KS3 Religious Studies Key Terms & Vocabulary

Jesus' everyday language

Aramaic, the common tongue of 1st-century Galilee and Judea.

Christian holy book

called the Bible (from Greek biblia, "books").

Jesus

crucified on a hill outside Jerusalem called Calvary or Golgotha ("place of the skull").

Christmas Day

celebrated on 25 December in Western Christianity.

Jesus

executed by crucifixion on a cross under the Roman governor Pontius Pilate, around 30-33 CE.

Easter

the Christian festival marking the resurrection.

Easter Sunday

the most important festival in the Christian year.

Easter Sunday

the day Christians celebrate Jesus rising from the dead.

Forgiveness

central to Christianity because Jesus taught love and mercy.

Hell

described as being separated from God forever.

Holy Spirit

God's presence and power active in the world and in believers.

Holy Spirit

the third person of the Trinity.

Jesus

born and lived as a Jew in 1st-century Judea.

Judgement Day

when Christians believe God will judge every person's life.

Jesus

laid in a manger (animal feeding trough) after his birth.

Maundy Thursday

the day Christians remember the Last Supper.

Trinity

one God in three persons, not three separate gods.

Original sin

the Christian teaching that humans have an inborn tendency to sin since Adam and Eve.

Old Testament

largely the same as the Jewish Tanakh.

Jesus' mother

Mary and his foster-father is Joseph.

Jesus

sentenced to death by the Roman governor Pontius Pilate.

Repentance

being truly sorry and changing your ways.

Repentance

turning away from sin and turning back to God.

Resurrection

coming back to life from the dead.

Sin

going against God's will.

Soul

the spiritual, eternal part of a person.

Bible

divided into the Old Testament and the New Testament.

The 66 books of the Protestant Bible are arranged in two testaments: Old (39 books, before Jesus) and New (27 books, about Jesus and the early Church).

The first sin in the Bible was committed by Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.

Most Christians believe in life after death.

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Eid al-Adha

also called the Festival of Sacrifice.

Adhan

the call to prayer recited from the mosque.

Ashura

a Shi'a festival remembering the death of Imam Husain at Karbala.

Zakah

paid to eight categories in the Qur'an, including the poor, the needy, debtors and travellers.

Fajr

the dawn prayer, before sunrise.

Eid al-Adha

called the Festival of Sacrifice because it honours Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice Ismail.

Hajj

pilgrimage to Makkah, once in a lifetime if able.

Pilgrimage pillar

the Hajj.

Hajj

the Muslim pilgrimage to Makkah.

Iftar

the meal eaten at sunset to break the fast.

White pilgrim clothing

called ihram.

Iran

the largest majority-Shi'a country.

Kaaba

the cube-shaped shrine in Makkah, towards which Muslims pray.

Mihrab

a niche in the wall showing the direction of Makkah.

Minaret

a tower from which the call to prayer (adhan) is given.

Minbar

the pulpit used by the imam for the Friday sermon.

Mosque

the Muslim place of worship.

Hajj

required once in a lifetime for any Muslim able to do it.

Qibla

the direction of prayer (towards Makkah / the Kaaba).

Rakat

a unit of prayer movements (standing, bowing, prostrating, sitting).

Ramadan

the ninth month of the Islamic (lunar) calendar.

Zakah

given to the poor and needy.

Zakah

important because it helps reduce inequality and care for the vulnerable.

Sawm

fasting during Ramadan.

Sawm

fasting during the month of Ramadan.

Shahadah

the Muslim declaration of faith.

First pillar

the Shahadah: the declaration of faith.

Shoes

removed before entering the prayer hall.

Suhoor

the meal eaten before dawn.

Sunni

the largest branch: about 85% of Muslims worldwide.

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Qur'an

organised into 114 surahs (chapters).

Adam

the first human and first prophet in Islam.

Akhirah

the afterlife in Islam.

Al-Qadr

the belief that Allah knows and decrees everything that happens.

Allah

the Arabic word for God.

Angels

made of light (nur).

Qur'an

revealed in Arabic.

Muhammad

born around 570 CE.

Muhammad

born in Makkah (Mecca), in modern Saudi Arabia.

Muhammad

the final messenger (Seal of the Prophets) of Allah.

Hijra

Muhammad's migration from Makkah to Madinah in 622 CE.

Ibrahim

the Arabic name for Abraham, a major prophet of Islam.

Ibrahim (Abraham)

common to Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

Isa

the Arabic name for Jesus, a great prophet of Islam (but not the Son of God).

Izrail (also called Azrael)

the angel of death.

Jahannam

the Muslim term for hell.

Jannah

paradise, the Muslim heaven.

Jannah

the reward of being with Allah in eternal peace.

Jibril (Gabriel)

the angel of revelation, who brought the Qur'an to Muhammad.

Angels

made of light (Arabic nur).

Mikail (Michael)

the angel of sustenance and rain.

Muhammad

called the Seal of the Prophets, the final messenger.

Musa

the Arabic name for Moses, who was given the Tawrat (Torah).

Qur'an

the holy book of Islam.

Qur'an

revealed to Muhammad over approximately 23 years (c.610-632 CE).

Shirk

worshipping anything besides Allah.

Tawhid

the foundation of Muslim belief about God.

Tawhid

the heart and foundation of all Islamic belief.

Tawhid

the oneness (and uniqueness) of Allah.

Tawrat (Torah)

given to Musa.

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Bodhi tree site

in the Indian state of Bihar.

Siddhartha

born in Lumbini, in what is now Nepal (ancient northern India).

Bodhi tree

sacred because it is where the Buddha fully awoke.

Buddha

sometimes called a spiritual doctor: diagnosing what's wrong with human life and prescribing a treatment.

Buddhist dharma wheel (dharmachakra)

commonly drawn with eight spokes, one for each step of the Eightfold Path.

First three sights

an old man, a sick man, and a corpse.

First Noble Truth

that life involves suffering (dukkha).

Siddhartha Gautama

the founder of Buddhism.

Fourth sight

a wandering holy man (an ascetic / monk).

Fourth Noble Truth

that the Eightfold Path leads to the end of suffering.

Leaving the palace

called the Great Renunciation.

Mara

the Buddhist personification of temptation and death.

Eightfold Path

also called the Middle Way.

Fourth truth's path

also called the Middle Way.

Path

named the Middle Way because it avoids extremes.

Eightfold Path

the Buddhist path to end suffering.

Right livelihood

earning a living in an ethical way.

Right speech

refraining from lying, divisive speech, harsh speech, and senseless speech.

Right view

understanding the Four Noble Truths.

Sarnath

near Varanasi in northern India.

Second Noble Truth

that suffering comes from craving (tanha).

Siddhartha's homeland

the Shakya kingdom, centred on Lumbini.

Third Noble Truth

that suffering can end.

The Buddha sat under the Bodhi tree for forty-nine days until he reached enlightenment, despite Mara's temptations.

All things in conditioned life are impermanent.

Anatta challenges the idea of a fixed, permanent self or soul.

Anatta means there is no fixed, unchanging self.

Anatta literally means "non-self".

Understanding anicca helps Buddhists accept change in life.

Anicca means impermanence: nothing lasts.

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Abortion

the ending of a pregnancy.

Absolute poverty

lacking the basic necessities: food, water, shelter, clothing.

Animal welfare

caring for animals' wellbeing.

Climate change

treated as a religious ethical issue by many faith groups.

Conscience

the inner sense of what is right and wrong.

Conscience

what tells a person whether something feels right or wrong.

Dominion

the authority over creation given to humans in Genesis 1:26.

Ethics

the study of right and wrong.

Euthanasia

helping someone die to relieve suffering.

Euthanasia

illegal in the UK.

Fair trade

paying producers (especially in developing countries) a fair price for their goods.

Food bank

the UK organisation that distributes free food to people in need.

Mahatma Gandhi

a famous pacifist who led Indian independence by non-violent resistance.

Golden Rule

"treat others as you would wish to be treated"; it appears in most religions.

Humanism

a non-religious life stance.

Humanism

the non-religious worldview that values reason and human flourishing.

Humanists UK

a secular ethics organisation.

Just War

a war fought with morally justified reasons (just cause).

Morals

beliefs about right and wrong behaviour.

Nuclear deterrence

the strategy of holding nuclear weapons to prevent attack.

Pacifism

the belief that war and violence are wrong.

Pacifist

a person who refuses to take part in war or violence.

Pro-choice view

that the woman should decide what happens to her own body.

Relative poverty

being poor compared to others in the same society.

Religious ethics

morality based on faith and religious teachings.

Religious ethics

grounded in scripture, tradition, and religious authority.

Secular ethics

morality without religion.

Secular ethics

grounded in reason, evidence, and human welfare.

Stewardship

the religious duty of caring for what God created.

Terrorism

the use of violence to create fear for political ends.

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Agnosticism

being unsure whether God exists.

Atheism

the belief that no god exists.

Big Bang

the theory that the universe is expanding from a hot, dense starting state.

Big Bang theory

the universe expanding from a hot, dense state.

Conversion

a change to a new religious belief, often after a powerful experience.

Cosmological argument

about the universe's cause.

Creationism

the belief that God created life as described in scripture.

DNA

the molecule that carries genetic information.

Earthquake

an example of natural evil.

Evolution

the change in species over many generations.

Genesis creation account

shared by Christianity and Judaism.

Big Bang theory

first proposed in 1927 by Georges Lemaître, a Belgian astronomer who was also a Catholic priest, often cited to show science and religion need not conflict.

Lourdes

the French Marian apparition site where Bernadette saw the Virgin Mary in 1858.

Miracle

an event seen as caused by God (divine intervention).

Moral evil

suffering caused by human choices (e.g. murder, theft).

Natural evil

suffering caused by natural events (e.g. earthquakes, disease).

Natural selection

the best-suited organisms survive and reproduce.

NOMA

Stephen Jay Gould's term ("non-overlapping magisteria") for the view that science and religion address separate domains.

Theism

the belief that God exists.

Universe

approximately 13.8 billion years old.

Vision

the experience of seeing something divine.

In Genesis 2:7, Adam was made from the dust of the ground.

Atheists often explain visions as the result of brain chemistry or psychology.

A common atheist argument is that an all-good, all-powerful God would prevent evil: its presence is evidence against such a God.

Many religious people see the Big Bang as compatible with belief in a God who set it off.

Many Christians accept evolution as God's method of creating life (theistic evolution).

The cosmic microwave background radiation is one of the main pieces of evidence supporting the Big Bang.

The conflict view holds that science and religion contradict each other.

Paul (then Saul) had a famous vision of Jesus on the road to Damascus.

Charles Darwin proposed evolution by natural selection.

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Agape

selfless, unconditional love: the Greek word used for divine love in 1 Corinthians 13.

Beatitudes

nine blessings that open the Sermon on the Mount.

CAFOD

a Catholic-led overseas development and emergency relief agency.

CAFOD

the official Catholic aid agency of England and Wales.

Christian Aid

the official relief and development agency of churches in Britain and Ireland (including Anglican churches).

Christian Aid

a major UK Christian charity tackling poverty worldwide.

Christian Aid

founded in 1945 to help refugees in post-war Europe.

Christian Aid Week

held every May in the UK.

Commandments

also listed in the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy.

First commandment

to have no other gods: worship only the one God.

Just War

a war fought for the right reasons and in the right way, meeting set criteria.

Martin Luther King Jr

a famous Christian pacifist who led non-violent civil rights protests.

Commandments

the foundation of moral law in both Judaism and Christianity.

Commandments

given on Mount Sinai during the Exodus from Egypt.

Pacifism

the belief that war and violence are always wrong.

Stewardship

caring responsibly for what God has given.

Commandments

written on stone tablets.

Tearfund

a Christian evangelical international relief charity.

Tearfund

a UK-based evangelical Christian relief and development charity.

Tithing

giving a tenth of one's income for religious purposes, common in Old Testament and many Christian churches today.

Tithing

giving one tenth (10%) of one's income to God / the Church.

Jesus taught that anger against another is like murder in the heart.

The blessings that open the Sermon are called the Beatitudes.

CAFOD stands for "Catholic Agency For Overseas Development".

Christian Aid tackles poverty worldwide.

Jesus gave the Sermon on a mountain / hillside in Galilee.

One commandment is "You shall not murder".

One of the Ten Commandments forbids stealing ("You shall not steal").

Christians respond to poverty by giving to charities and helping those in need.

Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount.

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Advent

the four-week season of preparation before Christmas.

Ash Wednesday

the first day of Lent in Catholic, Anglican and many other Western Christian churches.

Catholic church service

led by a priest.

Denomination

a branch or group within Christianity.

Easter

the most important Christian festival.

Holy Week

the week before Easter Sunday.

Hymns

religious songs sung in worship.

Jerusalem

a Christian pilgrimage site because it is the place of Jesus' death and resurrection.

Kneeling

a common posture for Christian prayer, showing humility.

First Communion

at the Last Supper, when Jesus said "Do this in remembrance of me".

Lent

the 40-day fast leading up to Easter.

Liturgy

the set order of worship followed in many Christian denominations (e.g. Catholic, Anglican, Orthodox).

Lourdes

in southern France.

Lourdes

the most-visited French Catholic pilgrimage site.

Orthodox Church

largest in countries such as Russia and Greece.

Pentecost

sometimes called the birthday of the Church.

Pilgrimage

a religious journey to a holy site.

Pope

based in Vatican City, Rome.

Prayer

talking with God.

Rome

the centre of the Catholic Church; the Pope is based there.

Sacrament

a sacred Christian ceremony, an outward sign of inward grace.

Sermon

a talk explaining a passage of the Bible.

Sunday

the weekly Christian day of worship.

Sunday

the main day of Christian worship, the day Jesus rose.

Walsingham

a famous Marian pilgrimage site in England.

The 1054 East-West Schism created the Orthodox Church (split from Rome).

The four-week season preparing for Christmas is called Advent.

Most Christian prayers end with the word "Amen" (meaning "so be it").

Baptism symbolises washing away sin and new birth in Christ.

Baptism welcomes a person into the Christian community using water.

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Atman

sometimes called the eternal self.

Avatar

a god's appearance on earth, in human or animal form.

Brahma

the Creator god.

Brahman

described as beyond words and form.

Brahman

a universal divine principle, not a person.

Brahman

the ultimate reality in Hinduism.

Moksha

the final spiritual goal in Hindu thought.

Bhagavad Gita

the atman as eternal, indestructible, and beyond death.

Bhagavad Gita

Krishna's teaching to Arjuna.

Krishna

often shown with a flute, as the cowherd of Vrindavan.

Moksha

liberation from rebirth.

Moksha

liberation or release.

Moksha

reached through wisdom, devotion or selfless action (the yogas).

Rama's story

told in the Ramayana epic.

Hinduism

sometimes called Sanatana Dharma ("eternal way").

Shiva

the Destroyer god.

Trimurti

three aspects of Brahman.

Brahman

the ultimate reality underlying everything.

Vishnu

the Preserver god.

Hindus believe all actions have consequences.

In Advaita Vedanta the atman is ultimately one with Brahman.

All living beings have an atman.

After death the atman is reborn into a new body.

Belief in the atman helps Hindus seek union with Brahman.

Atman is the eternal soul in Hindu thought.

The atman does not die with the body; it lives on.

The Hindu word that means "soul" is atman.

Bad karma leads to a poorer future birth.

Brahma creates the universe in Hindu thought.

Brahman pervades everything that exists.

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Abraham

regarded as the father of Judaism, the first Jewish patriarch.

Abraham

remembered as the first to accept the one God, rejecting the idolatry of his contemporaries.

Abraham's wife

Sarah, mother of Isaac.

Messiah

sometimes called Mashiach ben David: "Messiah, son of David".

Covenant

a sacred binding agreement between God and people.

Exodus

the escape of the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt under Moses's leadership.

Judaism

strictly monotheistic: Jews believe in one God.

Messianic Age

the future time of peace and justice the Messiah will usher in.

Pharaoh

the Egyptian ruler whom Moses confronted demanding the release of the Hebrews.

Shema

the central Jewish prayer declaring God's oneness.

Tanakh

the Jewish Bible, made up of three sections: Torah, Nevi'im, and Ketuvim.

Torah

the first five books of Moses, the central Jewish scripture.

Torah scroll

written by hand on parchment by a trained scribe (sofer).

Torah

written in Hebrew.

Abraham left his home city of Ur in Mesopotamia at God's call to travel to Canaan (Genesis 12).

Abraham's son with Sarah was Isaac, through whom the covenant continued.

"Adonai" ("Lord") and "Hashem" ("the Name") are used in place of God's unspeakable name YHWH.

The Hebrew title Adonai means "Lord".

Jews are commanded to break Shabbat if necessary to save a life.

The Hebrew word for covenant is brit (sometimes transliterated b'rit).

God first spoke to Moses through a burning bush that was not consumed by the flames (Exodus 3).

The sign of the Abrahamic covenant was the circumcision of all male descendants: brit milah.

Jews may drive on Shabbat to take someone to hospital because pikuach nefesh overrides Shabbat.

The Exodus represents the liberation of the Hebrew people from Egyptian slavery and is foundational to Jewish identity.

Many observant Jews write God's name as "G-d" (with a dash) out of respect, to avoid the full name being erased or destroyed.

Jews believe God is Creator of the heavens, the earth, and all life.

Jews believe God is Judge, holding people accountable for their actions in life.

Out of reverence, observant Jews do not write or speak God's full name (YHWH); substitutes are used.

God promised Abraham many descendants and a land (Genesis 12, 15, 17).

Jews do not accept Jesus as the Messiah, because the prophesied messianic conditions (peace, rebuilt Temple) have not been fulfilled.

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Aron Kodesh

the cabinet that holds the Torah scrolls in the synagogue.

Conservative (Masorti) Judaism

the middle path between Orthodox and Reform.

Hanukkah

the Festival of Lights, lasting eight nights.

Rosh Hashanah

the Jewish New Year.

Passover meal

called the Seder.

Shabbat

the Jewish day of rest.

Shema

the central Jewish prayer affirming God's oneness.

Shema

written in the Torah at Deuteronomy 6:4-9.

Shema

said in Hebrew.

Shema

recited morning and evening.

Synagogue

a Jewish place of worship and community.

Yom Kippur

the Day of Atonement, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.

The Aron Kodesh is the Ark: the cabinet holding the Torah scrolls.

Bar mitzvah takes place at the age of 13.

Bar mitzvah is the coming-of-age ceremony for Jewish boys.

Bar mitzvah literally means "son of the commandment".

At the ceremony, the bar mitzvah reads from the Torah in front of the congregation.

In traditional practice bat mitzvah takes place at the age of 12 (Reform Judaism often holds it at 13).

Bat mitzvah translates as "daughter of the commandment".

Bat mitzvah is the coming-of-age ceremony for Jewish girls.

Bat mitzvah literally means "daughter of the commandment".

The bimah is the raised platform from which the Torah is read.

Challah is the special braided bread eaten on Shabbat.

Conservative Judaism sits between Orthodox and Reform on most issues of practice.

Hadlakat Nerot is the blessing over the Shabbat candles.

Halakhah means Jewish religious law.

The Hanukkah menorah (hanukkiah) has nine candle holders: eight for the eight nights plus the shamash (helper).

Kiddush is the blessing recited over wine to begin Shabbat.

Jewish men (and many women in Reform synagogues) wear a kippah, a head covering, in the synagogue.

The main branches of Judaism in the UK are Orthodox, Reform and Liberal, with Masorti sitting between Orthodox and Reform.

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Alcohol

haram for Muslims.

Aqiqah

the Islamic naming ceremony for newborn babies.

Family

the foundation of faith and community in Islam.

Greater Jihad

the inner struggle to follow Allah.

Greater Jihad

the inner struggle to be a good Muslim.

Greater Jihad

the inner struggle against personal wrong.

Halal

"permitted" / "lawful" in Islam.

Haram

"forbidden" / "unlawful" in Islam.

Sharia

interpreted by trained Islamic scholars (ulama / fuqaha).

Jihad literally

"struggle" or "striving".

Khitan

the circumcision of male babies in Islam.

Lesser Jihad

the outer struggle in defence of Islam.

Lesser Jihad

defensive armed struggle.

Mahr

the marriage gift paid by the groom to the bride.

Nikah

the Islamic marriage contract.

Following halal/haram rules

an act of obedience to Allah in daily life.

Sharia

following the path given by Allah.

Pork

haram (forbidden) for Muslims.

Sharia

guided by two main sources: the Qur'an and the Sunnah (Muhammad's example).

Riba (interest / usury)

forbidden in Islam.

Sadaqah jariyah

"ongoing charity" with lasting benefit, e.g. building a well.

Sadaqah

voluntary giving / charity beyond zakah.

Sharia

Islamic law and guidance for Muslim life.

Word Sharia literally

"path" (originally a path to water).

Sunnah

the example, sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad.

Zakah

obligatory charity in Islam, the third pillar.

Zakah

the third pillar of Islam.

Halal and haram rules are followed because Allah commands what is permitted and forbidden.

Sharia covers many areas of Muslim life: worship, food, family, business.

Many Muslims teach that lesser jihad is allowed only in defence, not aggression.

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Agnosticism

being unsure whether God exists.

Atheism

the belief that no god exists.

Atheism

the belief that denies the existence of any deity.

Richard Dawkins

a famous atheist scientist (biologist; The God Delusion, 2006).

Deontology

following moral duties strictly, regardless of consequences.

Pluralism

an attitude that accepts the diversity of beliefs and worldviews co-existing in a society.

Humanism

a non-religious life stance.

Humanism

a non-religious worldview: humanists believe people can live good, meaningful lives using reason and empathy, without religion or belief in a god.

Humanist ethics

sourced from reason and human empathy.

Humanists UK

the organisation representing humanists in the UK.

Humanists UK

the UK national body promoting humanist views.

Worldview

sometimes called a "life stance".

New Atheism

a public challenge to religion in the 2000s (Dawkins, Hitchens, Harris, Dennett).

Religious pluralism

many faiths living together respectfully.

Secular ethics

ethics without religion.

Tolerance

respecting views that are different from one's own.

Utilitarianism

the view that the right action produces the greatest happiness for the greatest number.

Virtue ethics

acting from good character.

Worldview

how someone sees and interprets the world.

Worldview

influenced by family, culture, education, and experience.

Worldview

how a person sees and interprets reality.

Worldview

the lens through which a person reads events.

Worldview

shaped by family, culture, and personal experience.

An agnostic says one cannot be certain whether God exists.

One might be agnostic because the question of God's existence seems too hard to answer with certainty.

Atheism rejects belief in any deity.

Many become atheist because they see a lack of evidence for God.

Atheists can and do live ethical lives.

Jeremy Bentham founded utilitarianism (late 18th / early 19th century).

A society with many worldviews is called diverse.

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GGS

carried on the head as a sign of respect.

First Sikh Guru

Guru Nanak, born 1469.

Guru Granth Sahib

the Sikh holy book.

Hymns

organised by raga (musical mode) and are usually sung as kirtan rather than just read aloud.

Guru Granth Sahib

ritually opened each morning and wrapped up and put away to rest for the night.

Guru Gobind Singh

the last human Guru.

Sikh God

beyond gender, described in masculine, feminine, and neutral language across Sikh scripture.

GGS

written in Gurmukhi script.

Mool Mantra

the core Sikh statement about God.

Mool Mantra

the nature and qualities of God.

Mool Mantra

used for Sikh prayer and worship.

Mukti

achieved through devotion to God.

Guru Nanak

born in 1469.

Mool Mantra

God as without fear (Nirbhau) and without hatred or enmity (Nirvair).

GGS

treated as a living Guru today.

Guru Arjan compiled the first version.

The Guru Granth Sahib has exactly 1,430 pages: every authorised copy printed identically across the world.

After Gobind Singh, the Guru Granth Sahib is treated as the Guru.

On special occasions, continuous readings of the Guru Granth Sahib are held, lasting from 2 to 15 days.

The Guru Granth Sahib contains hymns in Punjabi, Sanskrit, Persian, and several other languages of the medieval Indian subcontinent.

Guru Gobind Singh declared the GGS the final Guru before his death in 1708.

Guru Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa.

Sikhs believe God created the universe and continues to sustain it: the cosmos is God's handiwork.

Sikhs believe God is present in all creation, not located in a single temple or place.

Sikhs see God as without form.

Good karma brings a better next life.

A person who reads the GGS aloud is called a granthi.

The script of the GGS is Gurmukhi.

Haumai is ego or self-centredness, the main barrier to mukti.

The GGS contains writings from Hindu and Muslim poets too.

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Anonymous giving

highly valued because it protects the dignity of the receiver.

Beef

kosher only if the animal is correctly slaughtered (by shechita).

Maimonides

the medieval Jewish scholar who systematised the eight levels of tzedakah.

Mitzvah

a commandment from God and also any good deed.

Mitzvot

seen as God's instructions for how to live a holy life.

Mitzvot

divided into positive ("do") and negative ("do not") commandments.

Pork

not kosher: pigs do not chew the cud, so the Torah forbids them.

Jewish ritual slaughter

called shechita.

Tikkun olam

closely tied to social and ethical justice.

Repairing the world

called tikkun olam.

Tzedakah

seen as a religious duty, not merely an optional charitable act.

Tzedakah

expected of every Jew, even those who are poor themselves.

Of the 613 mitzvot, 365 are negative ("do not") and 248 are positive ("do").

The hope of repairing the world appears in the Aleinu, the prayer that closes daily Jewish services (written around the 3rd century CE).

Aseret HaDibrot is the Hebrew name for the Ten Commandments.

At bar/bat mitzvah a young Jew becomes responsible for keeping the mitzvot.

Environmental clean-ups, recycling, and conservation are examples of tikkun olam.

Volunteering at a food bank is an example of tikkun olam in action.

A hechsher is the symbol on food packaging certifying it as kosher.

Helping others (e.g. charity, visiting the sick) counts as performing a mitzvah.

The highest level of tzedakah is helping someone become self-sufficient (a job, loan, partnership) so they no longer need charity.

Kosher rules come from the Torah, mainly in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14.

Kosher means "fit" or "proper" to eat under Jewish law.

Jews follow kosher rules out of obedience to God and as a sign of Jewish identity.

Shellfish (prawns, lobster, crab) are not kosher.

Many Jews follow maaser kesafim: the practice of setting aside a tenth (10%) of their income for tzedakah.

The medieval scholar Maimonides ranked tzedakah into eight levels of giving.

Mitzvah is the Hebrew word for "commandment".

Jewish tradition counts 613 mitzvot in the Torah.

Kosher law forbids mixing meat and milk in the same meal, from the Torah command "do not boil a kid in its mother's milk".

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Bandi Chhor Divas

"Prisoner Release Day" in Sikh tradition.

Diwali

festival of lights.

Langar

free of charge.

Guru Granth Sahib

kept centrally in the gurdwara.

Gurdwara

a Sikh place of worship.

Khalsa

founded in 1699.

Khalsa

the community of initiated Sikhs.

Langar

the free community kitchen.

Langar

always vegetarian.

Langar

started by Guru Nanak.

Panj Piare

the first five Khalsa.

Heads

covered to show respect for the Guru Granth Sahib.

Shoes

removed in a gurdwara.

Vaisakhi

celebrated in April each year.

Langar

vegetarian so that people of all faiths and backgrounds can eat together.

Langar

prepared and served by volunteers.

Amrit Sanskar happens in a Sikh gurdwara.

Amrit is a sweet nectar drunk at initiation.

The ceremony to join the Khalsa is Amrit Sanskar.

Sikhs also celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas at the time of Diwali.

The Khalsa marks deep commitment to the Sikh faith.

Heads must be covered in a gurdwara.

Gurdwara means "door to the Guru".

Diners sit on the floor in lines, to symbolise equality.

Guru Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa.

The Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib) at Amritsar is the holiest gurdwara, the pre-eminent spiritual site of Sikhism.

The Sikh shrine with the world's largest langar is the Golden Temple.

Khalsa means "pure".

Khalsa means "pure" and refers to a committed Sikh community.

Khalsa Sikhs wear the Five Ks.

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Meditation

central to Buddhist practice.

Mindfulness

awareness of the present moment.

Sangha

the community of Buddhist monks, nuns and lay followers.

Sangha

the community of Buddhist followers.

Stupa

a dome-shaped Buddhist shrine.

Buddhist temple/monastery

called a vihara.

Vipassana

insight meditation.

Wesak

also called Buddha Day.

Wesak

held on the full moon in May.

Wesak

the most important festival for many Buddhists: it celebrates the Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death.

A bhikkhu is a Buddhist monk.

A bhikkhuni is a Buddhist nun.

Buddhist temples contain images of the Buddha used as a focus for meditation.

Community supports practice and learning.

Lay Buddhists (laypeople) support the monastic sangha through offerings of food and goods.

Lights at Wesak symbolise the Buddha's wisdom.

Buddhist monks and nuns live in monasteries.

Buddhist monks shave their heads as a sign of renunciation.

Offerings (flowers, incense, food) are made to show respect and devotion.

Right concentration and right mindfulness are part of the Eightfold Path.

Buddhists meditate to reduce suffering and gain wisdom.

Some Buddhists release caged animals at Wesak as a symbol of compassion and freedom.

Releasing caged birds symbolises compassion and freedom.

Monks wear simple robes, symbolising a life free of luxury and possessions.

Samatha's main aim is calming and focusing the mind.

Samatha typically focuses on the breath or a mantra.

Samatha meditation calms and focuses the mind.

Buddhists remove their shoes before entering a temple.

The Sangha supports Buddhist practice and learning.

Buddhists take refuge in the Three Jewels.

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Ahimsa

also taught in Jainism and Buddhism.

Bhakti yoga

the path of love (devotion).

Bhakti yoga

the path of devotion.

Cows

sacred in Hinduism as a symbol of life and giving.

Following one's duty

called dharma.

Jnana yoga

the path of knowledge.

Karma yoga

the path of selfless action.

Vegetarianism

linked to ahimsa.

Moksha

the highest aim of the four.

Moksha

the highest Hindu aim: final liberation.

Avoiding beef

a mainstream Hindu tradition, because the cow is sacred; most Hindus do not eat it.

Raja yoga

the path of meditation.

Ahimsa

central to dharma because Hindus see the divine atman present in all living things.

Ahimsa means non-violence.

Ahimsa applies to all living beings.

Many Hindus are vegetarian because of ahimsa.

Many Hindus are vegetarian because of ahimsa and respect for all living beings.

Wealth and prosperity is the aim called Artha.

Wealth (artha) supports family and society.

Artha is lawful wealth and prosperity.

The yoga that is the path of devotion is Bhakti yoga.

Many Hindus regard the cow as sacred and do not eat beef.

Cows provide milk, butter and ghee.

Hindus avoid beef because the cow is seen as sacred.

Dharma is religious duty or righteousness.

Gandhi used ahimsa to seek Indian independence.

Mahatma Gandhi promoted ahimsa in modern times.

Gandhi applied ahimsa as non-violent resistance to British rule.

Kama is pleasure and desire.

Kama should be pursued within dharma, not selfishly.

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Light offering

the arti ceremony.

Diwali's origin

Rama's return from exile after defeating Ravana.

Ganges

the holiest river for Hindus.

Diwali

important because good triumphs over evil.

Holi

famous for throwing coloured powder.

Puja

done at home or at the temple shrine.

Incense

used to purify the space.

Kumbh Mela

a massive Hindu pilgrimage festival.

Kumbh Mela

held every twelve years (at any one site).

Goddess Lakshmi

welcomed during Diwali.

Lakshmi

the goddess of wealth honoured at Diwali.

Hindu temple

called a mandir.

Largest UK mandir

in Neasden, London.

Puja

the Hindu worship ceremony.

Shoes

removed before entering a mandir.

Varanasi

a holy city on the Ganges.

Arti is the lamp ceremony that ends most pujas.

Arti is the ceremony of waving a lighted lamp before the deity.

Darshan is the auspicious seeing of the deity.

Diwali celebrates the victory of light over darkness.

Small clay lamps called diyas are lit at Diwali.

Most mandirs face east: the main sanctum and the deity image face east.

Bathing in the Ganges is believed to cleanse sins.

Hindus traditionally cremate the dead by the Ganges.

The inner shrine of a mandir is called the garbhagriha (sanctum).

Holi celebrates spring and new beginnings.

Home puja offers flowers, food and a lamp before the deity.

Most Hindu homes have a shrine where puja is performed.

The giant Hindu pilgrimage that meets every 12 years is the Kumbh Mela.

The Kumbh rivers meet at the Sangam near Prayagraj.

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Sewa

often performed at the gurdwara.

Sewa

a core Sikh duty.

Khalsa

established at Vaisakhi in 1699 by Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru.

Langars

open to all because they show the equality of people.

Sikh worship

open to anyone of any background.

Sewa

part of the Sikh path to God.

Sewa

selfless service to others without reward.

All five Ks begin with the letter K in Punjabi.

Cooking langar for free is an example of sewa.

Sikhs reject caste because all humans are equal before one God.

There are five Ks.

In Sikhism, men and women are equal.

Sewa helps the community and the self.

Kachera are cotton undergarments.

Kanga is a wooden comb.

Kara is a steel bracelet.

The kara (steel bracelet) symbolises eternity, strength, and commitment to one God.

The Sikh K that is the steel bracelet is kara.

Kesh is uncut hair.

Kesh (uncut hair) symbolises acceptance of God's will: hair is kept uncut as respect for what God has given.

The Five Ks are worn by initiated Khalsa Sikhs.

Kirpan is a small ceremonial sword.

The kirpan signifies the duty of a Sikh to stand up against injustice: it is a religious article, not a weapon for fighting.

The free meal at the gurdwara that shows equality is called langar.

Guru Nanak rejected caste discrimination.

Sikhs do not accept caste: all people are equal.

Sewa must be done with no reward expected.

The Punjabi name for the Five Ks together is Panj Kakkar.

Sewa is selfless service to others.

Shared surnames remove caste-based identity.

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Avalokiteshvara

the bodhisattva of compassion in Mahayana Buddhism.

Eightfold Path

the step-by-step framework for Buddhist ethical action.

Fifth precept

to avoid intoxicants (alcohol, drugs).

First precept

refraining from harming any living being.

First precept

not to kill living beings.

Fourth precept

not to lie.

Precepts

rules for ethical Buddhist living.

Right action

ethical conduct of body: not killing, stealing or doing harm.

Right speech

truthful and kind use of words.

Second precept

not to steal.

Third precept

to avoid sexual misconduct.

Right speech

truthful, kind and useful.

The first precept reflects ahimsa: the principle of non-violence shared with Hindu and Jain teaching.

The four Brahma Viharas (metta, karuna, mudita, upekkha: loving kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, equanimity) are four Buddhist virtues, also called the four immeasurables.

Compassion in Buddhism extends to all living beings, not only humans.

There are five Moral Precepts in Buddhism.

Gossip counts as wrong speech in the Buddhist tradition.

Karuna means compassion.

Karuna sees suffering and seeks to relieve it.

Buddhists wish: "May all beings be happy."

Metta means loving-kindness.

In metta practice the wish is extended from self outwards to all beings, including enemies.

Metta meditation trains the mind to be kind.

Metta meditation wishes happiness for everyone, including strangers and enemies.

Following the precepts reduces suffering: for self and others.

Right action includes refraining from killing and stealing.

Right speech avoids lying and gossip.

Speech can cause real harm or real help, so it matters ethically.

Right action and right speech are two steps of the Noble Eightfold Path.

Lying and harsh words are examples of wrong speech.