Religious Studies key terms

Spiritual awareness or consciousness understood as divine, rather than as an individual human mind.

The belief that God guided the production of a religious text.

God’s assessment of a person’s actions, associated with responsibility, reward and punishment.

The Orthodox Christian worship service in which the Eucharist is celebrated.

An expression for God’s presence within a person; it does not mean a literal physical spark.

A title used in John’s Gospel for the eternal Son of God, who reveals God and became human in Jesus.

The legal ending of a marriage.

The Hindu festival of lights, associated with good overcoming evil, light overcoming darkness and knowledge overcoming 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 belief that humans have been given authority or control over the natural world by God.

The principle that a good action may be permissible despite a foreseen harmful effect, provided the harm is not intended or used to achieve the good and there is a proportionately serious reason.

Personal prayer or supplication to Allah, rather than the prescribed ritual of salah.

The belief that a human being has both a physical body and a distinct soul.

Suffering or unsatisfactoriness: ordinary life cannot provide permanent satisfaction because its conditions change.

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

The Christian festival celebrating Jesus’ resurrection; the celebrations around it also remember his suffering and death.

Concerned with cooperation and unity between different Christian denominations.

Efforts by different Christian denominations to develop closer relationships, understanding and unity.

Eight interconnected practices through which Buddhists develop wisdom, ethical conduct and mental discipline to overcome 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.

The bread and wine used in Holy Communion.

Immediate, short-term assistance, such as food, water, shelter and healthcare following a disaster.

Trying to understand another person’s feelings and situation.

Sustained effort and determination in Buddhist practice and doing good; also called virya.

Awakening to the truth about existence, including understanding suffering and the way to overcome it.

The belief that a soul enters the developing unborn child.