Eduqas GCSE Religious Studies (Short Course) key terms

The belief that God works through the process of evolution to bring about living things.

The 'school of the elders', a Buddhist tradition which emphasises following the Buddha's teachings and the arhat ideal.

The Buddhist training commitment to abstain from sexual misconduct. Buddhists differ over precisely which sexual behaviour it prohibits.

The grouping of Buddhist practice into ethics, meditation and wisdom.

Three characteristics of existence taught by the Buddha: dukkha, anicca and anatta.

The three harmful roots of greed, hatred and ignorance which sustain suffering.

‘Repairing the world’: working to improve the world, including through social justice. Reform Judaism connects this responsibility with bringing the Messianic Age nearer.

The Jewish written law contained in the first five books of the Hebrew Bible.

Christian beliefs, teachings and practices passed down through the Church.

God's existence beyond the limits of the created world, including physical form, time, birth and death.

Beyond the limitations of the created world, including time and space.

The passage of the soul from one bodily existence to another through rebirth.

The three qualities of material nature: sattva, rajas and tamas.

The three major aspects of Brahman: Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Preserver and Shiva the Destroyer.

The Christian belief that one God exists as three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

The worldwide community of Muslims, united by their faith in Islam.

The purpose of sex that deepens the love and unity of a couple.

Everything that exists physically, including space, time, matter and energy.

The sacred thread initiation ceremony associated with entering religious study and taking on religious responsibilities.

The 'foundations of religion': the five roots of belief in Shi'a Islam.

The spiritual abode of Vishnu and his devotees, understood in Vaishnava traditions as free from the limitations and anxieties of material existence.

A Hindu who worships Vishnu, or an avatara such as Krishna, as supreme.

A Hindu tradition which regards Vishnu, or one of his forms such as Krishna, as supreme.

The traditional understanding that a person's duties are connected with their social role, or varna, and stage of life, or ashrama.

The Hindu deity associated with preserving and protecting the universe, regarded as supreme in Vaishnavism.

The deliberate ending of a person’s life to relieve suffering at that person’s request.

God, often translated as ‘Wonderful Lord’ or ‘Wonderful Guru’.