Religious Studies key terms

The Buddhist way that avoids the extremes of indulgence in sensual pleasure and self-mortification; the Buddha identifies it with the Noble Eightfold Path.

The Buddhist path that avoids both self-indulgence and extreme self-denial.

A niche in a mosque wall which indicates the direction of prayer.

An angel associated with mercy and Allah’s provision for creation, including rain and nourishment.

A Buddhist text known as the Questions of King Milinda, containing the dialogue between King Milinda and the monk Nagasena, including the chariot analogy.

Awareness of present experience, such as breathing, bodily sensations or thoughts.

A meditation technique in which a person attends to the sensations of breathing and returns attention to the breath when distracted.

Self-discipline over thoughts, desires and impulses, rather than allowing them to control behaviour.

Jesus’ public work of teaching, healing and serving others.

A quorum of ten Jewish adults required for certain communal prayers; eligibility depends on the Jewish tradition.

An extraordinary event that appears to break the laws of nature and is attributed to a supernatural cause.

The written collection of oral teachings explaining how Jewish commandments should be applied, compiled by Rabbi Judah Ha’Nasi.

The Church’s work of sharing the Gospel and showing God’s love through words and actions, both at home and throughout the world.

A person who carries out the Church’s mission by sharing Christian faith and serving others.

A circumstance that may reduce how blameworthy an offender is, without necessarily making the offence acceptable.

A commandment. Jewish tradition identifies 613 mitzvot in the Torah.

Commandments governing Jewish religious life; the singular is mitzvah.

A Jewish prayer said on waking which thanks God for returning the soul and giving another day of life.

Worldly attachment: possessive clinging to people or things that distracts a person from God.

A person trained to carry out Jewish ritual circumcision.

Liberation from the cycle of birth, death and rebirth.

A building where a community of monks lives, worships and follows religious vows.

A community whose members dedicate their lives to religious practices, particularly prayer and devotion to God.

The view that reality is ultimately one; in Hindu monist thought, apparently separate beings have one underlying reality, Brahman.

Being married to one spouse at a time.

Belief in only one God.

The opening statement of Sikh belief in Guru Granth Sahib 1, describing the one God as the eternal truth and Creator, without fear or hatred.