Key terms & definitions

The right to choose, change or reject a religion or belief, and to express it through worship, teaching, practice and observance.

A movement seeking strict adherence to what its followers regard as the fundamental teachings of a religion. In revolutionary Iran, religious leaders sought government based on Islam and rejected Western influence.

A community in which monks or nuns lived according to religious rules, devoting their lives to prayer and service.

A contradiction between someone’s claimed religious principles and their behaviour, especially when religious authority is used to justify mistreating others.

A sense of belonging to a religious community, which may also be connected with family, culture and national identity.

An aspect of identity connected to religious beliefs, practices or membership of a faith community.

The belief that one religion contains the fullest or final truth while other religions contain some truth.

Unwillingness to accept people with different religious beliefs, which can lead to discrimination, persecution or violence.

Understanding or justified belief about religious matters, rather than simply a strong feeling or an unsupported claim.

Practising a religion through actions such as worship, prayer and living according to its teachings.

A community of monks, nuns or other religious members following shared rules governing worship and daily life.

Laws imposing penalties on religious practices or beliefs that did not conform to the established Church.

Hostile treatment of people because of their religious beliefs.

Unfair treatment, restriction or harm directed at people because of their religious beliefs or identity.

The view that different religious paths may offer genuine ways of approaching religious truth, rather than only one tradition having value.

Ritual impurity associated with events such as death, requiring religious cleansing; it is distinct from physical dirt or disease.

A renewed wave of religious enthusiasm intended to strengthen faith and encourage people to change their lives.

Conflict between religious groups over beliefs, authority and the spread of their faith.

Elizabeth I’s arrangements of 1559 establishing royal authority over the Church of England and a common form of Protestant worship, while retaining some traditional features.

Allowing people to practise beliefs different from your own without persecuting them for those beliefs.

Respecting another person’s freedom to hold and practise beliefs, even when disagreeing with those beliefs.

The acceptance of people practising different religious beliefs without persecution.

Raising a child within a religion’s beliefs, values and practices.

The amount left over when one whole number does not divide exactly into another.

The amount left over after integer division. For example, dividing 11 by 2 gives a quotient of 5 and a remainder of 1.

Marrying again after a previous marriage has ended, for example through divorce or the death of a spouse.

In this topic, marrying again after divorce while a former spouse is still alive.

A legal response intended to resolve a civil claim, such as compensation or an order requiring particular behaviour.

Claims to recall experiences from an earlier earthly life, sometimes offered as evidence for reincarnation.

The introduction of troops or military installations into an area where they had previously been forbidden.