GCSE Religious Studies - Edexcel Unit 2 - Religion and Life: Christianity
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GCSE
Religious Studies
Edexcel Unit 2 - Religion
and Life: Christianity
2.1 - Believing in God
2.2 - Matters of Life and Death
2.3 - Marriage and Family Life
2.4 - Community Cohesion
Key Words
Additional Specialist Vocabulary
& Church and Biblical Teaching
(c) Phill Allen 2010Edexcel Unit 2.1 – Believing in God Revision
Key Words
Key Word My Definition Edexcel Definition
Conversion
Miracle
Numinous
Prayer
Design
Causation
Agnosticism
Atheism
Moral Evil
Natural Evil
Benevolent
Omnipotent
OmniscientEdexcel Unit 2.1 – Believing in God Revision
Additional Specialist Vocabulary
Specialist Vocabulary Information
Theism The belief that a God of some form must exist.
The religious lifestyle of family members affecting the children,
Religious Upbringing
e.g. family prayer, going to church etc.
An experience a person goes through that causes them to believe
Religious Experience
in God, e.g. numinous.
Awe A sense of holy respect, wonder and even fear.
This refers to God as ‘unchanging’, if God caused miracles to
Immutable
happen in the past He can cause them to happen now.
A town in southern France where a girl called Bernadette
Lourdes Soubirous claimed to see a vision of the Virgin Mary. It is now a
place of pilgrimage for many sick people looking for healing.
The Lord’s Prayer An example of prayer taught by Jesus in the Gospels.
The belief that when a person looks at the natural world God is
Natural Revelation
showing (revealing) something of his character and existence.
Cosmological Argument A type of argument for the existence of God using ‘Causation’.
Cause and Effect The belief that every effect has a cause (Causation).
The belief that God was the initial cause of every effect without
Prime Mover
requiring a cause himself.
Teleological Argument A type of argument for the existence of God using ‘Design’.
An 18th century philosopher who used the design of a watch to
William Paley argue for the existence of God as the designer of a far more
complicated universe.
St Thomas Aquinas argued that as the universe shows evidence of
Beneficial Order
working towards a best result, this is evidence of design.
The argument that life must have a meaning and purpose which
Meaning & Purpose
could only originate from a greater being than us, God.
The belief that as so many of the world’s population believes in
Existence of Religion
some form of God, it is likely that a god must exist.
Evolution The belief that all life evolved and was not created.
The belief that the universe came about as a result of a huge
The Big Bang Theory
explosion of energy and matter some 15 billion years ago.
The belief that God gave humanity the ability but also the
Free Will
responsibility to choose right from wrong.Edexcel Unit 2.1 – Believing in God Revision
Biblical & Church Teaching
Teaching Application
Train up a child in the way they should go: Biblical teaching about religious upbringing.
and when they are old, they will not depart
from it. Proverbs 22:6
As he neared Damascus on his journey, The conversion story of Saul a first century
suddenly a light from heaven surrounded Jew who persecuted Christians and
him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice authorized their deaths. Saul converted to
say, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?’ Christianity and later became known as St
‘Who are you Lord?’ Saul asked, ‘I am Jesus Paul.
who you are persecuting.’’ Acts 9:4-5
Jesus calms a storm. Mark 4:35-41 An account of one of Jesus’ miracles where
he calms a storm on the sea of Galilee.
Jesus feeds 5000. Matthew 14:13-21 An account of one of Jesus’ miracles where
he feeds 5000 with just 5 loaves and two
fish.
Healing of a crippled beggar. Acts 3:3-10 An account of Jesus’ disciples performing a
miracle after Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Jesus did his followers are now able to do.
This then is how you should pray… Jesus’ example of how to pray to God known
Matthew 6:9-13 as ‘The Lord’s Prayer’ or the ‘Our Father’.
In the beginning God said, ”Let there be Some Christians believe this to be the point
light, and there was light”. of the Big Bang.
Genesis 1:3
What you did not do for the least of these Part of Jesus’ teaching that humanity has a
my people, you did not do for me. responsibility from God to help end the
Matthew 25:45 suffering of people caused by others.
Each person is persuaded to do what is Teaching that humanity has a choice to do
wrong when they are tempted by their own what is right or wrong, it is down to them.
evil desire. Then, after desire has been This is called ‘Free Will’
given in to, it becomes sin; and sin eventually
leads to death. James 1:14-15Edexcel Unit 2.2 – Life and Death Revision
Key Words
Key Word My Definition Edexcel Definition
Heaven
Hell
Immortality of the Soul
Reincarnation
Resurrection
Paranormal
Near Death Experience
Abortion
Quality of Life
Assisted Suicide
Euthanasia
Voluntary Euthanasia
Non-Voluntary
EuthanasiaEdexcel Unit 2.2 – Life and Death Revision
Additional Specialist Vocabulary
Specialist Vocabulary Information
Sacred Of particularly holy importance.
Universal Declaration of An international non-religious agreement which accepts each
Human Rights individual’s right to life as one of the basic rights of humanity.
The belief that life is precious because God gave it, therefore,
Sanctity of Life
only God has the right to take a life.
A catholic belief that after death the person can work off sins
Purgatory
through additional prayer before going to heaven.
Spirit World A secular belief that the souls or spirit of people survive death.
Foetus A stage of a baby’s growth whilst it is still in the womb.
When the baby is able to survive outside of the womb. Usually
Viable
around the 24th week of the pregnancy.
Arguments in favour of protecting the life of the foetus. Often
Pro-Life
with the belief that life begins at conception.
The belief that the woman should be the person to decide what
Pro-Choice
happens to a foetus she is carrying as it is her body.
An illegal abortion carried out without proper medical training,
Back-Street Abortions
supervision and/or conditions.
The direct intervention of a doctor or other to end the life of an
Active Euthanasia
individual. E.g. giving a patient an overdose of pain killing drugs.
Where treatment that would help a person live longer is stopped
Passive Euthanasia
or withheld with the intent of ending the life.
A place offering medical support and counselling where terminally
Hospice ill people can live out part of or the remainder of their life, and be
looked after in comfort and with dignity.
Giving painkilling medication to ease the suffering of a person
Double Effect knowing that the dosage required would eventually lead to death.
This is the only form of euthanasia accepted by Catholicism.
A British couple who went to Switzerland where euthanasia is
Robert & Jennifer
legal to be euthanized. Their symptoms included a bad back,
Stokes
epilepsy, and depression.
A British woman who was incapable of committing suicide and so
Diane Pretty went to court to gain permission for her husband to assist her
suicide. Permission was denied.Edexcel Unit 2.2 – Life and Death Revision
Biblical & Church Teaching
Teaching Application
Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, St Paul’s letter to Greek Christians is saying that
the first of those to follow, God has given us a Jesus was raised from the dead and therefore so
body that is perishable but will be raised will we. The physical body we have when alive can
imperishable. A natural body raised as a spiritual grow old and sick; the spiritual body God will give
body. 1 Corinthians 15 us will not suffer these effects.
I believe in the resurrection of the body and Part of a statement by the first Christian leaders
everlasting life. (The Apostles Creed) outlining what Christianity believes.
Jesus will come again and judge all people. His Part of a statement by other early Church leaders
kingdom will have no end. (The Nicene Creed) to clarify what Christianity believes.
All who die in God’s friendship but being The Catholic Church outline for the purpose of
imperfect will have eternal life with God after Purgatory.
they have gone through a period of purification.
The Catholic Church
So God created man in his own image. In the Christian teaching that God is the creator of all
image of God he created them male and female. people.
Genesis 1:27
The Lord God formed man from the dust of the Christian teaching that God is the initial source of
ground and breathed into him the breath of life. life.
And the man became a living being. Genesis 2:7
You created every part of me; you knit me A poem by King David outlining God’s participation
together in my mother’s womb. Psalm 139:13 in life even before the moment of birth.
Do not commit murder Exodus 20:13 One of the 10 Commandments (Decalogue)
Humans are made like God, whoever sheds the Statement from the Old Testament (part of the
blood of a man, by man will his blood be shed. Bible written before Christ) outlining the
Genesis 9:6 importance God places on life.
Don’t you know that your body is the temple of Teaching of St Paul stating part of God lives
the Holy Spirit who lives in you. You do not within all people. People are to look after their
belong to yourselves but God. 1 Corinthians 6:19 human form and not destroy it.
Any action which is taken so as to render Teaching of the Catholic Church that
procreation impossible is intrinsically evil. contraception goes against God’s will and so is
The Catholic Church totally evil.
Contraception is a gift of medical science given Teaching of the Methodist church regarding their
by God. It is responsible and can be defended acceptance of preventative contraception (the pill
morally. However contraceptive with an abortive & condoms) and their disapproval of abortive
function should be avoided. Methodist Church contraception (morning after pill).
Discontinuing medical treatment that is Teaching of Catholic Church supporting passive
disproportionate, dangerous and burdensome is euthanasia under certain circumstances.
legitimate. The Catholic Church
Using painkillers to alleviate the suffering of Teaching of Catholic Church supporting the
the dying, even at risk of shortening their days concept of double-effect under certain
is morally acceptable. The Catholic Church circumstances.Edexcel Unit 2.3 – Marriage and Family Life Revision
Key Words
Key Word My Definition Edexcel Definition
Premarital Sex
Promiscuity
Cohabitation
Marriage
Faithfulness
Adultery
Divorce
Re-marriage
Nuclear Family
Extended Family
Re-constituted Family
Homosexuality
HeterosexualityEdexcel Unit 2.3 – Marriage and Family Life Revision
Additional Specialist Vocabulary
Specialist Vocabulary Information
Meaning how things were seen or done in the past. E.g. 50 years
Traditional
ago.
Compatible Where two people are well suited to each other.
Procreation Having children.
The Decalogue The 10 commandments
Four books in the new testament that outline the story of Jesus’
The Gospels
life.
Marriage Vows Promises made to each other during a wedding ceremony.
Behaviour that is unacceptable in a marriage relationship e.g.
Unreasonable Behaviour
spousal abuse.
Irretrievable Used to describe a marriage that has no chance of being repaired.
An act within Christianity that is made particularly special or holy
Sacrament because it is in keeping with the will of God. E.g. baptism or
marriage.
The legal procedure for declaring a marriage null and void usually
Annulment due to a person not fully understanding the marriage commitment
or the marriage not being consummated.
Consummate The first occasion of sex of two people after marriage.
Single Parent Families Where children are brought up with only one parent.
A religious ceremony where the parents of a new born child thank
Baptism (Dedication) God for the child and promise to bring them up according to the
Christian faith.
Used to describe two people who are of a legal age agreeing to a
Consenting Adults
sexual act that does not break any laws.
A legal agreement between two people of the same gender (sex)
Civil Partnership
committing themselves to one another. Similar to marriage.
A type of Christian sticks strictly with what the Bible actually
Fundamentalist
states on an issue and will not move from that view. They view the
Christian
Bible as the Word of God.
A type of Christian who is more willing to interpret what the Bible
means in light of the context it was written in (exegesis) and the
Conservative Christians
situation it is being applied to (hermeneutics). They view the Bible
as the inspired words of God.
A type of Christian who views the Bible as being the teachings of
religious people about God but not necessarily the very words of
Liberal Christian
God. They will apply the teachings of the Bible if they don’t feel it
contradicts what they see as the most loving thing to do.Edexcel Unit 2.3 – Marriage and Family Life Revision
Biblical & Church Teaching
Teaching Application
For this reason, a man will leave his father and Part of God’s creation plan for men and women
mother and be united with his wife, and they will was to be married.
become one flesh. Genesis 2:24
And God said “be fruitful and increase in Part of God’s creation plan for men and women
number; fill the earth and subdue it.” was to have children as part of a family unit.
Genesis 1:28
You shall not commit adultery. Exodus 20:14 Biblical teaching against adultery from the
Decalogue (10 Commandments).
The Marriage bond has been established by God The Catholic Church outline for the sanctity (holy
himself and can never be dissolved. origin) of marriage.
The Catholic Church
The re-marriage of persons divorced goes The Catholic Church outline against the idea of
against the plans and law of God. re-marriage for divorced people.
The Catholic Church
Where a local church is in touch with a divorced Teaching of the Methodist Church on how to
person, the offering of new life and healing of respond to divorced people.
memories is to be made. The possibility of new
relationships and marriage is to be welcomed.
The Methodist Church
Whoever divorces his wife and marries another Teaching of Jesus on divorce.
is guilty of adultery against her. And if a woman
divorces her husband and marries another she is
guilty of adultery too. Mark 10:10-12
The only legitimate reason for divorce is if your Teaching of Jesus on divorce.
partner commits adultery. Matthew 19:9
Honour your father and your mother. Biblical teaching on respecting your parents from
Exodus 20:12 the Decalogue (10 Commandments)
Parents, never drive your children to resent you Teaching of St Paul stating parents should bring
but bring them up well and guide them as God up their children in a loving and caring way
would want. Ephesians 6:6 according to the Christian faith.
It is an abomination for a man to lie with Biblical teaching from the old testament against
another man as he does with a woman. homosexual activity.
Leviticus 18:11
Women have given themselves to unnatural St Paul’s teaching against homosexual (gay or
relationships with other women. Romans 1:26 lesbian) activity.
The Church teaches that homosexual people Teaching of the Catholic Church against
should be accepted with compassion, respect homophobic discrimination.
and sensitivity. The Catholic Church
Although the particular inclination of the Teaching of the Catholic Church supporting people
homosexual person is not a sin, taking part in its with homosexual thoughts but stating homosexual
activity is a moral evil and must be avoided. activity is a sin.
The Catholic ChurchEdexcel Unit 2.4 – Community Cohesion Revision
Key Words
Key Word My Definition Edexcel Definition
Prejudice
Discrimination
Sexism
Racism
Inter-faith Marriages
Community Cohesion
Racial Harmony
Multi-Ethnic Society
Multi-Faith Society
Religious Pluralism
Religious FreedomEdexcel Unit 2.4 – Community Cohesion Revision
Additional Specialist Vocabulary
Specialist Vocabulary Information
Secular Non-religious.
Women who campaigned for equal rights for women during
Suffragettes Victorian times. They won the vote for women over 31 in 1918 and
in 1928 the age was lowered to 21 to be the same as men.
Xians who believe that only those who accept Jesus Christ and
Exclusive Xians
follow his teachings will go to heaven.
Xians who believe some members of other religions and some non-
Inclusive Xians Xians will be able to go to heaven. They feel that at the end of
time they will be given a second chance t accept Christ.
Xians who believe that all followers of all religions are actually
Pluralist Xians
worshipping the same God without realising it, so all go to heaven.
When a person fears for their safety in their home country due
Asylum Seeker to the political, ethnic or religious group they belong to, seeks
refuge in another country.
People who come to a country from their own seeking employment
Immigrant Workers
and a better standard of living.
A South African Christian Bishop who regularly speaks up for
Bishop Desmond Tutu
minority groups including asylum seekers..
A religious group within Christianity E.g. Catholic, Baptist, Church
Denomination
of England, Methodist and Quakers.
The official views of the Catholic church on an issue published by
Catechism
the office of the Pope (The Vatican).
A particularly fanatical (overly-obsessed) member of a religious
Extremist
group, often outspoken and strong in their views.
A means of trying to gain what you want in society through the
Terrorism
use of violence towards others in society.
When a person is officially accepted as having the right to be a
Ordained
vicar or a priest within the church
Groups and committees that are made of representatives of
Ecumenical
different faiths and denominations.Edexcel Unit 2.4 – Community Cohesion Revision
Biblical & Church Teaching
Teaching Application
God created humanity in his own image, male and Men and women were created as equals by God
female he created them both. Gen 1:27 from the very moment of creation.
There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, Jesus is saying everyone is equal to God there
male nor female, for you are all one in Christ. should be no sexism, racism or prejudice of any
Galatians 3:28 sort.
Wives submit to your husbands, for the husband St Paul is saying in marriage, men have a position
is head of the wife. Ephesians 5:22 of authority over their wives.
Women must remain silent in church, they are St Paul wrote this to a Greek church regarding
not allowed to speak. 1 Corinthians 14:34 the women in that church.
I do not permit a woman to have authority over St Paul wrote this to a young man who had become
a man, she must learn submission and be silent. 1 one of the early church leaders.
Timothy 2:11
Husbands love your wives as you love yourselves. In writing this St Paul is saying husbands should
Ephesians 5:28 treat their wives with equality.
Everyone is equal in Christ. Galatians 3:28 St Paul talking about race and gender.
The Lord chose men to form his 12 disciples and Teaching of the Catholic Church on the roles of
the apostles did the same when they chose their women (a counter argument would be Jesus only
successors. For this reason the ordination of chose men as women were not respected or
women is not possible. The Catholic Church listened to in that society and day)
The Church of England (C of E) have officially Official line of the C of E on women in roles of
accepted women as vicars but in some places leadership (this basically leaves it up to individual
they are still not allowed to become Bishops. churches).
However, some C of E churches may still not
employ a woman as a vicar. Church of England
The Methodist Church has allowed women to Teaching of the Methodist Church on the role of
hold any level of leadership for many years. women in the Church.
The Methodist Church
God does not show favouritism, but accepts Teaching of the early Church leaders shortly
people from every nation.’ Acts 10:34-35 after Jesus’ resurrection.
The Parable of ‘The Good Samaritan’, showed Jesus’ Jewish listeners that God valued all
Luke 10:25-37 people.
We state that racism is a direct contradiction Teaching of the Methodist Church on racism.
to the Gospel of Christ.
The Methodist Church
Every form of social & cultural discrimination Teaching of the Catholic Church on racism.
must be stopped and eradicated as incompatible
with God’s design. The Catholic Church
I am the way, the truth and the life, no one Teaching of Jesus saying he is the only way to
comes to the Father (God) except through me. God. i.e. not through other religions (making Jesus
John 14:6 exclusive not pluralist).GCSE
Religious Studies
Edexcel Unit 2 - Religion
and Life: Christianity
Edexcel
Key Word
DefinitionsEdexcel Unit 2.1 – Believing in God Revision
Key Words
Key Word Edexcel Definition
Changing from one religion to another or
Conversion
from following no religion to following one.
An event which seems to break the laws of
Miracle
science who’s only explanation is God.
The feeling of the presence of something
Numinous
overwhelmingly greater than yourself
An attempt to communicate with God,
Prayer
usually through words.
The idea that things with a function or
Design purpose, must have been created for that
purpose.
The idea that everything has be caused
Causation
(started off) by something else.
Agnosticism Not being sure whether or not God exists.
Atheism Believing that God does not exist.
Actions done by humans that cause
Moral Evil
suffering.
Action that occur as part of nature that
Natural Evil
cause suffering, e.g. earthquakes.
The belief that God is totally loving and
Benevolent
compassionate. (lit. all-loving)
The belief that God is totally powerful and
Omnipotent
is not limited in anyway. (lit. all-powerful)
The belief that God knows absolutely
Omniscient
everything big or small. (lit. all-knowing)Edexcel Unit 2.2 – Life and Death Revision
Key Words
Key Word Edexcel Definition
Heaven A place of paradise where God rules.
Hell A place of horror where Satan rules.
Immortality of The idea that the soul lives on after the
the Soul body has died.
The belief that after death the soles are
Reincarnation
reborn into another body.
The belief that, after death the body stays
Resurrection dead until the end of the world when it is
raised.
Unexplained things that are thought to have
Paranormal
spiritual causes, e.g. ghosts, mediums.
An experience people claim to have when they
Near-Death have been clinically dead for a period of time
Experience and revived. E.g. bright lights, out of body
experiences, feelings of peace.
The removal of a foetus from the womb
Abortion
before it is able to survive.
The idea that life must have some benefits
Quality of Life
to be worth living.
Providing a person with the means by which
Assisted Suicide
to commit suicide.
The act of bringing about an easy and
Euthanasia
gentle death.
Voluntary When a person requests their life to be
Euthanasia ended by another person.
Ending the life of a person in their best
Non-Voluntary
interest when they are incapable of giving
Euthanasia
consent.Edexcel Unit 2.3 – Marriage and Family Life Revision
Key Words
Key Word Edexcel Definition
Having sex with a person before being
Premarital Sex
married to them
Having sex with a number of partners
Promiscuity
without wanting a relationship with them.
Living together as a couple without being
Cohabitation
married.
The legal joining together of two people as
Marriage
a couple.
Remaining with your marriage partner and
Faithfulness
having sex only with them.
Having sex with someone whilst you or they
Adultery
are married to another person.
The legal separation of a married couple
Divorce
from each other.
When a person marries again after being
Re-marriage
divorced.
Where the mother, father and children all
Nuclear Family
live together as a family unit.
Where close relatives live with the family
Extended Family
as a unit or live nearby.
Re-constituted Where two sets of children become one
Family family when their parents marry each other.
Sexual attraction to a person of the same
Homosexuality
gender (sex).
Sexual attraction to a person of the
Heterosexuality
opposite gender (sex).Edexcel Unit 2.4 – Community Cohesion Revision
Key Words
Key Word Edexcel Definition
Believing some people are inferior or
Prejudice
superior without even knowing them.
Acting on a prejudice due to race, colour,
Discrimination
gender, class, age or ability.
Discriminating against people due to a
Sexism
prejudice of their gender (sex).
Discriminating against people because of
Racism
their race or the colour of their skin.
Inter-faith When people of different religions get
Marriages married.
Community A common vision and shared sense of
Cohesion belonging for all groups in society.
When people of different races and
Racial Harmony
cultures live together as one society.
A member of an ethnic group (race) which is
Ethnic Minority
smaller than the majority group.
Multi-Ethnic A community of people from different
Society races and cultures who live together.
Multi-Faith A community of people from different
Society religious backgrounds who live together.
Religious Accepting all religions as having equal rights
Pluralism to coexist and are all a valid form of faith.
Religious The right to practice your own religion and
Freedom to change your religion if you wish to do so.You can also read
