Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies B key terms

The Temple in Jerusalem was the central Jewish sanctuary where sacrifices were offered, distinct from local synagogues. The Second Temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE.

The Jewish scriptures, comprising the Torah, Prophets and Writings.

The ten duties practised in Shi'a Islam, which include both Zakah and Khums.

The use or threat of violence to intimidate the public or influence a government for political, religious or ideological aims.

Jewish repentance: recognising wrongdoing, feeling genuine remorse, seeking forgiveness and committing not to repeat the offence.

Repentance: turning away from wrongdoing and returning to a life guided by God.

A person's account of something they have experienced or witnessed.

The belief that difficult experiences may test a person's trust in God and provide opportunities for spiritual growth.

An expression of gratitude to God for his goodness and help.

The belief that God creates through the process of evolution, so evolution and belief in a creator are compatible.

An argument that seeks to reconcile the existence of evil and suffering with belief in an all-powerful, loving and righteous God.

Pope John Paul II's teaching about the meaning of the human body in God's plan, connecting embodied personhood, being male or female, and relationships of mutual love with creation in God's image.

A reasoned explanation of how suffering can exist alongside belief in a powerful and compassionate God.

An explanation that attempts to reconcile suffering with belief in an all-powerful, good God.

A Buddhist tradition, known as the ‘school of the elders’, which emphasises the Buddha’s teachings preserved in Pali texts.

In Celtic Christian tradition, a place where the boundary between heaven and earth is understood to feel especially thin, allowing a strong sense of closeness to God.

The Buddhist training rule to refrain from sexual misconduct: sexual behaviour that breaches ethical responsibilities, such as through betrayal, exploitation or harm.

A historic statement of Anglican teaching, including its understanding of baptism, the Lord’s Supper and other church rites.

The grouping of Buddhist training into ethics (sila), meditation or concentration (samadhi), and wisdom (panna).

The Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha: the three sources of guidance in which Buddhists take refuge. Also called Tiratana or Triratna.

The Buddhist characteristics of existence: anicca (impermanence), dukkha (suffering or unsatisfactoriness) and anatta (the absence of a permanent, unchanging self).

Greed or attachment, hatred or aversion, and ignorance or delusion: three unwholesome roots which sustain suffering and rebirth.

A Tibetan Buddhist text, also called the Bardo Thodol, read to guide the deceased through the intermediate state between death and rebirth.

‘Repairing the world’: a Jewish idea commonly applied to working towards a fairer society and addressing injustice.

Giving one-tenth of a person’s income, often to support a church or charitable work.

Giving one-tenth of income or produce for religious or charitable purposes; many Jews give one-tenth of their disposable income to help people in need.

Respecting other people's freedom to hold different beliefs and follow different ways of life, without necessarily agreeing with them.