AQA GCSE RS Christianity and Buddhism

Define Catholic

A branch of Christianity, based in Rome and led by the Pope

Define Orthodox

A branch of Christianity mainly, but not entirely, practised in Eastern Europe

Define Protestant

A branch of Christianity, originally Protestants were called by that name because they protested against some of the practices of the Catholic church; there are many Protestant denominations, but they agree on the central belief that the bible is the only authority for Christians

Define Denomination

A distinct group within a Christian faith, with its own organisation and traditions

Define God

the Supreme Being

Define Monotheistic

A religion that believes there is only one God

Define Holy

Separate and set apart for a special purpose by God

What is the Nicene Creed (generally)?

A key Christian statement of belief

How does the Nicene Creed begin (what is the first thing it says) ?

"We believe in one God"

State the first command from the Ten Commandments

"I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me."

- Exodus 20:2-3 [NIV]

Define Ominpotent

Almighty, having unlimited power; a quality of God

Define Benevolent

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

Define Justice

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

Why do Christians believe that God is loving?

"God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" - John 3:16 [NIV]

Christians believe that God's greatest act of love was sending God's Son, Jesus, to earth.

What do Christians use to define love?

1 Corintians 13:4-8

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."

What does the description of love in 1 Corintians 13:4-8 show?

It suggest some qualities that Christians should aspire to. Many Christians recognise the importance attached to this description of love by choosing to have it read at their wedding ceremony. It also emphasises the nature of God (omnipotent).

Define Trinity

The belief that there are three persons in the One God; the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are separate, but are also one being

Define Holy Spirit

the third person of the Trinity whom Christians believe is the inspiring presence of God in the world

Define Son of God

A title used for Jesus, the second person of the Trinity; denotes the special relationship between Jesus and God the Father

Why do Christians believe that the first person of the Trinity is God the Father?

The Lord's Prayer, a prayer Jesus had taught his disciples and which is commonly used in worship, begins with the words:

"Our Father in heaven"

Define Creation

The act by which God brought the universe into being

Define the Word

Term used at the beginning of John's gospel to refer to God the Son

State John 1:1-3 [NIV] (where he mentions the Word at Creation)

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made"

Which chapter (1/2) in Genesis does this quote come from?

"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep , and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, 'Let their be light', and there was light"

Genesis 1:1-3 [NIV]

Define Incarnation

Becoming flesh, taking a human form

Define Resurrection

- Rising for the dead

- Jesus rising from the dead on Easter day. An event recorded in all four gospels and the central belief of Christianity

Define Blasphemy

A religious offence which includes claiming to be God

What is Matthew's account of the birth of Jesus?

- Matthew 1:18 [NIV]

" This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit"

How does John show that he is more interested in the meaning behind Jesus' birth rather than the concept of it?

- John 1:14 [NIV]

" The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us"

Give three examples of when Jesus accepts the term of Son of God

- Mark 14:61b-62a [NIV]

"Again the high priest asked him,'Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?' 'I am', said Jesus"

- John 21:31 [NIV]

"You may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name"

-Mark 1:11 [NIV]

"When Jesus was baptised, a voice from Heaven said 'You are my Son' "

Define Crucifixion

- Roman method of execution by which criminals were fixed to a cross

- the execution and death of Jesus on Good Friday

Luke 23:46 (Crucifixion)

"Jesus called out with a loud voice, 'Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.' When he had said this, he breathed his last"

Mark 15:39

"Surely this man was the Son of God!"

Define Ascension

the event, 40 days after the resurrection, when Jesus returned to God, the Father, in heaven

Define Heaven

a state of eternal happiness in the presence of God; the place of eternal peace ruled over by God

Luke 24:50-51

"When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven."

1 Corinthians 15:42-44

"So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonour, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body."

Define Afterlife

What Christians believe follows life on Earth

Define Day of Judgement

A time when the world will end and every soul will be judged by God and rewarded or punished

The Apostle's Creed

"He will come to judge the living and the dead"

Matthew 25:31-36

The parable of the sheep and the goats

John 14:6

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Define Hell

The place of eternal suffering or the state of being without God

Define Purgatory

The intermediate state where souls are cleansed in order to enter heaven

Define Satan

Name for the Devil - the power and source of evil

Define Sin

- any action or thought that separates humans from God

- behaviour which is against God's law and wishes or against principles of morality

Define Original Sin

An Augustine Christian doctrine that says that everyone is born with a built-in urge to do bad things and to disobey God; an important doctrine within the Catholic Church

Define Salvation

Saving the soul, deliverance from sin and admission to heaven brought about by Jesus

Define Grace

A quality of God which shows to humans by providing love and support which they do not need to earn

Romans 6:23

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

1 Corinthians 15:21

"For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive"

Define forgiveness

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

Define atonement

restoring the relationship between people and God through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus

Define Mass

ceremony, also called Eucharist, in which the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus is celebrated using bread and wine

1 John 2:1-2

"My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world."

What term means that God is all-powerful?

Omnipotent

Give two persons of the Trinity

Son of God - Jesus

The Holy Spirit

Define worship

act of religious praise, honour or devotion

Define liturgical worship

A church service that follows a set structure or ritual

Define non liturgical worship

a service that does not follow a set text or ritual

Define informal worship

a type of non liturgical worship, sometimes 'spontaneous' or 'charismatic' in nature

Define private worship

when a believer praises or honours God on his or her own

What are the characteristics of liturgical worship and why are they important to Christians?

- People receive forgiveness from God through the action of the priest

- They receive the living presence of Jesus in Holy Communion

- Bible readings follow the Christian calendar and teach Christian history and faith across the Old and New Testament and Paul's letters

- There is a worldwide set order of service that is familiar to all, even visitors

- The ritual has been passed down through generations, giving a sense of tradition

What are the characteristics of non liturgical worship and why are they important to Christians?

- The style of worship follows that of some early Christians who met to hear about Jesus in the joy of the Spirit after Pentecost

- Faith is expressed in a variety of ways. Holy Communion, for example, may be celebrated in different ways

- Christians can share personal interpretations of the Bible. Often, readings follow the Christian calendar

- People can take an active part in church by praying aloud or speaking without formal training

- The service may have an emotional impact, with a feeling of personal revelation from God

The Lord's Prayer

"Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen."

define the Lord's Prayer

the prayer taught to the disciples by Jesus; also know as the 'Our Father'

Catholic grace before meals

"Bless us, O Lord, and these your gifts, which we are about to receive from your bounty. Through Christ our Lord. Amen."

Define prayer

Communicating with God, either silently or through words of praise, thanksgiving or confession, or requests for God's help or guidance

Define set prayers

Prayers that have been written down and said more than once by more than one person, for example the Lord's prayer

Define informal prayer

Prayer that is made up by an individual using his or her own words

Define Nonconformist

An English Protestant who does not conform to the doctrines or practices of the established Church of England

Matthew 28:19

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."

Define Sacrament

rites and rituals through which the believer receives a special gift of grace ; for Catholic, Anglicans and many Protestants, sacraments are 'outward signs' of 'inward grace'

Define Baptism

The ritual through which people become members of the Church; baptism involves the use of water as a symbol of the washing away of sin

Anatta

No fixed self, no soul; the Universal Truth that the soul is insubstantial; that people change in the course of their lives; denial of a real or permanent self.

Annica

Impermanence, instability

Arhat

A perfect person. In Theravada Buddhism this is a term for a person who has attained nibbana.

Ascetic

A life free from worldly pleasures (especially sexual activity and consumption of alcohol), often with the aim of pursuing religious and spiritual goals.

Bodhisattva

A concept in Mahayana Buddhism. A being destined to be enlightened who postpones final attainment of Buddhahood in order to help living beings.

Buddha

It literally means one who has "awakened," reaching enlightenment and escaping rebirth.

Buddhahood

Enlightenment.

Buddha Rupa

An image of a being that has achieved Buddhahood.

Chanting

Singing or intoning.

Karuna

Compassion; pity; part of the spiritual path.

Concentration

Focusing one's attention.

Consciousness

The fifth of the 5 Aggregates. Awareness of something without or before recognition (perception).

Paticcasamuppada

Dependant arising. The belief that everything in existence is because other things are. The idea that everything is interconnected and that everyone effects everyone else.

Puja

Devotional ritual. A ceremony that involves meditation, prayer and offerings.

Dhamma (Dharma)

Universal law; ultimate truth; teachings of the Buddha

Dhammapada

A sacred text of the Pali tradition with 426 verses.

Dukkha

Suffering; ill; everything leads to suffering; unsatisfactoriness. Mental and physical pain.

The Eightfold Path (Magga)

The fourth noble truth. The middle way. The way to wisdom; mental training and the way of morality. Eight stages to be practiced simultaneously.

Energy

One of the six perfections, it relates to making a courageous effort to attain enlightenment.

Enlightenment

Wisdom or understanding enabling clarity of perception; this allows a Buddhist to be freed from the cycle of rebirth (samsara).

Ethics (sila)

Moral conduct.

The Five Aggregates

The five skandhas of form, sensation, perception, mental formation, consciousness. The idea that one's being is composed to these five factors.

The Five Moral Precepts

To not kill any living being, refrain from stealing, refrain from wrongful sexual activity, refrain from lying, refrain from taking drugs and alcohol that cloud the mind.

Form

The first of the five aggregates. It refers to matter, to the sense organs and the objects of their experience.

The Four Noble Truths

Dukkha, Samudaya, Nirodha, Magga (suffering, the cause of suffering, the end of suffering, the path to the end of suffering).

The Four Sights

Gautama's four encounters with illness, old age, death and a holy man.