Religious Studies Key Terms

• Trinity


  The three "persons" in God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
• Holy Spirit


  One of the three persons of the Holy Trinity. Is present as Gods power in the World
• Inter-faith dialogue


  Different faith communities and groups coming together to better understand each other and to serve the wider community with a mutual respect that allows them to live peacefully alongside each other in spite of differences in beliefs and ways of life.
• Omnipotent


  the all-powerful, almighty and unlimited nature of God. God created the earth.
• Omnibenevolent


  The state of being all-loving and infinitely good, a characteristic often attributed to God. "Love thy neighbour" Exodus
• Messiah


  The anointed one. Sent by God to be humanity's saviour.
• Incarnation


  The act of God becoming human in the form of Jesus. Incarnation means flesh.
• Resurrection


  The belief that Jesus rose from the dead and the third day after being crucified. Commemorated annually on easter Sunday.
• Agape


  Selfless, sacrificial, unconditional love. Christianity holds agape to be the highest type of love, shown by Jesus' sacrifice on the cross for the salvation of humanity.
• The belief that something is right because God commands it. Absaloutest theory. e.g ten commandments.
• Omniscience


  The all-knowing nature of God.He knows past present and future. God knows everyone's thoughts.
• Atonement

  Jesus' death and resurrection healed the rift behind humans and God opening the way for God and the people to be at one again.
• Salat


  Prescribed communication with and worship of Allah, performed under specific conditions, in the manner taught by the prophet Muhammad, and recited in Arabic. Muslims believe that the five terms is salat (fixed prayers) are fixed by Allah.
• Shahadah


  Declaration of faith, which consists of the statement "There is no God except Allah, the Prophet Muhammad is the messenger of Allah"
• Sadaqah


  Voluntary payment of charity or good acts of charity. For charity's such as Christian and Muslim Aid.
• Du'ah


  Varying forms of personal prayer. Thanking God for a blessing, asking for help and forgiveness.
• Quran


  That which is read or recited. The divine book revealed to the prophet Muhammad. Allahs final revelation to humankind.
• Zakat


  Purification of wealth by acts of annual alms giving. An obligatory act of worship.
• Tawhid


  'Oneness' in reference to God and is the basic Muslim belief in the oneness of Allah.
• Shan


  Call to prayer, usually performed by a muezzin (person who recites the Afghan from the mosque)
• Shirk


  Association; the sin of regarding anything as being equal or partner to Allah.
• Sawm


  Fasting from just before dawn until sunset. Abstinence is required from all food and drink as well as smoking and sexual relations.
• Halal


  Any action or thing which is permitted or lawful, often used in reference to foods that are permitted.
• Hadith


  Saying;report or account. The sayings of the Prophet Muhammad, as recounted by his household, descendants and companions. These are major sources of Islamic late.
• Abortion


  When a pregnancy is ended by the deliberate removal of the foetus from the womb so that it does not result in the birth of a child. "though shalt not kill" exodus (ten commandments)
• Soul


  The spiritual aspect of a being; that which connects someone to God. The soul is often regarded as non-physical and as living on after physical death, in an afterlife.
• Environmental Responsibility


  The duty upon human beings to respect, care for and preserve the natural environment. Crucial to environmental responsibility is the idea of sustainability
• Afterlife


  Life after death; the belief that existence continues after physical death. Heaven and Hell.
• Quality of Life


  The extent to which life is meaningful and pleasurable. Having freewill impacts quality of life.
• Sanctity of Life


  The belief that life is precious, or sacred because humans are made 'in God's image'. For many religious believers, only human life holds this special status.
• Evolution


  The process by which different kinds of living creatures are thought to have developed from earlier forms during the history of the earth.
• Euthanasia


  Sometimes referred to as mercy killing. The act of killing a person either directly or indirectly directly because a decision has been made that death would be the best option.
• Conscience


  A persons moral sense of right and wrong. Religious people may believe that conscience is their inner guidance from God.
• Suffering


  Pain of distress caused by injury illness or loss. Can be physical, emotional, physiological or spiritual.
• Justice


  Fairness; where eveyone has equal provisions and equality of opportunity and receives what they are due.
• Forgiveness


  To grant pardon for a wrongdoing; to give up resentment and the desire to seek revenge against the wrong doer.
• Evil


  That which is considers extremely immoral, wicked and wrong. The devil is an evil power who can tempt people.
• Pacifism


  The belief that war and violence are unjustifiable. Anyone be a pacifist.
• Morality


  Principles and standards determining which actions are right and wrong. Absolute and relative morality.
• Free Will


  The ability to make choices (particularly moral choices) voluntary and independently. The belied that nothing is predetermined.