GCSE Religious Studies

Overview

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Topics

Religious Studies key terms

Original definitions for core course vocabulary, informed by the references below. Not an official or exhaustive board-specific glossary.

40 of 40 terms

Theism

Belief in the existence of a god or gods.

Belief, ethics and philosophical enquiry

Atheism

The absence of belief in gods; some atheists also positively hold that no gods exist.

Belief, ethics and philosophical enquiry

Agnosticism

The view that the existence of God or gods is unknown or cannot be known.

Belief, ethics and philosophical enquiry

Monotheism

Belief in one God.

Belief, ethics and philosophical enquiry

Revelation

The disclosure of divine truth or reality, understood differently across religious traditions.

Belief, ethics and philosophical enquiry

Religious experience

An experience interpreted by a person as contact with, or awareness of, divine or ultimate reality.

Belief, ethics and philosophical enquiry

Sanctity of life

The belief that life has sacred worth, often understood as grounded in its relationship to God.

Belief, ethics and philosophical enquiry

Situation ethics

An ethical approach judging actions by what best expresses self-giving love in the particular circumstances.

Belief, ethics and philosophical enquiry

Human rights

Basic freedoms and entitlements held to belong to every person by virtue of being human.

Belief, ethics and philosophical enquiry

Social justice

Fair treatment and distribution of opportunities and resources, including efforts to challenge structural disadvantage.

Belief, ethics and philosophical enquiry

Trinity

The Christian belief that the one God exists eternally as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Christianity

Incarnation

The Christian belief that God the Son became human in Jesus Christ.

Christianity

Atonement

In Christianity, reconciliation between humanity and God through Jesus Christ, explained in different ways by different traditions.

Christianity

Resurrection

In Christianity, Jesus being raised from death; also the belief in the future raising of the dead.

Christianity

Salvation

In Christianity, deliverance from sin and its consequences into a restored relationship with God.

Christianity

Grace

In Christianity, God's freely given love and help, not earned as a reward.

Christianity

Sacrament

In many Christian traditions, an outward rite through which God's grace is communicated; recognised sacraments vary by denomination.

Christianity

Baptism

A Christian initiation rite using water, associated with entry into the Church and cleansing from sin.

Christianity

Eucharist

A Christian act of worship recalling Jesus' Last Supper using bread and wine; understandings of Christ's presence vary.

Christianity

Agape

In Christian ethics, self-giving love that seeks another's good rather than personal reward.

Christianity

Tawhid

The Islamic teaching that Allah is one, unique and without partners.

Islam

Risalah

The Islamic belief in prophethood through which Allah communicates guidance to humanity.

Islam

Akhirah

The Islamic belief in life after death, including resurrection, judgement and accountability before Allah.

Islam

Qur'an

Islam's sacred scripture, believed by Muslims to be Allah's revelation to the Prophet Muhammad.

Islam

Sunnah

The example and practice of the Prophet Muhammad, used by Muslims as a guide for life.

Islam

Shahadah

The declaration that there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is Allah's messenger; central to Muslim faith.

Islam

Salah

The prescribed ritual prayer in Islam; Sunni Muslims ordinarily perform it at five daily times.

Islam

Zakah

Obligatory giving from qualifying wealth to eligible recipients, expressing responsibility towards others in Islam.

Islam

Sawm

Fasting, especially during Ramadan, when eligible Muslims abstain from food, drink and other specified activities from dawn to sunset.

Islam

Hajj

Pilgrimage to Makkah at the prescribed time, required once in a lifetime for Muslims who are able.

Islam

Covenant (Judaism)

A binding relationship between God and human beings, especially God's commitments and obligations involving the Jewish people.

Distinctive concepts across other traditions

Torah (Judaism)

Jewish teaching or instruction; specifically the Five Books of Moses, and more broadly the tradition of divine teaching.

Distinctive concepts across other traditions

Mitzvah (Judaism)

A commandment understood within Judaism as part of living in accordance with God's will.

Distinctive concepts across other traditions

Shabbat (Judaism)

The weekly Jewish day of rest and holiness, observed from Friday sunset to Saturday nightfall.

Distinctive concepts across other traditions

Anicca (Buddhism)

The teaching that conditioned things are impermanent and continually changing.

Distinctive concepts across other traditions

Anatta (Buddhism)

The teaching that no permanent, independent self can be found in the changing processes of existence.

Distinctive concepts across other traditions

Dukkha (Buddhism)

The suffering, dissatisfaction or instability characteristic of conditioned existence.

Distinctive concepts across other traditions

Moksha (Hindu traditions)

Liberation from samsara, the cycle of rebirth; different Hindu traditions explain its nature and attainment differently.

Distinctive concepts across other traditions

Atman (Hindu traditions)

The self or spiritual essence; Hindu traditions differ in how they understand its relationship to ultimate reality.

Distinctive concepts across other traditions

Seva (Sikhism)

Selfless service to others, practised as an expression of devotion, humility and equality.

Distinctive concepts across other traditions

Exams

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Revision

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Practice

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Resources

Short, focused tasks for the Religious Studies topics you find hardest — learn the key idea, check yourself, then try a marked exam-style question.