Religious Studies Spec Revision

Ascension

Going or being taken up; the event forty days after the resurrection when Jesus returned to glory in heaven.

Atonement

Making amends or payment for a wrong. The belief that reconciliation between God and humanity that was brought about by the death of Jesus as a sacrifice.

Bible

Source of wisdom and authority; a holy book containing both the Old and New Testaments.

Catholic

The tradition within the Christian Church which is led by the Pope; also called the Roman Catholic Church.

Christ

Literally means 'Anointed One' in Greek; the Hebrew equivalent is Messiah. The leader promised by God to the Jews; Christians believe Jesus to be the Christ.

Creation

Bringing the world into existence; the belief that the world is God's loving creation.

Crucifixion

The death of Jesus; a form of the death penalty used by the Romans. Christians believe it was essential for salvation because it atoned for our sins.

Evil

The opposite of good; a cause of suffering and against the will of God.

The Father

The first Person of the Trinity, the belief in God as creator and sustainer of the universe.

Grace

The unconditional and generous love that God shows to people who do not deserve it. Essential for salvation, which cannot be earned.

Heaven

Belief that after death Christians can enter a state of being with God for eternity.

Hell

Belief in a place of eternal suffering, or a state after death of being in separation from God.

Holy Spirit

The third Person of the Trinity; believed to be present with believers since Pentecost and active on earth.

Imago Dei

In the image of God. Describes how God made humans with some of his qualities (if imperfectly).

Incarnation

Literally 'in flesh', or 'enfleshed;' belief that God took on human form in the person of Jesus.

Jesus

Believed by Christians to be the Son of God, he was a first century Jewish teacher living and travelling in Palestine/Israel.

Judgement

The belief that God will decide whether each person should receive eternal life or eternal punishment based on their earthly life.

Just

Fair or equal treatment, a state of justice. Belief about the nature of God as treating all people justly.

Law

Rules or commands which must be followed for salvation; the law of God is revealed in the Bible.

Omnipotent

The belief that God is 'all powerful'.

The Oneness of God

Monotheism. The belief that God is one singular divine being (who can be manifest in the Three Persons of the Trinity).

Original sin

Belief human nature is flawed, and that we all have the tendency to sin; traditional belief held by some Christians that this came from Adam & Eve's eating of the forbidden fruit.

Orthodox

A denomination/tradition of the Church popular in some parts of Eastern Europe.

Protestant

Christian denominations in which authority is generally based on the Bible, rather than Church tradition/teaching.

Purgatory

The Catholic belief in a time of purification from sin between death and your final judgement.

Resurrection

Being raised from the dead; the event three days after the crucifixion when it is believed that God raised Jesus from the dead.

Salvation

Being saved; belief that through God's grace, Jesus' death and resurrection brought about salvation for humanity.

Sin

Behaviour which is against God's laws and wishes/against Christian principles of morality.

The Son

The second Person of the Trinity; Jesus believed to be God incarnate.

Son of God

A title used for Jesus; the second Person of the Trinity.

Suffering

An effect of evil; undergoing pain and hardship.

Trinity

The belief that God as One includes God also being manifest in three Persons: the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Word

In the Bible, John 1 describes God creating the world through his eternal Word.

Holy Catholic Church

The universal church founded by Jesus Christ.

Communion of Saints

The spiritual union of all members of the Christian community.

Forgiveness of Sins

The act of absolving someone from their sins.

Resurrection of the Body

The belief that the body will be raised from the dead at the end of time.

Life Everlasting

The belief in eternal life after death.

John 3:16-18

A biblical passage emphasizing God's love and the promise of eternal life through belief in Jesus.

Genesis 3

The chapter in the Bible where God punishes Adam for original sin.

1 Corinthians 15

A biblical reference to the resurrection of the dead through Christ.

Luke 23

The passage where Jesus asks for forgiveness for those who crucified him.

John 11

The verse where Jesus declares himself as the resurrection and the life.

Ten Commandments

A set of biblical principles relating to ethics and worship.

Ephesians 2

A biblical passage stating that salvation is a gift from God, not a result of works.

Matthew 22

The passage where Jesus summarizes the greatest commandments.

Parable of the Good Samaritan

A story illustrating that everyone is our neighbor and deserving of compassion.

Parable of the Sheep and the Goats

A teaching emphasizing the importance of helping those in need for salvation.

Tawhid

The concept of the Oneness of God in Islam.

Akhirah

The belief in life after death in Islamic theology.

Adalat

The belief in justice as part of God's nature in Shi'a Islam.

Jibril

The angel who revealed the Qur'an to Muhammad.

Predestination

The belief that all events are predetermined by Allah.

Imamate

The leadership role in Shi'a Islam following Muhammad.

Mercy

God's willingness to forgive sins in Islamic belief.

Human Accountability

The belief that individuals are responsible for their actions before God.

Risalah

The belief in the prophets as messengers of God in Islam.

The Qur'an

The holy book of Islam, believed to be the direct word of God.

Barzakh

The period between death and the Day of Judgement in Islamic belief.

Six articles of faith

The foundations of the faith in Sunni Islam; six key beliefs: Tawhid (the Oneness of God), Angels, Holy Books, Prophethood, Akhirah, Predestination.

Sunni Islam

Muslims who believe in the successorship of Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali.

Tawhid (the Oneness of God)

One of the Six Articles of Faith and Five Roots of Usul ad-Din; the oneness and unity of Allah.

The Torah

Holy book/source of authority; given by God to the prophet Musa (Moses) on Mount Sinai.

Transcendence

Being beyond space and time. A creator must be transcendent - he cannot be part of his creation.

Key teachings of Tawhid

Everything traces back to this!

Qur'an 112

He is Allah, the One and Unique; Allah, Who is in need of none and of Whom all are in need; He neither begot any nor was He begotten, and none is comparable to Him.

Qur'an 3:18

Allah bears witness that there is no god but Him, as do the angels and those who have knowledge. He upholds justice.

Muhammad's final sermon

No Prophet or apostle will come after me and no new faith will be born. Reason well, therefore O People! and understand words that I convey to you.

Qur'an 2:136

We believe in Allah, and in what has been revealed to us and to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob and the descendants (of Jacob) and in what was given to Moses and Jesus and in what the other Prophets received from their Lord.

Qur'an 33:33

Allah will remove from you the impurity of sin, O people of the Prophet's household, and purify you with extensive purification.

Qur'an 2:87

We gave Moses the Scripture and We sent messengers after him in succession.

Qur'an 2:97

Whoever is enemy to Jibril should understand that he has, by Allah's command, revealed to your heart the Qur'an which confirms what was revealed before it.

Qur'an 2:222

Truly, Allah loves those who turn to Him in repentance and loves those who purify themselves.

Qur'an 2:6-7

As for those who persist in disbelief, it is the same whether you warn them or not—they will never believe.

Qur'an 13:11

Allah does not change a people's condition unless they change their inner selves.

Qur'an 46:33

Do they not see that Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth — and creating them did not wear Him out — has the power to bring the dead back to life?

Qur'an 87:2-3

The Lord has created and balanced all things and has fixed their destinies and guided them.

Hadith

Then the angel is sent to it (an unborn child) to announce four decrees.

Annulment

In some instances the Catholic Church will grant an annulment to a couple whose marriage is not working out, if it can be shown that the marriage was not 'valid'.

Cohabitation

A couple living together without being married/in civil partnership.

Compassion

Sympathy and concern for the suffering of others.

Contraception

Precautions taken to prevent pregnancy and to protect against contracting or transmitting sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Divorce

Legal ending of a marriage. Not recognised by Catholics.

Extended family

Family unit comprising two parents and their children, but also grandparents, cousins etc.

Family planning

Planning when to have a family and how big a family to have by use of birth control practices and/or contraception.

Gender discrimination

Acting on prejudices against someone because of their gender.

Gender equality

Both genders having equal status and value, with no discrimination against either.

Gender prejudice

Negative thoughts, feelings or beliefs about a person or group based on their gender.

Heterosexuality

Being physically/sexually attracted to persons of the opposite gender.

Homosexuality

Being physically/sexually attracted to persons of the same gender.

Nuclear family

Family unit made up of two parents and their child(ren).

Polygamy

The practice of having multiple spouses (wives and/or husbands).

Procreation

Having a child; seen as a duty in many religions.

Remarriage

Marriage for the second time, after divorce ending an earlier marriage.

Vows

Promises made during a marriage ceremony.

Mark 10:9

What God has joined together, let no one separate.

Galatians 3:28

There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Proverbs 22:6

Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.

Genesis 2:21-24

A man leaves his father and mother and cleaves to his wife, and they become one flesh.

Exodus 20:14

You shall not commit adultery.