Eduqas GCSE Religious Studies (Short Course) key terms

The Buddhist teaching that things arise and change because of causes and conditions; nothing exists independently.

The Buddha’s teachings about the nature of existence and how to live.

Religious and moral duty, related to a person’s responsibilities and, traditionally, their status or caste in Hindu society.

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

The ending or absorption of the universe’s existing form; in Hindu cyclical accounts, this is part of a wider cycle rather than necessarily the final end of everything.

Having the nature of God.

The legal ending of a marriage.

Authority to rule over the created world, given to humans in Genesis 1; many Christians understand this as responsibility rather than permission to exploit it.

Suffering, dissatisfaction or unsatisfactoriness, including pain and the inability of changing experiences to provide lasting satisfaction.

A dualist school of Hindu philosophy which teaches that the individual soul and God remain distinct.

Eight interconnected aspects of Buddhist practice that develop wisdom, ethical conduct and meditation.

A state of wisdom and insight in which the truths of existence are understood and ignorance is overcome.

The point at which a soul is believed to enter the developing foetus.

The duty to prevent or reduce environmental harm and to care for the natural world.

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

Beliefs about death, judgement, the end times and the final destiny of human beings.

A church formally recognised as having a special relationship with the state, such as the Church of England in England.

A speech honouring and remembering someone who has died.

The act of killing or permitting the death of someone suffering from serious illness in order to relieve suffering; often called ‘mercy killing’.

A Christian who emphasises the authority of the Bible, personal faith in Jesus Christ and sharing the gospel.

The process by which living organisms develop from earlier forms over many generations during the history of the Earth.

A Latin expression meaning ‘out of nothing’: the Christian belief that God created without needing pre-existing materials.

The departure of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt under Moses' leadership.

A family that includes relatives beyond parents and their children, such as grandparents, aunts or uncles.

Treating people impartially, without unjust favouritism.

The disobedience of Adam and Eve described in Genesis 3, understood by Christians as humanity’s loss of its original harmony with God.

Deciding whether and when to have children, and the number and spacing of births.

The natural human disposition to recognise Allah and goodness; in environmental ethics, it encourages living in harmony with creation.