Key Terms Unit 1

• Agape


  Selfless, Sacrificial, unconditional love. Christianity holds Agape to be the highest type of love, epitomised by Jesus' sacrifice on the cross for the salvation of humanity and in teachings such as 'Love your neighbour'.
• Atonement


  The belief that Jesus' Death and Resurrection healed the rift between humans and God, thereby opening the way for God and people to be 'at one' again.
• Divine Command Theory


  The belief that something is right because God commands it.
• Holy Spirit


  One of the three persons of the Holy Trinity. Jesus promised the Apostles that he would send the Holy Spirit after his Crucifixion and Resurrection. Christians believe that the Holy Spirit is present as the power of God at work in the world.
• Incarnation


  'Made Flesh' - The Christian belief that God became man in the person of Jesus, fully human and divine. God becoming human in the form of Jesus.
• Inter-faith Dialogue


  Different faith communities and groups coming together to better understand each other and 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.
• Messiah


  The word means 'The Anointed One'. The Messiah is the one believed to be sent by God to be humanities saviour. Christians believe this person to be Jesus.
• Omnibenevolence


  The state of being all-loving and infinitely good - a character often attributed to God.
• Omnipotence


  The all-powerful, almighty and unlimited nature of God.
• Omniscience


  The all knowing nature of God.
• Resurrection


  The belief that Jesus rose from the dead on the third day from when he was crucified, thereby conquering death. It is commemorated annually on Easter Sunday.
• Trinity


  The three persons of God: God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
• Tawhid


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


  Prayer; communicating with and worship of Allah. Performed in a certain way as taught by Muhammad. Muslims should perform it 5 times a day.
• Halal


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


  Declaration of Faith, which consists of the statement "There is no god except Allah, Prophet Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah".
• Sawm


  Fasting from just before dawn until sunset. Abstinence is required from food, drink, smoking and sexual relations.
• Du'ah


  Varying forms of personal prayer.
• Shirk


  Sin. Association; regarding anything as being equal or partner to Allah.
• Zakat


  Giving 2.5% of wealth by payment of annual almsgiving. An obligatory act of worship.
• Sadaqah


  Voluntary payment or good action for charitable purposes.
• Qur'an


  That which is read or recited. The divine book revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. Allah's final revelation to humankind.
• Hadith


  Saying; report; account. The sayings of the Prophet Muhamad, as recounted by his descendents and followers. These are a major source of Islamic law.
• Adhan


  Call to Prayer, usually performed by the Muezzin.
• Good


  That which is considered morally right, or beneficial and to our advantage.
• Evil


  That which is considered extremely immoral, wicked and wrong.
• Forgiveness


  To grant pardon for a wrongdoing, to give up resentment and the desire to seek revenge against a wrongdoer.
• Free Will


  The ability to make choices (particularly moral choices) voluntarily and independently. The belief that nothing is predetermined.
• Justice


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


  Principles and standards determining which actions are right or wrong.
• Pacifism


  The belief that war and violence are unjustifiable.
• Conscience


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


  Pain or distress caused by injury, illness or loss. Suffering can be physical, emotional/psychological or spiritual.
• Afterlife


  Life and death; the belief that existence continues after physical death.
• 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.
• Euthanasia


  'Good Death'. Sometimes referred to as mercy killing. The act of killing a person, either directly or indirectly, because a decision has been reached that death would be the best option.
• Evolution


  The process by which different living creatures are believed to have developed from earlier, less complex forms, during the history of the earth.
• 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.
• Quality of Life


  The extent to which life is meaningful and pleasurable.
• 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.