Eduqas GCSE Religious Studies (Short Course) key terms

A ceremony marking an important change or stage in a person's life.

A position or function, including the behaviour expected of someone within a family or society.

An outward sign of inward grace. Catholics understand marriage as a sacrament through which the couple receive God's grace.

Brahman understood with qualities, such as love and power, and approachable through personal forms.

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

A scroll containing revelation. The Scrolls of Ibrahim are also called Suhuf, the plural form.

Deliverance from sin and its consequences, restoring a relationship with God and offering eternal life.

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

The cycle of birth, death and rebirth through reincarnation.

The eternal law or way; a name many Hindus use for their religion and its enduring moral and spiritual truths.

The belief that human life is sacred and precious because it is given by God.

The Sikh congregation: people gathered for worship, learning and spiritual companionship.

The Buddhist community; in a monastic context, the community of monks and nuns.

The seven steps taken together by a couple in a Hindu wedding ceremony, expressing their commitment to married life.

The quality of material nature associated with purity, harmony, clarity and wisdom.

A goat that symbolically carried away the Israelites’ sins in the ritual described in Leviticus 16.

The title identifying Muhammad as the final prophet, after whom there will be no further prophets.

A practical moral rule derived by reasoning from a primary precept.

The expected return of Jesus Christ, associated with the resurrection of the dead and final judgement.

The Buddhist undertaking to abstain from taking what is not given.

Non-religious; not based on religious worship or authority.

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

A balanced, spiritually poised way of living, rather than being controlled by excessive desires.

The capacity to experience feelings such as pain and pleasure.

Living apart without necessarily ending the marriage.

Selfless service to others.

Selfless service performed for others without expecting a reward.