Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies A key terms

A Buddhist discourse about the greatest blessings, including honouring worthy people, generosity, ethical conduct and listening to the Dhamma.

A person who is self-centred, following their own ego and desires rather than the Guru's guidance.

A sacred sound, word or phrase used in worship or meditation.

Belonging to marriage. Catholic teaching places sexual relationships within the lifelong, exclusive marriage of a man and a woman.

An essential characteristic of the Christian Church. The four marks are one, holy, catholic and apostolic.

A publicly recognised union in which two people make a formal commitment to one another.

A person killed because of their faith or commitment to a religious cause.

Death suffered for refusing to abandon religious beliefs or principles.

Mary, the mother of Isa, honoured in Islam for her purity, devotion and submission to Allah.

The Catholic celebration of the Eucharist, including readings from Scripture, prayers and Holy Communion.

The text or content of a Hadith report, describing the Prophet Muhammad’s words, actions or teaching.

Unleavened bread eaten at Pesach, recalling the Israelites' hurried departure from Egypt.

An Arabic word interpreted as ‘authority’ or ‘leader’ in the Shi’a understanding of Muhammad’s declaration about Ali, and as ‘friend’ in the Sunni understanding.

Attachment to the material world that can distract a person from God.

A practice of training and focusing the mind, which in Hinduism may involve concentration on a deity, sacred sound or the spiritual self.

A seven-branched lampstand associated with the ancient Jewish Temple and used as a symbol of Jewish faith and God’s light.

Compassion and willingness to forgive wrongdoing rather than simply punish it.

The beneficial spiritual consequences of wholesome intentions and actions, such as generosity and ethical conduct.

A prophet entrusted with a revealed scripture to communicate to people.

From the Hebrew Mashiach, meaning ‘anointed one’: in traditional Jewish belief, the future human leader descended from King David who will bring about the Messianic Age.

The future age associated with the coming of the Messiah; some Jews connect resurrection and final judgement with this age.

The pattern in Mark’s Gospel in which Jesus restricts the disclosure of his identity or of extraordinary events involving him.

An understanding of the Genesis creation accounts as symbolic narratives conveying religious truths rather than exact scientific descriptions.

Loving kindness: goodwill which wishes others happiness and well-being, rather than hostility or harm.

Meditation that deliberately develops loving kindness towards oneself and other beings.

A Sufi order associated with Rumi, particularly known for its whirling ceremony.

A parchment scroll containing passages from the Shema, placed in a case attached to a doorpost in a Jewish home.