Download Key Words for RE

Abortion
The removal of a
foetus (unborn baby)
from the womb
Agnostic
Someone who is not
sure if there is a
God
Animism
A belief in spirits in
natural things

Ascetic
Someone who lives
simply, like a monk
Atheist
Someone who does
not believe there is a
God
Authority
Having power or
influence over people
and things
Awe
feeling of wonder or
admiration
Belief/
Believe
Accepting something
as true
Bible
The holy book of
Christianity
Buddhism
The fourth largest
world religion;
Buddhists follow
Buddhism
Celebration
To specially remember an
event, particularly
through festivals
Ceremony
A formal act carried
out as laid down by
ritual or custom, e.g
a wedding ceremony
Christianity
The world’s largest
religion
Commitment
To devote yourself to
something
Community
A group who share
something in common
like nationality,
religion or interests
Creation
Bringing something into
existence
Deity
A god or goddess
Destiny
Fate; Something that will
happen in the future;
something that is meant to
be
Devotion
Feelings of love or
affection
Empathy
Being able to
understand the feelings
of other people
Evil
Wickedness or
morally bad
Euthanasia
The act of killing someone
painlessly (especially the
aged or those suffering
from an incurable illness)
Existence
The state of existing
or being
Evolution
A slow process in which
something changes into a
different and usually
more complex form
Faith
belief and trust in the
truth or value of a
person, idea, or thing
Freedom
being free; the power
to act or speak or
think without
interference.
Genesis
The beginning of
something; the first
book of the Bible
Goodness
The state or quality
of being good
Hebrew
The ancient Jews or the
language spoken by them
and their descendents
Holy/
Holiness
Being worthy of
worship
Holocaust
A massive slaughter,
especially of the six
million Jews in the
1930’s and 40’s
Hinduism
The third biggest and
oldest world religion;
Hindus follow
Hinduism
Ideology
A set of religious or
political ideas or
beliefs
Idolatry
The worship of
objects or idols
Interpretation
The act of explaining
or translating the
meaning of something
Islam
The second largest
and fastest growing
world religion
Judaism
The smallest of the
six major world
religions
Justice
Being fair; upholding
the rights of all
Liberation
Being set free from
oppression or
captivity
Lifestyle
The way a person
lives their life
Meaning
The reason or
purpose of something
Meditation
Reflecting on your
inner thoughts and
feelings
Monotheism
The belief that
there is only One
God
Morality
Concerned with the
difference between
right and wrong
Motivation
The reason someone
wants to do
something
Muslim
A follower of Islam
Mystery
Something which
cannot be explained
Myth
A story used to
communicate meaning,
based on fiction or
half-truths
Nativity
The story of the
birth of Jesus Christ
Origin
The beginning of
something
Orthodox
Keeping strictly to
the rules and laws;
used of some Jews
and Christians
Pantheism
The belief that God
exists throughout
everything
Peace
Freedom from
conflict
Polytheism
The belief in more
than one God; belief
in many gods
Prayer
Speaking to God
Purpose
The meaning for or
reason something
exists
Qur’an/
Koran
The Muslim holy book
Relationship
The connection
between people or
things
Religion
A system of beliefs
and practices
Repression
To force someone to
do something against
their will
Revelation
Knowledge given to
humans by God
Righteous
Being especially moral
or saintly
Rite
A ceremony or act
carried out for
religious or social
reasons
Ritual
A ceremony or act
carried out for
religious or social
reasons
Sacrifice
giving something up or
offering something to a
God, often the slaughter
of an animal or a person
Scripture
A holy book or
religious writing
Sikhism
The youngest of the
six world religions,
followed by Sikhs
Spirituality
Concerned with the
spirit or soul
Suffering
To feel pain or
distress; experience
loss, injury, harm, or
punishment.
Symbolism
Representing things
by using signs and
symbols
Theism
A belief in a God who
created and takes an
interest in the world
Tradition
Behaviour and
practices which have
been followed for a
long time
Truth
That which is true or
valid
Values
Principles which show
what something is
worth
Wholeness
The state of being
whole, entire, or
sound; completeness
Worship
Showing love, honour
or devotion to God
Environment
The surroundings in
which organisms live
Marriage
A union of two people
who are married
Festival
A time for celebration,
especially one of
religious importance
Covenant
A promise or an
agreement between
two people.
e.g. God and
Abraham
Testament
An agreement; proof;
one of the two
sections of the Bible
Pilgrimage
A journey to a holy
place or shrine
Sacred
Holy and set apart
from the ordinary
Synagogue
A Jewish place of
worship
Mosque
A Muslim place of
worship
Prejudice
Holding views or
opinions without
having all the facts
Prophet
A person through
whom the will of God
is expressed
Pacifist
Someone who believes
violence is wrong