Religious Studies key terms

Being satisfied with what one has rather than being dominated by greed or the desire for more.

Understanding a biblical passage in relation to the circumstances and culture in which it was written.

A method or precaution used to prevent pregnancy.

A change in religious belief or commitment, such as becoming a follower of a religion.

Punishment that deliberately inflicts physical pain on an offender, such as whipping.

An argument for God’s existence based on the existence of the universe and the need to explain its origin or dependence. The First Cause argument is a form of cosmological argument.

Beliefs or ideas about the origin, nature and organisation of the universe.

The willingness to do what is right despite fear, difficulty or danger.

A binding relationship or agreement between God and people. At the Last Supper, Jesus describes his blood as the blood of the covenant.

The bringing of the universe into existence; Christians believe God is its Creator.

The belief that God created the universe ‘out of nothing’, rather than using materials that already existed.

In this debate, the belief that a religious creation account should be understood literally rather than replaced by scientific explanations of origins.

God understood as the source of the universe and all life within it.

A divine being believed to have brought the universe into existence. Buddhism does not recognise a creator God.

The burning of a dead body as a way of treating the remains.

An action that breaks the law of the state.

A Roman method of execution in which a person was fixed to a cross.

A series of medieval religious wars between Christians and Muslims, mainly over Jerusalem and other holy places.

An image used in Jesus’ prayer for the suffering and death he faces; it is not a literal drink in this scene.

A view of time in which creation, preservation and dissolution recur, rather than history having only one beginning and one final end.

A member of a community traditionally excluded from the four-varna system and subjected to discrimination associated with ‘untouchability’.

Giving, including gifts of money, food and other help to those in need.

Punishment or the ‘rod’ of authority: the ruler’s means of restraining wrongdoing and upholding dharma.

Seeing and being seen by the divine, often through viewing a murti during worship.

Giving one tenth of one's earnings for religious and charitable purposes.

The day when Allah judges everyone according to how they have lived.

The permanent end of the body's life functions.