Religious Studies key terms

Physical pain or mental and emotional distress.

The figure in Isaiah 53 whose suffering and silence Christians connect with Jesus’ suffering and refusal to defend himself.

The meal eaten before dawn in preparation for the daily fast.

A temporary shelter used during Sukkot, recalling the Israelites’ shelters in the wilderness.

The Jewish Festival of Booths, remembering the Israelites’ wilderness journey and giving thanks for the harvest.

Muhammad’s example and way of life, which guide Muslim belief and behaviour.

‘Emptiness’: the Mahayana teaching that things lack independent, permanent existence, not that nothing exists.

Prayer asking God for help or for something needed.

A chapter of the Qur'an, Islam's holy book.

Using resources in ways that allow future generations to meet their needs.

An approach to keeping people safe by meeting human needs and protecting the environment rather than relying on weapons and warfare.

A workplace where people work long hours for very low pay, often in poor conditions.

Understanding words in a religious text as symbols or metaphors rather than as literal instructions.

A Jewish place of communal worship, religious study and gathering.

A council of a Church. The Church of England’s General Synod considers matters including Christian teaching.

Coming from the Phoenician region associated with Syria. Mark uses this description to identify the woman’s origin.

The Shi'a obligatory act of disassociating oneself from the enemies of Allah, Muhammad and his family.

The portable sanctuary used by the Israelites during their journey through the wilderness, associated with God dwelling among them.

The ritual washing and purification of a deceased person's body in preparation for Jewish burial.

An ecumenical Christian monastic community in France, founded in 1940 by Roger Schutz, where visitors share in prayer, reflection and community life.

A Sikh seat of religious authority; the Five Takhts guide the Sikh community on matters of belief and practice.

A prayer shawl with fringes which remind the wearer of God’s commandments; also spelt tallit.

The collection of rabbinic teachings and discussions interpreting Jewish law, made up of the Mishnah and Gemara; a central record of the oral law.

The quality of ignorance, darkness and inertia.

Physical service: using the body, time and effort to help others.

Craving: an attachment-driven desire for pleasure, existence or escape from unwanted experiences.

Physical service: using time, effort and practical work to help others without expecting a reward.