Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies B key terms

The argument that the universe’s life-permitting conditions provide evidence of deliberate design.

The ultimate cause of the universe, which does not itself depend on an earlier cause; identified as God by supporters of the cosmological argument.

The first part of a harvest. Paul uses this image for Jesus’ resurrection as the beginning and promise of the resurrection of those who belong to him.

The Buddhist teaching that existence involves suffering and unsatisfactoriness, which must be understood.

The Buddhist commitment to refrain from taking life.

The pure natural state in which Muslims believe every human being is born, with the ability to choose right or wrong.

The five central religious duties of Sunni Islam: Shahadah, Salah, Zakah, Sawm and Hajj.

Five Buddhist ethical training principles concerning killing, taking what is not given, sexual misconduct, false speech and intoxicants.

Five destructive tendencies in Sikh teaching: kaam (lust), krodh (anger), lobh (greed), moh (attachment) and ahankar (ego or excessive pride). They distract people from God and right conduct.

An unborn developing offspring; in discussions of abortion, the term refers to the developing human before birth.

A marriage imposed on someone without their free consent.

Letting go of resentment and the desire for revenge against someone who has caused harm, without necessarily excusing the wrongdoing.

Prayer using established, pre-written words, such as those found in a Jewish prayer book.

Courage and perseverance in pursuing what is good despite difficulties.

The four encounters traditionally described as an old person, a sick person, a dead person and a holy man, which prompted Siddhartha to seek a solution to suffering.

A deliberately deceptive claim, such as pretending to communicate with someone who has died.

The ability to make genuine choices, including choosing between good and evil.

A Christian who strongly upholds biblical authority and typically reads the Genesis creation account literally.

The central celebration of the Catholic funeral rite, usually a Mass but sometimes a service of Scripture readings and prayers without the Eucharist.

The Church’s acts of worship and prayer surrounding a person’s death, normally including a vigil, the Funeral Liturgy and the committal.

Hebrew for ‘Garden of Eden’; also used for a heavenly existence or closeness to God after death.

A Hindu deity, the son of Shiva and Parvati, recognised by his elephant head and worshipped as the remover of obstacles.

A Vedic prayer in Rig Veda 3.62.10 addressed to Savitr, asking that divine light inspire and guide our minds.

A state or place of spiritual purification after death in some Jewish teachings, rather than necessarily eternal punishment.

Rabbinic discussion and analysis of the Mishnah, forming part of the Talmud.

Acts of loving kindness, such as visiting the sick or helping someone through practical service.

Unfair treatment of someone because of their gender, such as excluding them from a leadership role.