KEY TERMSS -Existence of God and peace and conflict

Design Argument

The argument that God designed the universe, because everything is so intricately made in its detail that it could not have happened by chance.

Theist

A person who believes in God.

Atheist

A person who believes that there is no God.

Agnostic

Someone who thinks there is not enough evidence for belief in God.

First Cause Argument

Also called the cosmological argument; the argument that there has to be an uncaused cause that made everything else happen, otherwise there would be nothing now.

Eternal

Without beginning or end.

Creation

The act by which God brought the universe into being.

Miracle

A seemingly impossible event, usually good, that cannot be explained by natural or scientific laws, and is thought to be the action of God.

Proof

Evidence that supports the truth of something,

Faith

A commitment to something that goes beyond proof and knowledge, especially used about God and religion.

Evil

The opposite of good, a force or personification of a negative power that is seen in many traditions as destructive and against God.

Suffering

When people have to face and live with unpleasant events or conditions.

Ultimate reality

The supreme, final, fundamental power in all reality.

The divine

God, gods or ultimate reality.

Revelation

God showing Himself to believers; this is the only any anybody can really know anything about God.

Special Revelation

God making Himself know through direct personal experience or an unusual specific event.

Vision

Seeing something, especially in a dream or trance, that shows something about the nature of God or the afterlife.

Enlightenment

The gaining of true knowledge about God or self, usually through meditation and self-discipline; in Buddhist traditions gaining freedom from the cycle of rebirth.

General revelation

God making himself known through ordinary, common human experiences

Nature

The physical world including plants, animals and landscapers; the environment or natural world.

Scriptures

The sacred writings of religion; for Christians these are the Old and New Testaments.

Omnipotent

Almighty, having unlimited power; a quality of God.

Omniscient

Knowing everything; a quality of God.

Benevolent

All-loving, all-good; a quality of God.

Immanent

The idea that God is present in and involved with life on earth and in the universe; a quality of God.

Transcendent

The idea that God is beyond and outside life on earth and the universe; a quality of God.

Personal

The idea that God is an individual or person with whom people are able to have a relationship or feel close to.

Impersonal

The idea that God has no 'human' characteristics is unknowable and mysterious, more like an idea or force.

Reality

The quality or state of being actual or true.

Illusion

An erroneous perception of reality.

War

Fighting between nations to resolve issues between them.

Peace

An absence of conflict, which leads to happiness and harmony.

Justice

Bringing about what is right and fair, according to the law or making up for a wrong that has been committed.

Forgiveness

Showing grace and mercy and pardoning someone for what they have done wrong.

Reconciliation

A sacrament in the Catholic Church; also, when individuals or groups restore friendly relations after conflict or disagreement.

Protest

An expression of disapproval, often in a public group.

Violence

Using actions that threaten or harm others.

Terrorism

The unlawful use of violence, usually against innocent civilians, to achieve a political goal.

Greed

Selfish desire for something.

Self-defence

Acting to prevent harm to yourself or others.

Retaliation

Deliberately harming someone as a response to them harming you.

Nuclear weapons

Weapons that work by a nuclear reaction; they devastate huge areas and kill large numbers of people.

Weapons of Mass Destruction

Weapons that can kill large numbers of people and/or cause great damage.

Chemical weapons

Weapons that use chemicals to poison, burn or paralyse humans and destroy the natural environment.

Biological weapons

Weapons that have living organisms or infective material that can lead to disease or death.

Just war

A war which meets internationally accepted criteria for fairness; follows traditional Christian rules for a just war, and is now accepted by all other religions.

Holy war

Fighting for a religious cause or God, probably controlled by a religious leader.

Pacifism

The belief of people who refuse to take part in war and any other form of violence.

Peacemaker

A person who works to establish peace in the world or in a certain part of it.

Peacemaking

The action of trying to establish peace.

Lesser Jihad

The outward struggle to defend one's faith, family and country from threat.