WJEC Eduqas GCSE (9-1) Religious Studies Route A Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering the key terms, definitions, and concepts presented in the Eduqas GCSE (9-1) Religious Studies Route A textbook.

Adultery

Voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and a person who is not their spouse.

Divorce

To legally end a marriage.

Cohabitation

To live together in a sexual relationship, without being married, or in a civil partnership.

Commitment

A sense of dedication and obligation to someone or something.

Contraception

Methods used to prevent a woman from becoming pregnant during or following sexual intercourse.

Gender equality

People of all genders enjoying the same rights and opportunities in all aspects of their lives.

Responsibilities

Actions/duties you are expected to carry out.

Roles

Position, status or function of a person in society, as well as the characteristics and social behaviour expected of them.

Secular

A society where religious beliefs and practices are increasingly less important to a growing number of people.

Pluralism

The existence of different groups and beliefs within society.

Bigamy

Entering into a marriage with someone while still being legally married to another person.

Annulment

A legal way of cancelling a marriage or declaring a marriage or domestic partnership to be not legally valid.

Promiscuity

Having a number of casual sexual relationships.

Fidelity

Two people being sexually faithful to each other.

Procreation

Reproduction.

Chastity

The state in which a person does not have sexual relationships until married.

Celibacy

When a person decides never to have a sexual relationship.

Afterlife

Life after death; the belief that existence continues after physical death.

Environmental sustainability

Ensuring that the demands placed on natural resources can be met without reducing capacity to allow all people and other species of animals, as well as plant life, to live well, now and in the future.

Euthanasia

From Greek, eu 'good' and thanatos 'death'. Sometimes referred to as 'mercy killing'. The act of killing or permitting the death of a person who is suffering from a serious illness.

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 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. For many religious believers, only human life holds this special status.

Soul

The spiritual aspect of a being; that which connects someone to God. The soul is often regarded as non-physical and as living on after physical death, in an afterlife.

Dualism

The belief that we are made of two separate parts: a physical body and a spiritual soul.

Materialism

The view that nothing else exists apart from matter.

Ensoulment

The moment when the human soul is said to enter the baby's body (usually thought to happen in the womb, at an early point in the pregnancy).

Hospice

A place where people with terminal illnesses can go to die with dignity, focusing on relieving symptoms and pain rather than treating or curing an illness.

Palliative care

Care that focuses on relieving pain and suffering.

Good

That which is considered morally right, 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 voluntarily and independently. The belief that nothing is pre-determined.

Justice

Fairness; where everyone has equal provisions and opportunity.

Morality

Principles and standards determining which actions are right or wrong.

Punishment

A penalty given to someone for a crime or wrong they have done.

Sin

Deliberate immoral action, breaking a religious or moral law.

Suffering

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

Conscience

An inner voice which keeps a person on the right track; a sense of right and wrong; an instinct to help us make the right choices.

Restorative justice

A system of justice that enables criminals to make amends for their behaviour by meeting with their victim and apologising.

Censorship

The practice of suppressing and limiting access to materials considered obscene, offensive or a threat to security.

Discrimination

Acts of treating groups of people, or individuals differently, based on prejudice.

Extremism

Believing in and supporting ideas that are very far from what most people consider correct or reasonable.

Human rights

The basic entitlements of all human beings, afforded to them simply because they are human.

Personal conviction

Something a person strongly feels or believes in.

Prejudice

Pre-judging; judging people to be inferior or superior without cause.

Relative poverty

A standard of poverty measured in relation to the standards of a society in which a person lives.

Absolute poverty

An acute state of deprivation, whereby a person cannot access the most basic of their human needs.

Social justice

Promoting a fair society by challenging injustice and valuing diversity. Ensuring that everyone has equal access to provisions, equal opportunities and rights.

Agape

Selfless, unconditional love; the highest of the four types of love in the Bible.

Omnibenevolent

The state of being all-loving and infinitely good – a characteristic often attributed to God.

Omnipotent

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

Trinity

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

Incarnation

God becoming human in the form of Jesus.

Atonement

The belief that Jesus' death on the cross healed the rift between humans and God.

Resurrection

The belief that Jesus rose from the dead on Easter Sunday, conquering death.

Sacraments

An outward sign of an invisible and inward blessing by God, for example baptism, Eucharist.

Evangelism

Preaching of the gospel to others with the intention of converting others to the Christian faith.

Tawhid

'Oneness' in reference to God; the basic Muslim belief in the oneness of God.

Prophethood (Risalah)

The term used of the messengers of God, beginning with Adam and ending with the Prophet Muhammad.

Halal

Actions or things which are permitted within Islam, such as eating permitted foods.

Haram

Any actions or things which are forbidden within Islam, such as eating forbidden foods.

Jihad

Means 'to strive'. The greater jihad is the daily inner spiritual struggle to live as a Muslim; the lesser jihad is a physical struggle or 'holy war' in defence of Islam.

Mosque (Masjid)

A 'place of prostration' for Muslims; a communal place of worship for a Muslim community.

Shari'ah

A way of life; the set of moral and religious rules that put the principles set out by the Qur'an and the Hadith into practice.

Ummah

Means 'community'; refers to the worldwide community of Muslims who share a common religious identity.

Synagogue

House of assembly; building for Jewish public prayer, study and assembly.

Shekhinah

The place where God's presence rests and can be felt.

Shabbat

Day of spiritual renewal and rest, beginning at sunset on Friday and closing at nightfall on Saturday.

Kosher

Means 'fit' or 'proper'. Foods that are permitted to be eaten according to Leviticus 11, or the purity of ritual objects such as Torah scrolls.

Torah

The five books of Moses (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy), regarded as the holiest books of the Tenakh.

Mitzvot

A term with a mix of meanings, often used to refer to duties (such as the 613 in the Torah) and good deeds.

Messiah

The anointed one who Jews believe will bring in a new era or age for humankind, including rebuilding the Temple and bringing universal peace.

Covenant

A promise or agreement between two parties, such as covenants made between God with Noah, Abraham and Moses.