Eduqas GCSE Religious Studies key terms

A collection of Buddhist teachings traditionally attributed to the Buddha, including verses about wisdom and how to live.

Giving or generosity, often written as dana or dāna; a Buddhist practice that helps others and challenges attachment.

The moral and ethical duties and responsibilities that guide right living and spiritual growth.

A person’s worth, which should be respected when providing assistance rather than treating them as inferior because they need help.

A campaigning organisation seeking a choice of assisted dying for terminally ill, mentally competent adults, with safeguards against pressure and abuse.

The Jewish principle that ‘the law of the land is the law’: civil law is binding and should be respected.

Unfair treatment of a person or group because of characteristics such as race, religion, gender or disability.

The legal ending of a marriage.

The festival of lights, celebrating the triumph of good over evil, light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance.

The main prayer hall in a gurdwara, where the congregation gathers in the presence of the Guru Granth Sahib.

A small oil lamp used during Diwali to decorate buildings, recall Rama and Sita’s return and welcome Lakshmi.

The authority given to humans to rule over the rest of creation, described in Genesis 1:26–28.

Personal prayer or supplication addressed directly to Allah.

Personal supplication to Allah, such as asking for forgiveness or guidance.

Suffering or unsatisfactoriness, including the dissatisfaction associated with attachment to things that change.

A dualist Hindu philosophy teaching that the individual self and God remain eternally distinct.

The Christian festival celebrating Jesus’ resurrection from the dead.

Concerned with cooperation and unity between different Christian denominations.

The movement towards greater unity and cooperation between Christian denominations.

The Buddha’s path of ethical conduct, mental training and wisdom leading towards the ending of suffering.

Maimonides’ ranking of eight ways of giving charity, considering independence, anonymity, willingness and whether help is offered before being requested. Its highest level helps someone become self-supporting.

Awakening to the truth about reality, including the causes of suffering and the way to end it.

The point at which a soul is believed to enter the developing foetus; many Muslim scholars place this at 120 days.

The duty to consider and reduce the harm that human actions cause to the natural world.

Responsible care for the natural world and its resources.

Meeting demands on natural resources without reducing the ability of people, animals and plants to live well, now and in the future.

Giving similar interests the same moral weight, regardless of whose interests they are. This does not necessarily require identical treatment.