AQA GCSE Religious Studies A key terms

The Christian observance of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, held on the Sunday before Easter.

The practice of sitting together in rows to share langar as equals.

The ‘five beloved ones’: originally the first five Sikhs initiated into the Khalsa; today, five initiated Sikhs who administer Amrit Sanskar.

The ‘Five Beloved Ones’: the first five Sikhs initiated into the Khalsa by Guru Gobind Singh.

A short story using familiar experiences to communicate a religious or spiritual teaching.

A fully developed virtue or ‘perfection’ cultivated on the Buddhist path to enlightenment.

Food containing neither meat nor dairy, which may be eaten with either when it otherwise meets kosher requirements.

The final nibbana at the death of an enlightened person, who will not be reborn.

A festival especially associated with Mahayana Buddhism that commemorates the Buddha’s death and passing into final nibbana.

The individual judgement received immediately after death.

The Easter candle representing the risen Christ, which is placed beside the coffin during a Catholic funeral.

The suffering and death of Jesus, especially the events leading to his crucifixion.

An announcement by Jesus of his coming suffering, death and resurrection.

A term sometimes used for withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining treatment so that a person dies. Withdrawal of futile treatment is not necessarily regarded as euthanasia.

A Jewish festival remembering God’s liberation of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt.

The Pali term for dependent arising: the teaching that things and experiences depend on causes and conditions.

Remaining calm and persevering when facing difficulties, delays or other people's faults.

A founding father or ancestor of the Jewish people. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are the Jewish patriarchs.

An international Catholic peace movement whose name means ‘Peace of Christ’. It promotes peace, reconciliation and nonviolence.

An absence of war, violence and conflict, together with harmony between people; it can also refer to inner calm.

Working to bring about peace and rebuild relationships damaged by conflict.

The ways Quakers put their commitment to peace into practice, including refusing violence, building peaceful relationships and campaigning against war.

A Qur’anic term referring to Jews and Christians, who are recognised as having received revelations from God.

Recruiting, moving or harbouring people for exploitation through means such as coercion, deception or abuse of vulnerability. For children, these means need not be present. Crossing an international border is not necessary.

Recognising and interpreting what is experienced; the meaning given to an experience.

Hostility or mistreatment directed at people because of their religion or beliefs.

A divine being with whom humans can have a relationship, who knows individuals and can communicate with them.