AQA GCSE RS Christianity Key Points Review

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts across beliefs, teachings, and practices for AQA GCSE RS Christianity.

Monotheism

The belief in one single God, highlighted as a fundamental Christian belief in the Nicene Creed.

Omnipotent

Meaning all-powerful, demonstrated in the biblical statement that nothing is impossible with God.

Omnibenevolent

Meaning all-loving, demonstrated by God sending his only son so that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Omniscient

Meaning all-knowing.

Just

Characterizing God as the perfect giver of justice, decider of right and wrong, and perfect judge of character.

Incarnation

The Christian concept that God took human form in Jesus Christ ('the word became flesh and dwelt among us').

Immaculate Conception

The conception of Jesus by the Virgin Mary through the Holy Spirit without sexual intercourse.

Messiah

Meaning 'anointed one' or Christ, sent to save humanity from evil.

The Holy Trinity

The concept that God exists as three distinct persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) who are all equally God.

Crucifixion

A Roman execution method of nailing a person to a wooden cross; Jesus was sentenced to death this way after being charged with treason.

Resurrection

The event of Jesus rising from the dead on Sunday morning following his death on Friday afternoon.

Ascension

Jesus leaving earth for the last time by being taken up into heaven 40 days after his resurrection.

Sin

Any action or thought that separates humans from God because it is against God's principles or morality.

Original Sin

The in-built tendency in all humans to do wrong, inherited from Adam and Eve eating fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

Salvation

The state of being saved from sin and its consequences, restoring humanity's relationship with God.

Salvation through Grace

Salvation given freely by God as an unearned gift through faith in Jesus Christ.

Atonement

The reconciliation of God and mankind through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ for human sin.

Purgatory

An intermediate state in Catholic belief where souls wait after death to receive judgment.

Liturgical Worship

A set service of public worship led by a priest that follows a fixed pattern and ritual.

Non-Liturgical Worship

Public worship that does not have a set order or ritual, allowing the structure or prayers to be changed.

Holy Communion (Eucharist)

A service of thanksgiving celebrating the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus using bread and wine.

Transubstantiation

The Catholic and Orthodox belief that the bread and wine become the actual body and blood of Christ during Holy Communion.

Pilgrimage

A physical and spiritual journey made by a believer to a holy site for religious reasons.

Lourdes

A pilgrimage site in Southwest France dedicated to Mary, where a girl experienced 16 apparitions and a healing spring was discovered.

Iona

A remote 6th-century church on the West Coast of Scotland dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

Sacraments

Holy rituals that outwardly express an inner spiritual experience through which the believer receives grace.

Infant Baptism

The practice of baptizing babies to forgive original sin and welcome them into the Christian church immediately.

Believers Baptism

Baptism practiced by denominations such as Baptists for adults who are old enough to understand and make a commitment, involving full immersion.

Trussell Trust

A UK charity providing emergency food to people in crisis using food banks and vouchers.

Street Pastors

An organization that works on city streets at night to care for vulnerable people and discourage anti-social behavior.

Mission

The vocation or calling of a religious organization or individual to go out into the world and spread their faith.

Evangelism

Spreading the Christian gospel by public preaching or personal witness.

The Great Commission

Jesus' instruction to his disciples to go into all nations, make disciples, and baptize them.

Alpha Course

A course established in 1977 used to introduce Jesus to others through talks and discussions.

Reconciliation

A Catholic sacrament and general process of restoring harmony after relationships have broken down.

Barnabas Fund

An organization that sends financial support to Christians who suffer from persecution.

CAFOD

The Catholic Agency for Overseas Development, established in the 1960s as the official aid agency of the Catholic Church in England and Wales.

TEAR Fund

The Evangelical Alliance Relief Fund, established in 1968 to respond to disasters and free people from global poverty.

Christian Aid

The oldest Christian aid agency established in 1945, operating under the slogan 'we believe in life before death'.