Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies B key terms

Life with God that is not ended by physical death.

A Christian act of worship involving bread and wine which remembers Jesus’ Last Supper and his sacrifice; also called Communion.

Worship of Christ present in the consecrated Eucharist, often involving silent prayer and reflection.

The central prayer of thanksgiving and sanctification in the Mass, during which the bread and wine become Christ’s Body and Blood.

The deliberate ending of another person’s life to relieve suffering.

Pope Francis’ 2013 apostolic exhortation on proclaiming the Gospel in today’s world. Its title means ‘The Joy of the Gospel’.

Sharing the Christian faith with others with the aim of bringing them to faith.

Wrongdoing or harm, such as cruelty and murder. In discussions of natural evil, the word also refers to harmful natural events rather than morally wrong choices.

An action contrary to God's will that causes harm or fails to show the care owed to others.

Change in the inherited characteristics of a population over successive generations.

The view that one’s own religion is the only true religion and that other religious traditions are not valid.

Making amends for wrongdoing; the Catechism teaches that punishment can have this value when an offender voluntarily accepts it.

Prayer expressed spontaneously in a person's own words rather than read from a prepared text.

A family including relatives beyond parents and children, such as grandparents, who may live together or nearby.

Intensive farming in which large numbers of animals are kept for food production, often with restricted space and freedom.

A legal hearing in which the accusation and evidence are examined impartially and the accused has a proper opportunity to defend themselves.

Trust or confidence in God and religious teachings, including beliefs that cannot be established through empirical evidence alone.

Remaining loyal to a partner and keeping the commitments made within a relationship.

The disobedience of Adam and Eve described in Genesis, which Christians understand as bringing sin into human life.

An apostolic exhortation issued by Pope John Paul II in 1981 about the role of the Christian family in the modern world.

A movement that develops friendship, support and a sense of belonging through groups within parish communities.

Deciding whether to have children, how many to have and when to have them.

A responsibility or pattern of behaviour expected of someone within a family, such as earning income, caring for children or managing household resources.

Worship in which parents and children participate together, sharing prayer and learning about Christian beliefs and practices.

An obligatory action in Islam: performing it is rewarded, while deliberately neglecting it can bring punishment.

The first Person of the Trinity, understood as the almighty Creator and a loving Father.

A religious observance that commemorates an event or person, often through worship and community activities.