Religious Studies key terms

The divine understood as a supreme, personal and loving God beyond the material world, with whom a devotee can develop a relationship.

A devotional hymn sung to express adoration of God.

Loving devotion to God, expressed through practices such as prayer, offerings and devotional singing.

The path towards union with the divine through loving devotion to a personal deity.

A fully ordained Buddhist monk.

A fully ordained Buddhist nun.

The offence of entering another legal marriage while already legally married.

The scientific explanation that the universe expanded from an extremely hot, dense early state about 13.8 billion years ago.

The reading platform or area in a synagogue from which the Torah is read aloud.

The variety of living organisms in an environment.

A weapon that uses disease-causing organisms, such as bacteria or viruses, or toxins produced by organisms, to cause harm.

An action, statement or claim considered insulting to God or to take authority that belongs to God alone.

A family that includes children from one or both partners’ previous relationships; also called a reconstituted family.

An act or prayer asking for God’s favour and care.

In Mahayana Buddhism, a being committed to enlightenment who helps others and postpones final escape from samsara, the cycle of birth and rebirth.

The tree at Bodh Gaya beneath which Siddhartha Gautama meditated and attained Enlightenment.

A person's ability and right to make decisions about their own body.

The belief that the dead will be raised with bodies, rather than existing only as souls.

A description of the Church as a united community whose members have different roles, with Christ as its head.

A refusal to buy goods or take part in activities in order to put pressure on those responsible for an injustice.

The creator deity in the Tri-murti.

The ultimate reality in Hinduism, understood as present throughout creation. Belief in Brahman within people helps explain why worship need not depend on a building.

A Hindu sacred text containing philosophical teachings, including discussion of the relationship between many gods and one ultimate reality.

A ceremony welcoming a baby girl into the Jewish community and covenant, often including naming and blessings.

The Jewish ceremony of male circumcision, normally performed when a baby boy is eight days old, as a sign of the covenant with God.

A title meaning ‘awakened one’ or ‘enlightened one’, given to Siddhartha Gautama after he attained Enlightenment.

The state of being a Buddha: having attained enlightenment.