Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies B key terms

A partition separating men's and women's seating areas in an Orthodox synagogue.

Someone who acts between two parties; Moses communicated between God and the Israelites at Sinai.

The practice of directing and steadying the mind, for example by concentrating on God or the spiritual self.

The seven-branched lampstand associated with the Temple in Jerusalem; synagogue representations recall that Temple tradition.

Compassion towards a wrongdoer, which may involve reducing a punishment while still recognising responsibility for the offence.

The beneficial spiritual quality associated with skilful actions, such as generosity.

Dedicating the benefit of wholesome actions to another being, including someone who has died.

A dream interpreted as conveying guidance or a teaching, rather than merely replaying ordinary thoughts.

A person sent by Allah to communicate his message to people.

Meaning ‘anointed one’, the human leader traditionally expected to descend from King David and bring about the Messianic Age.

A future time of peace and justice associated in Jewish belief with the coming of the Messiah.

An understanding of a passage as communicating truth through symbolic language rather than necessarily describing events exactly as they happened.

Loving kindness: wishing for the wellbeing of others.

Meditation that cultivates loving-kindness towards others.

A scroll bearing words of the Shema, placed in a protective case and attached to a doorpost.

Belief in resurrection and the Day of Judgement, when human beings return to Allah and are judged.

Resurrection and return to Allah for judgement; one of the five roots of Usul ad-Din in Shi’a Islam.

The Buddhist path that avoids both indulgence in sensual pleasure and extreme self-denial; identified by the Buddha as the Noble Eightfold Path.

A niche in a mosque wall indicating the direction of prayer.

The angel known in English as Michael, associated with mercy and sustenance, including providing rain by Allah’s command.

An obligatory or commanded war in Jewish teaching, including war understood as fulfilling a divine command or necessary defence against attack.

A permitted or optional war, rather than one commanded by God; in classical Jewish teaching it requires the approval of the Sanhedrin.

The traditional Jewish afternoon prayer service.

Awareness of present experience, including thoughts and emotions, which can help a person respond deliberately rather than react with anger.

Discipline over thoughts, emotions and desires, so that sensory attractions do not determine one's actions.

A causally connected sequence of changing moments of awareness, understood in Tibetan Buddhism to continue across lives without being a permanent soul.

The minimum group required for certain communal prayers. In Orthodox Judaism, this is ten adult Jewish men.