Eduqas GCSE Religious Studies key terms

A state of spiritual poise and inner peace associated with living in harmony with God through the Guru’s guidance.

A Sikh who follows the Sikh path gradually but has not undergone initiation into the Khalsa; also spelt sahajdhari.

The prescribed daily prayers performed by Muslims as worship of Allah.

Being saved from sin and its consequences, restoring a relationship with God.

Meditation that develops calmness and concentration, often by focusing on breathing.

A romantic or sexual relationship between people of the same sex.

The cycle of death and rebirth from which Hindus seek liberation.

A Hindu rite of passage marking an important stage of life.

The origin or arising of suffering; the second Noble Truth identifies craving as its cause.

The eternal duty or eternal way; a name for Hinduism that also expresses enduring principles of right living.

The belief that human life is sacred and has intrinsic value because it comes from God.

The honoured person who holds the baby during the Brit Milah circumcision, often a grandfather.

The Sikh congregation or community gathered for worship and shared spiritual learning.

The Buddhist community; often used particularly for the community of monks and nuns.

A Hindu renouncer who gives up worldly attachments and lives simply in pursuit of spiritual liberation.

The Sikh principle of the well-being of all, expressed in the closing petition of the Ardas prayer.

A Sikh ideal meaning the welfare of all, expressed in the Sikh prayer called the ardas.

God’s presence and qualities as revealed within creation.

The quality of goodness, associated with purity, knowledge, harmony and preservation.

‘Holding firmly to truth’: Gandhi’s method of resisting injustice through non-violent action.

Fasting from dawn until sunset during Ramadan as an act of obedience to Allah.

Travelling seven times between Safa and Marwah, remembering Hagar’s search for water for her son.

Observable information used to test and support explanations of the natural world.

A title meaning the final prophet, used for Muhammad.

The Buddhist ethical commitment to refrain from taking what is not freely given.

Non-religious; a secular institution does not depend on a sacred or divine bond.

The process by which religion becomes less influential in society and people’s lives.