Religion & Life WACE Condensed Revision Notes (Units 3 & 4)

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering key definitions, historical developments, concepts of freedom, sacraments, and social/political issues from Religion & Life Units 3 and 4.

Consecrated life

Dedication to God through the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience (CCC 914).

Monastic life

The earliest form of consecrated life, emerging in the 3rd–4th centuries CE, which involves withdrawal from society to focus on prayer, contemplation and asceticism.

Eremitic monasticism

Monastic life characterised by hermits living in solitary isolation—such as in Egyptian deserts—practising prayer, fasting and asceticism.

Cenobitic monasticism

Monastic life where monks and nuns live together in communities under religious rules and leadership (an abbot or abbess).

Mendicant life

A form of consecrated life developed in the 13th century CE in response to expanding European cities, where friars lived among communities, preached, taught and relied on charity rather than property ownership.

Decius' edict (249 CE)

An imperial decree that initiated the first empire-wide Roman persecution of Christians, prompting figures like St Antony the Great and Paul of Thebes to flee to the desert.

Edict of Milan (313 CE)

An edict issued by Emperor Constantine and Licinius legalising Christianity and granting religious tolerance across the Roman Empire.

St Pachomius

A Christian monk who established organised cenobitic monastic communities in Egypt around c. 320 CE.

Apostolic institutes

Religious institutes developed in the 16th century CE in response to the Protestant Reformation, emphasising education, evangelisation and international missionary activity.

Council of Nicaea (325 CE)

An ecumenical council convened by Constantine to resolve theological disagreements concerning Christian beliefs, which resulted in the Nicene Creed.

Religious switching

Changing religious affiliation, leaving religion or joining a religion after previously having none.

Purgatory

A temporary state of purification for those who die in God’s grace but are not yet perfectly holy (CCC 1030–1031).

2 Maccabees 12:45

A scriptural passage (c. 200 BCE) that established the importance of praying for the dead, influencing Catholic beliefs about post-death purification.

Council of Trent (1563)

An ecumenical council that reaffirmed the doctrine of purgatory and prayers for the deceased in response to Protestant reformers.

Negative freedom

Freedom from arbitrary external control or unreasonable restrictions.

Positive freedom

The capacity to choose behaviours and dispositions that strengthen personal freedom, requiring self-mastery over impulses, emotions and desires.

Prudence

A cardinal virtue defined as using reason and good judgement to make moral decisions.

Justice

A cardinal virtue defined as giving God and others what is rightfully due to them.

Fortitude

A cardinal virtue defined as demonstrating courage and perseverance when facing difficulties.

Temperance

A cardinal virtue defined as moderating desires and pleasures to maintain self-control.

Self-mastery

Controlling passions, desires and impulses through reason and will, enabling individuals to choose goodness.

Sacrament of Reconciliation

A Catholic sacrament instituted by Jesus through which sins are forgiven and relationships with God and the Church are restored.

Contrition

An essential element of Reconciliation consisting of genuine sorrow for sins and a commitment to avoid future wrongdoing (CCC 1452–1453).

Confession

An element of Reconciliation involving the verbal acknowledgement of sins before a priest, encouraging responsibility and repentance (CCC 1456).

Satisfaction

An element of Reconciliation involving completing designated prayers or actions to repair harm caused by sin.

Absolution

The sacramental element through which God grants forgiveness and peace to the penitent through the ministry of the priest (CCC 1424).

Human trafficking

Recruiting or controlling individuals through force, fraud or coercion for exploitation, such as forced labour, sexual exploitation or forced marriage.

ACRATH

An organisation established in 2005 to combat human trafficking through political advocacy, survivor support (such as ACRATH Companions) and community education.

Modern Slavery Act (2018)

Commonwealth legislation advocated by ACRATH requiring businesses with annual consolidated revenue exceeding $\$100\text{ million}$ to report modern slavery risks.

Gaudium et Spes (1965), paragraph 27

A Catholic Church document that condemns slavery and treating human beings as mere instruments of profit rather than free and responsible individuals.

Lateran Pacts (1929) and Reichskonkordat (1933)

Diplomatic treaties negotiated between the Catholic Church and fascist regimes intended to protect Catholic autonomy and institutions, which also contributed to fascist political legitimacy.

Mit brennender Sorge (1937)

A papal encyclical that condemned Nazi ideology and the elevation of political authority to an 'idolatrous level', representing Catholic resistance against fascism.

Magisterium

The teaching authority of the Catholic Church, consisting of the Pope and bishops guided by the Holy Spirit, which interprets and authorises developments in Catholic doctrine.

Consumerism

A cultural emphasis on material possessions, consumption and personal satisfaction.

Qualitative interview

A research method using open-ended questions to gather detailed responses and allow clarification, though it is time-consuming and subject to bias.

Survey

A research method using structured questions to collect data from a large sample size, facilitating easy comparison but providing limited detail.