Eduqas GCSE Religious Studies key terms

A person who is not taking part in fighting, such as an innocent civilian.

Reading the Genesis creation accounts as conveying religious truths through symbolism or literary structure, rather than as exact scientific or historical descriptions.

Opposing injustice without using violence, for example through peaceful marches or boycotts.

The term for prophethood used in the five roots of Shi’a Islam.

A family unit consisting of parents and their children.

A religious duty that a believer is required to fulfil.

The ‘world to come’; a Jewish term that can refer to life after death or to a future Messianic age.

The belief that God is all-loving and perfectly good.

Being perfectly good and loving.

All-loving and infinitely good, a quality Christians attribute to God.

Having unlimited power; the belief that God is all-powerful.

All-powerful: having almighty and unlimited power, a quality Christians attribute to God.

Present everywhere, rather than confined to one location.

Knowing everything.

A Jewish mourner in the period between a close relative's death and the funeral, responsible for arranging the funeral and traditionally exempt from positive religious obligations. Also written as onen.

The tradition of teachings explaining how to interpret and apply the written Torah, originally passed on orally.

The formal religious act through which a person becomes an ordained minister, such as a priest.

The fallen condition inherited by humanity because of the first human disobedience to God; Catholics believe Baptism removes original sin.

A branch of Judaism that upholds the divine authority of the Torah and the binding authority of traditional Jewish law.

Practical work that reaches beyond a congregation to help people in the wider community.

Sinful activity or wrongdoing, which produces harmful karmic consequences.

A Tibetan Buddhist monk who endured 33 years of imprisonment and torture and described using Buddhist practice to reject revenge against his guards.

Care that relieves pain and other distressing symptoms, especially in serious or terminal illness.

People sitting together in rows to share langar, expressing equality.

The ‘five beloved ones’: the first five Sikhs initiated into the Khalsa by Guru Gobind Singh.

The Five Beloved Ones: the first five Sikhs initiated into the Khalsa by Guru Gobind Singh.

A Hindu term referring to God present in the heart of living beings, used to explain their spiritual worth.