themes words

Cards (56)

  • Abortion
    The deliberate termination of a pregnancy
  • Absolute Pacifism
    Belief that there should be no use of violence, including military force, under any circumstances
  • Agnosticism
    Belief that it is not possible to know whether God exists or not with any certainty
  • Apocalyptic warfare (nuclear)

    Warfare on such a large scale as to risk destruction of entire populations, civilisations or the human species as a whole; nuclear war can be described as apocalyptic
  • Annulment
    A way to end a marriage by showing that it was never legally valid
  • Anthropic Principle
    A term used to refer to the belief that the universe is structured perfectly to ensure that human life developed
  • Atheism
    Disbelief or lack of belief in God or gods
  • OCSE
    Not getting married or having any sexual relations
  • Celibacy
    Not getting married or having any sexual relations
  • Charismatic
    Lively, energetic worship and preaching
  • Civil partnership
    A legal union with rights similar to those of marriage. Originally for couples who were not able to legally marry, for example same sex couples.
  • Cohabitation
    When a couple are living together and having a sexual relationship without being married
  • Conditional pacifism
    Belief that peace is the best option but that there are times when violence may be necessary when any alternatives would be worse than fighting
  • Contraception
    Methods to prevent pregnancy taking place from sex, such as the contraceptive pill and condoms, literally 'against conception'
  • Conscience
    An inner sense of knowing what is right and wrong, which helps guide people to be good in their lives
  • Conventional warfare
    Warfare using conventional or standard weaponry wielded by clearly defined armed forces using weapons that are not biological, chemical or nuclear
  • Conversion
    Changing from one religion to another or becoming a member of a religious community having previously had no religion
  • Cosmological argument

    An attempt to prove the existence of God through the fact that the universe exists
  • Design argument
    The argument for the existence of God from the observation that the natural world has an order and complexity that must have been designed for a purpose
  • Divorce
    The legal ending of a marriage
  • Ecstatic (religious experience)

    A state of excitement and joy, involving an overwhelming experience of God
  • Equality
    Being equal in terms of status and rights
  • Euthanasia
    The deliberate act of ending someone's life to relieve them of suffering. From the Greek word euthanatos, which means 'easy death'
  • Exclusivism
    In the context of religion, it describes the position that only one set of religious beliefs and practices are, or can be, true and or right
  • Fidelity
    Faithfulness to a person, usually refers to a spouse or sexual partner
  • Forgiveness
    Making a choice to let go of wrongs that have been done, a change in feelings and attitude overcoming negative feelings
  • Genetic Manipulation
    Using technology to alter DNA or other genetic material in order to create changes in the organism the genes belong to
  • Humanism
    A way of seeing and reacting to the world through human knowledge; science, logic and reason, and rejecting religion
  • Humanity
    A collective term for all humans, the human race
  • Holy War
    War in the name of religion, declared by a religious group or fought for a religious cause
  • Inclusivism
    Belief that although there is only one true religion, others contain aspects of the truth to a greater or lesser degree and so can help someone to move towards salvation or liberation
  • Inter-faith dialogue
    The communication, dialogue and cooperation between different faiths and religious groups. The aim is not to remove differences but to develop understanding, to promote tolerance and respect
  • Intra-faith communication
    Communication, dialogue and cooperation between different groups within the same religion, for example in Christianity between Protestants and Roman Catholics
  • Just War theory

    The theory that it is justified to fight a war under certain criteria; that only certain actions should be taken within and after the war
  • Marriage
    A legally recognised relationship and commitment between two people, establishing rights and obligations
  • Miracles
    Strange, extraordinary and positive events, that cannot be explained by natural means
  • Mystical
    Mysterious and spiritual. Having a sense of awe and looking for the mysteries of faith
  • Pacifism
    Belief that peace is preferable to violence and war, and that any disputes should be settled by peaceful methods
  • Puraksm
    The belief that all religious positions and beliefs are of equal value and will eventually lead to
  • Proselytisation
    The act of attempting to persuade someone to convert to your faith or religion