GCSE Edexcel Religious Studies Key Terms

Agape

Selfless love (a key ethical teaching of Jesus Christ)

Analogy

A comparison between two things that have similarities

Ascension

Going up into heaven ('The Ascension' refers to Jesus going up to Heaven)

Atonement

The action of restoring a relationship; in Christianity, Jesus' death and resurrection restores the relationship between God and human beings

Baptism

The Christian ceremony that welcomes a person into the Christian community

Begotten

Born of

Confirmation

The Christian ceremony that accepts a person who formally asks to become a member of the Church

Conservation

Protecting something from being damaged or destroyed (e.g. the environment)

Creationism

The belief that the world was created in a literal six days and that Genesis is a scientific/historical account of the beginning of the world

Crucifixion

Being nailed to a cross and left to die

Day of Judgment

God (as Jesus Christ) assesses a person's life and actions sending them to Heaven or Hell

Environment

The surroundings in which plants and animals live and on which they depend

Eschatology

An area of Christianity that is concerned with life after death

Free Will

Having the freedom to choose what to do

Fundamentalist

Typically used to identify Christians who support a literal interpretation of the Bible and uphold a traditional rule-based morality

Grace

Undeserved love

Heaven

Place of eternal paradise where Christians hope to spend the afterlife

Hell

Place of punishment and separation from God

Holy Spirit

The Spirit of God, which gives the power to understand worship

Humanity

All human beings

Impersonal

Not of human form

Incarnation

To take on flesh; when God became a human being as Jesus Christ

Liberal

Typically used to identify Christians who support a metaphorical interpretation of the Bible and uphold a more open and inclusive morality

Moral Evil

Suffering caused by humans (e.g. war)

Natural Evil

Suffering caused by natural events (e.g. earthquakes)

Omnibenevolence

All-good

Omnipotence

All-powerful

Pentecostalism

A Protestant movement that puts special emphasis on a direct and personal relationship with God through the Holy Spirit

Personal

Of human form

Purgatory

A place where the souls of the dead are cleansed and prepared for heaven

Reconciliation

Restoring peace and friendship between individuals or groups

Repentance

To say sorry for, and turn away from, any wrongdoing

Resurrection

Rising from the dead

Sacrament

An important Christian ceremony which is an outward sign of an inward blessing

Salvation

Being saved from sin and the consequences of sin; going to heaven

Satan

The adversary'; one of God's angels who rebelled against the rule of God

Sin

Anything that prevents a relationship with God, either because the person does something they shouldn't, or neglects to do something they should

Stewardship

Looking after something so it can be passed on to the next generation (e.g. the environment)

Theodicy

A proposed solution to the Problem of Evil

Transcendent

Beyond time and space (a.k.a. metaphysical)

Trinity

God as one being in three persons

Universalism

The belief that because of the love and mercy of God everyone will go to heaven

Vale of Soul-Making

An environment in which human beings can develop a moral character by overcoming evil and suffering (e.g. become charitable by helping those in need)

Abstinence

Choosing to restrain oneself from doing something, for example, having sex or eating food (also called fasting)

Adultery

When a married person has a sexual relationship with someone other than their spouse

Annulment

Declaration that a marriage is null and void; in effect, as if it had never happened, for reasons such as being under age or being forced to marry

Atheist

Someone who does not believe in the existence of God

Christingle

A lighted candle symbolising Jesus as the light of the world, often carried by children in church celebrations around Christmas time

Cohabitation

Living together in a sexual relationship but without legalising the union through marriage

Conception

The moment when a sperm fertilises an egg, creating an embryo that can develop into a baby

Contraception

Artificial and natural methods of preventing pregnancy; also known as birth control

Divorce

The legal ending of a marriage

Equality

Treating people in the same way irrespective of differences such as sex, race, education, disability or sexuality

Faithfulness

Not having a sexual relationship with anyone other than a partner

Gender discrimination

Acting upon a prejudice about someone's gender; for example, not appointing a woman to a high-paid job on the assumption that she must be too fragile for the role; or expecting a man to do a heavy physical task on the assumption that he must be strong

Gender prejudice

Making judgements about men or women on the basis of their gender; for example, judging all women to be emotionally fragile or all men to be emotionally strong

Heterosexuality

Sexual attraction to members of the opposite sex

Homosexuality

Sexual attraction to members of the same sex

Humanist

A non-religious person who looks to reason and empathy in order to live a meaningful life.

Marriage

The legal union of a man and woman or a same-sex couple

Ordination

The appointment of men and women to professional ministry in the Church

Pride/Gay Pride

A social movement encouraging homosexual people to express their sexuality openly and with self-esteem

Procreation

To have sex and produce children

Promiscuity

Sexual relations with multiple partners on a casual basis

Rites of passage

Events marking key stages in life

Sanctity of marriage

The idea that marriage has a special significance as a holy gift from God

Situation ethics

Ethical decisions made according to the specific context; in any situation do the most loving action.

39 Articles of Religion

A historical record of beliefs (or doctrines) held by the Church of England

Advent

A coming, also used to refer to the four weeks leading up to Christmas (i.e. the coming of Jesus Christ)

Alpha Course

A course run by churches and local Christian groups which enables people to find out more about the Christian faith

Anoint

Apply oil to a person's head as a sign of holiness and God's approval

Convert

To change from one set of beliefs to another (e.g. the Apostle Paul converted from Judaism to Christianity)

Denominations

A collective term for the main groups/traditions within Christianity (e.g. Catholic, Anglican, Baptist, etc.)

Ecumenism

A movement that tries to bring different Christian denominations closer together

Epiphany

A moment of suddenly revealing something surprising or great

Eucharist

The ceremony commemorating the Last Supper, involving bread and wine; also called Holy Communion or Mass

Evangelical

Spreading the Christian message

Evangelism

Preaching the gospel in order to attract new believers

Holy Week

The week before Easter

Immortal Soul

A soul that lives on after the death of the body

Intercession

Prayers for those who are suffering

Jesus Christ

The Son of God, who came into the world as a human being

Liturgical

A set form of worship, usually following agreed words

Local Church

A meeting place for local believers and the community of believers who gather there

Mission

Sending individuals or groups to spread the Christian message

Missionary

A person who preaches and invites people to convert to the Christian faith

Nativity

The birth of someone (e.g. Jesus Christ)

Non-Liturgical

A form of worship which is not set

Obligation

Something that you must do (i.e. a responsibility)

Outreach

An activity to provide services to people in need

Parish

A community of local believers within a particular denomination

Persecution

The ill-treatment of an individual or group, usually on the grounds of religion or ethnicity

Pilgrim

Someone who goes on a pilgrimage

Pilgrimage

A journey to a religious or holy place

Prophecy

A message from God in which he communicates his will

Sermon

A talk or teaching from a church leader

Shrine

A holy place

Vigil

Staying awake at night in order to pray; also the name given to the celebration of a festival on the eve before the festival itself

Worship

Believers expressing love and respect for, and devotion to, God

Abortion

Ending a pregnancy by deliberately removing a foetus by surgical or medical means