Core beliefs such as monotheism and the covenant are shared across different Jewish traditions, even while practices diverge.AQA
Unity and division: Recognising both the unifying doctrines and the specific denominational differences is essential for evaluating diverse Christian practices.AQA
Unity of the Ummah: The spiritual architecture that unites the global Muslim community while allowing for distinct theological interpretations across different traditions.AQA
Universal Truth: A pre-existing truth of reality that the Buddha discovered upon his enlightenment rather than a divine revelation.AQA
Universalism: The expansion of Jesus' saving mission beyond Judaism to include Gentiles who demonstrate genuine faith, shown in this narrative.AQA
Unjust law: Legislation that contradicts fundamental moral, ethical, or religious standards.AQA
Upanishads: Sacred texts that contain the analogy of salt dissolved in water.AQA
Upbringing: How a child is raised; growing up in an abusive environment or surrounded by criminal behaviour can normalise illegal acts and fail to instil moral boundaries.AQA
Utilitarianism: Associated with the principle of utility, which argues that an action is right if it produces the greatest good for the greatest number.AQA

V

Varanasi: Situated on the banks of the River Ganges, it is considered the holiest of sacred sites and is deeply associated with Lord Shiva.AQA
Viharas: Monasteries that house monks and nuns dedicating their lives to the Dhamma.AQA
Violence: The intentional use of physical force or power to cause harm, injury, or death.AQA
Violent protest: Using physical force or damage to property to achieve political or social change.AQA
Vipassana (insight): Meditation that involves observing the true nature of reality, such as the Three Marks of Existence, to gain wisdom.AQA
Vision: A form of special revelation where a person sees or hears something holy that is not visible to others.AQA
Visualisation: A practice in Mahayana Buddhism where a practitioner mentally pictures a Buddha or Bodhisattva, such as Amitabha, to cultivate their qualities.AQA
Vocation and commitment: For 21st-century Christians, a daily spiritual commitment to act with agape love, showing faith through modern vocations, charity and enduring everyday…AQA

W

Waheguru: Wonderful Lord, the word Sikhs silently repeat during everyday tasks in the practice of nam japna.AQA
Wealth and Materialism: The man walked away in sorrow because of his great wealth, and Jesus taught about the spiritual dangers of materialism.AQA
Wealth and poverty: The contrast between the rich, who gave out of their surplus wealth, and the widow, who out of her poverty gave everything she had to live on.AQA
Wealth and prosperity: Rangoli patterns welcome Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, and many Hindus mark the new financial year with prayers for prosperity.AQA
Weapon of Mass Destruction (WMD): A nuclear, biological, or chemical weapon capable of causing widespread death and destruction.AQA
Weaponisation of faith: Religious identity being used by leaders to mask underlying political, economic, or territorial ambitions in contemporary conflicts.AQA
Wesak: The most significant festival in the Buddhist calendar, commemorating the Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and passing into Parinirvana.AQA
World religions: Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Sikhism, which may be drawn upon in thematic studies to evaluate ethical issues.AQA
Worship: The synagogue is a place of prayer, providing a focal point for communal prayer, which is considered more spiritually powerful than praying alone.AQA
Worship (puja): Expressing deep gratitude and respect for the Buddha and his teachings (Dhamma), rather than petitioning a creator god.AQA
Worship and celebration: Obligatory acts of worship and communal festivals such as Id-ul-Fitr and Id-ul-Adha shape a Muslim's spiritual life.AQA
Worship and prayer: The Mool Mantra is recited daily by Sikhs during morning prayers to constantly remind them of God's supreme, formless, and eternal qualities.AQA
Worship practices: Associated practices include removing shoes, bowing to the scripture, and using artefacts like the chauri.AQA

Y

Yatra: Hindu pilgrimage involving specific practices undertaken for distinct spiritual purposes.AQA

Z

Zakah: The third Pillar of Sunni Islam, it is the compulsory giving of 2.5% of a Muslim's surplus wealth to charity.AQA
Zen Buddhism: A tradition in which zazen, a specific form of meditation translating to seated meditation, is practised.AQA

Other terms

1st century Jewish context: A strictly hierarchical society in which illness was frequently viewed as divine punishment for sin and tax collectors were despised as traitors working for…AQA
613 mitzvot: The commandments in the Torah for which the covenant provides the basis.AQA

Where these terms come from

Each definition is one we publish on a Religious Studies GCSE 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.

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