RS AQA Short Course Key Terms

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; reconciliation between God and humanity through Jesus' death as a sacrifice.

Bible

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

Catholic

Tradition within the Christian Church led by the Pope; also known as the Roman Catholic Church.

Christ

Literally means 'Anointed One' in Greek; the leader promised by God to the Jews, believed to be Jesus by Christians.

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.

Evil

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

The Father

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

Grace

The unconditional and generous love that God shows to people who do not deserve it.

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.

Incarnation

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

Jesus

Believed by Christians to be the Son of God, a first century Jewish teacher.

Judgement

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

Just

Fair or equal treatment; belief about the nature of God as treating all people justly.

Law

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

Omnipotent

The belief that God is ‘all powerful’.

The Oneness of God

The belief that God is one singular divine being, manifest in the Three Persons of the Trinity.

Original sin

Belief that human nature is flawed; tendency to sin stemming from Adam & Eve's disobedience.

Orthodox

A denomination of the Church popular in Eastern Europe, including Greek and Russian traditions.

Protestant

Christian denominations in which authority is based on the Bible rather than Church teachings.

Resurrection

Being raised from the dead; the event when God raised Jesus after crucifixion.

Salvation

Being saved; belief that through grace, Jesus’ death and resurrection bring salvation.

Sin

Behaviour against God's laws and wishes; against Christian morality.

The Son

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

Son of God

Title for Jesus; indicates his special relationship with God.

Suffering

An effect of evil; undergoing pain and hardship.

Trinity

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

Word

In the Bible, God's creating force, linked to Jesus as described in John 1.

Adalat/justice

Part of the nature of God in Shi’a Islam; the belief that God is fair.

Adam

One of the prophets of Allah; considered the father of humankind.

Akhirah (life after death)

Belief in a new stage of life after death.

Angels

Spiritual beings created from light; they deliver God's messages and watch over humans.

Authority

Having power and status; the Qur’an has supreme authority in Islam.

Beneficence

Literally ‘doing good’; a belief about Allah's generosity towards humans.

Day of Judgement

The day when Allah will decide about individual deeds and their consequences.

Fairness

Belief about God's nature; refers to Allah’s justice and equal treatment of all humans.

The five roots of Usul ad-Din

Foundations of the faith in Shi’a Islam; five key beliefs including Tawhid and Adalat.

The Gospel

Holy book/source of authority; 'good news' about Isa (Jesus), a prophet of Islam.

Heaven (Islam)

Referred to as Paradise; Allah’s reward for faithfulness after death.

Hell (Islam)

Place of suffering for those who reject the Qur’an and lead wicked lives.

Human accountability

The belief that everyone must take responsibility for their actions.

Human freedom

The belief that humans have control over their thoughts, feelings, and actions.

Human responsibility

Belief that humans are accountable for their actions due to free will.

Ibrahim

Prophet of Allah known for rebuilding the Ka’aba.

Immanence

Belief that God is close to humanity and involved in the world.

Jibril

Angel who dictated the Qur’an to Muhammad; assists on Judgement Day.

Mercy

God’s willingness to forgive the sins of those who repent.

Mika’il

Angel who provides help to humans; assists with weighing deeds on Judgement Day.

Muhammad

The last prophet; received the Qur’an, with his Sunnah and Hadiths as key authorities.

Omnipotence (Islam)

Belief about God's nature; indicates that God is all-powerful.

Predestination

Belief that everything that happens has been decided by Allah.

The Psalms

Holy book including sacred prayers and poems by King Dawud (David), a prophet.

The Qur’an

Most important source of authority in Islam, revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.

Resurrection (Islam)

Belief that all people will be raised from the dead to face Judgement.

Revelation

When God reveals himself; belief that this is shown through the Qur'an.

Risalah (Prophethood)

Belief in prophets as messengers sent by God to communicate with people.

The Scrolls of Abraham

Holy book containing individual revelations to Ibrahim that have perished.

Shi’a Islam

Muslims who believe in the Imamate and succession of Ali.

Six articles of faith

Foundations of Sunni Islam; six key beliefs including Tawhid and Angels.

Sunni Islam

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

Tawhid (the Oneness of God)

Belief in the oneness and unity of Allah.

The Torah

Holy book revealed to Musa (Moses) by God on Mount Sinai.