Religious Studies key terms

A miracle involving power over the natural world, such as Jesus stilling a storm.

A person whom someone has a duty to love and help; in Jesus’ teaching, this extends beyond friends, relatives or members of the same religion.

The closing service of Yom Kippur, associated with the closing of the gates of repentance.

A Japanese Pure Land Buddhist practice of contemplating and reciting the name of Amitabha Buddha.

The ever-burning light near or above the ark in a synagogue, symbolising God's continuing presence.

The section of the Jewish Bible known as the Prophets; a passage from it is read alongside the Torah reading at the main Shabbat morning service.

Liberation from suffering and the cycle of rebirth through overcoming greed, hatred and ignorance; also called nirvana.

A statement of Christian belief affirming one God, the divinity of the Son and the Holy Spirit, and other central teachings. It developed at Nicaea in AD 325 and Constantinople in AD 381.

The occasion during Ramadan when Muslims believe Muhammad received the first revelation of the Qur'an.

A member of a distinctive Sikh warrior order associated with blue clothing, weapons and the preservation of Khalsa traditions.

A Muslim marriage contract, and the ceremony through which the marriage is established.

A temporary marriage accepted by some Twelver Shi’a Muslims, whose contract specifies an agreed duration and a required mahr.

A Muslim face veil that usually leaves the eyes visible.

God’s nature beyond form and human comprehension.

‘Without qualities’: Brahman understood as beyond form and limiting descriptions.

Brahman understood without limiting qualities or a particular form, beyond time and space.

The cessation of suffering through the ending of craving; the Third Noble Truth.

In Buddhism, liberation from craving, suffering and the cycle of birth, death and rebirth.

The minimum amount of qualifying wealth a Muslim must possess before Zakah becomes payable.

The Sikh flag, usually yellow or orange and bearing the Khanda symbol, which identifies a gurdwara.

The second stage of Jewish marriage, which completes the marriage and begins the couple’s married life together.

The daily routine of Sikh prayers, usually recited in the morning, evening and before bedtime.

The intention to perform an act of worship for Allah, such as undertaking a religious fast rather than simply going without food.

The Buddhist path towards the ending of suffering, involving wisdom, ethical conduct and mental discipline.

A person who is not taking part in fighting, such as an innocent civilian.

An approach that reads the Genesis creation accounts as conveying religious truths through imagery and symbolism, rather than as literal scientific descriptions.

A person who understands a scriptural creation account as conveying religious truths without necessarily describing events or timescales literally.