Religious Studies key terms

The belief that violence and war are wrong and should be rejected.

A Tibetan Buddhist monk who endured 33 years of imprisonment and torture and described using Buddhist practice to reject revenge against his guards.

The canopy structure over the throne of the Guru Granth Sahib, expressing respect for its authority.

A white cloth placed over the coffin, recalling the deceased person’s baptism and new life in Christ.

Care that relieves pain and other symptoms and supports people with serious illness, rather than aiming to cure their condition.

The Christian observance of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, held on the Sunday before Easter.

The practice of sitting together in rows to share langar as equals.

The ‘Five Beloved Ones’: the first five Sikhs initiated into the Khalsa by Guru Gobind Singh.

The ‘Five Beloved Ones’: the first five Sikhs initiated into the Khalsa by Guru Gobind Singh.

A story using familiar situations to communicate a religious or moral teaching.

A Hindu term referring to God present in the heart of living beings, used to explain their spiritual worth.

A fully developed virtue or ‘perfection’ cultivated on the Buddhist path to enlightenment.

Food containing neither meat nor dairy, which may be eaten with either when it otherwise meets kosher requirements.

The final nibbana at the death of an enlightened person, who will not be reborn.

A festival especially associated with Mahayana Buddhism that commemorates the Buddha’s death and passing into final nibbana.

The individual judgement received immediately after death.

The Easter candle representing the risen Christ, which is placed beside the coffin during a Catholic funeral.

The suffering and death of Jesus, especially the events leading to his crucifixion.

An announcement by Jesus of his coming suffering, death and resurrection.

A term sometimes used for withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining treatment so that a person dies. Withdrawal of futile treatment is not necessarily regarded as euthanasia.

A Jewish festival remembering God’s liberation of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt.

The Pali term for dependent arising: the teaching that things and experiences depend on causes and conditions.

Remaining calm and persevering when facing difficulties, delays or other people's faults.

A founding father or ancestor of the Jewish people. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are the Jewish patriarchs.

A system in which men hold the dominant positions of authority in a family or society.

An international Catholic peace movement whose name means ‘Peace of Christ’. It promotes peace, reconciliation and nonviolence.

Living without conflict and in fair, harmonious relationships with others.