Religion and Peace Lecture Notes

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering key terms and concepts regarding peace in Islam and Christianity as presented in the HSC lecture notes.

Inner Peace

State of personal harmony including mental and spiritual wellbeing, often guided by religious teachings and rituals.

World Peace

A state of social harmony and justice requiring peacebuilding efforts to address global conflict and injustice.

Zakat

A compulsory act of charity and one of the five pillars of Islam, requiring Muslims to give $2.5\%$ of their wealth to purify the soul and reduce attachment to material possessions.

Islamic Relief

A global humanitarian agency founded in 1984 that provides aid driven by Islamic values such as compassion (rahma), social justice (adl), and dignity (amana).

Submission

The act of placing complete trust and focus in Allah, helping Muslims shape their behavior around pleasing Him and striving for Jannah.

Salat

The five daily prayers in Islam that affirm Tawhid and foster inner peace by reducing the nafs (ego) and attachment to worldly concerns (dunya).

Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)

An international organization of 57 Muslim majority countries that promotes peace and mediation through dialogue and reliance on peaceful solutions.

Jihad

Meaning "struggle" or "striving" in the path of Allah; it includes the effort to live according to God's will and promote justice and peace.

Greater Jihad

The inner spiritual struggle against sin and selfish desires used to achieve personal spiritual growth.

Lesser Jihad

The external struggle to defend justice, promote peace, and challenge division within society.

Hajj

The annual pilgrimage to Mecca which represents equality and unity, helping pilgrims develop spiritual discipline and overcome the nafs (ego).

Muslim World League

An international Islamic organization that hosts interfaith events, such as the 2023 Building Bridges Conference, to promote moderation and cooperation between religions.

Dua

A personal act of supplication or calling upon Allah for guidance and help, fostering a sense of closeness to the Creator.

Dhikr

The practice of constant remembrance of Allah through the repetition of His names or phrases from the Quran to cultivate spiritual peace.

Tawba

The act of seeking forgiveness from Allah for one's sins, allowing individuals to release guilt and experience spiritual cleansing.

Love of Neighbour

A central Christian teaching where adherents treat others with dignity and respect because everyone is created in the image of God.

Works of Mercy

Charitable actions in Christianity that help meet the physical and spiritual needs of others, fostering inner peace by overcoming selfishness.

Fratelli Tutti

A 2020 encyclical written by Pope Francis that promotes global fraternity, social friendship, and unity between all people regardless of background.

Forgiveness

A Christian teaching encouraging mercy and letting go of resentment, based on the belief that God forgives humans and restores relationships.

Sacrament of Reconciliation

A Catholic sacrament where individuals confess sins to a priest to receive God’s forgiveness and provide healing from wrongdoing.

Harmony

A Christian teaching that encourages living in unity and resolving conflict peacefully to strengthen relationships and communities.

Christian Meditation

A practice of focusing on God or reflecting on scripture to calm the mind and deepen a person's relationship with God.