AQA GCSE Religious Studies key terms

Continuity of care, dependable relationships and a secure environment.

A family formed when a parent with children remarries, bringing a step-parent into the family.

A procedure intended to permanently prevent a person from reproducing.

The responsibility to care for the world on God’s behalf, recognising that creation belongs to God.

Muhammad’s example and way of life, which Muslims follow as guidance.

‘Emptiness’: the teaching that things have no independent, permanent essence and depend on other things for their existence.

A chapter of the Qur’an.

Understanding words or images in a religious text as expressing a deeper meaning rather than as literal instructions.

The portable sanctuary used by the Israelites during their journey through the wilderness, associated with God dwelling among them.

Craving: a grasping desire for experiences or possessions to satisfy us or for life to remain as we want it.

The Islamic belief in the absolute Oneness of God: Allah is one, indivisible and without partners or equals.

The Jewish scriptures, consisting of the Torah, Prophets and Writings.

The foundational divine commands recorded in Exodus 20, guiding relationships with God and with other people.

The unlawful use of violence or threats to create fear and achieve political, ideological or religious aims, often targeting civilians.

A Buddhist tradition known as the ‘school of the elders’, which explains human personality through the Five Aggregates.

The grouping of the Eightfold Path into ethics (sila), meditation (samadhi) and wisdom (panna).

Three fundamental characteristics of existence taught in Buddhism: anicca (impermanence), anatta (no fixed self) and dukkha (suffering or unsatisfactoriness).

Ignorance, greed and hatred: harmful states of mind that cause suffering.

‘Repairing’ or ‘healing the world’: working to improve the world through morally good actions, including social justice and care for the environment.

The first five books of the Jewish scriptures, containing teachings and the 613 mitzvot traditionally understood to have been given by God to Moses.

God’s existence above, beyond and independently of the created world, without being limited by it.

The Christian belief in one God as three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Charitable giving understood as a duty of righteousness and justice, rather than simply an optional generous act.

The ‘roots of religion’: five foundational beliefs in Shi’a Islam, including the imamate.

An ethical approach that judges actions by their consequences, seeking the greatest overall good and least suffering.

A person harmed by armed conflict, including through injury, bereavement, displacement or the loss of essential services.

The use of physical force to harm, damage or kill.