R.S Keywords

Anglican Churches

Churches that are in communion with the Church of England   

Apostolic

The belief that the Church is founded on the apostles who were appointed by Jesus

Bishops

Specially chosen priests who are responsible for all the churches in a diocese

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Catholic

Universal or worldwide

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Celibacy

Living without engaging in any sexual activity

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Laity

All the people of the Church who are not chosen to be bishops, priests or deacons

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New Testament

The second part of the Bible which records the life of Jesus and the early church

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Nonconformist Churches

Protestant Christians separated from the Church of England (eg Methodist)

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Old Testament

The first part of the Bible which Christians believe foretells Jesus

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Ordination

Making someone a priest by the sacrament of holy orders

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Orthodox Churches

National Churches which are in union with the Patriarch of Constantinople (eg the Russian Orthodox Church)

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Papacy

The office of the Pope

Absolution

through the action of the priest, God grants pardon and peace   

Chrism

the oil used in baptism, confirmation and ordination    

Commemoration

the belief that the Eucharist is simply a remembrance of the Last Supper   

Contrition

sorrow for the sin committed and deciding not to sin again    

Holy Week

the week before Easter Sunday    

Liturgy of the Eucharist

the re-enactment of the Last Supper during which the bread and wine are transubstantiated   

Liturgy of the word

the Bible reading in the second part of the Mass   

Penance

an action to show your contrition   

Penitential rite

the confession and absolution at the beginning of Mass   

Rite of communion

receiving the body and blood of Jesus   

Sacrament

an outward sign through which invisible grace is given to a person by Jesus   

Transubstantiation

the belief that the bread and wine become the body and blood of Jesus

Immortality of the soul

The idea that the soul lives on after the death of the body   

Resurrection

The belief that, after death, the body stays in the grave until the end of the world, when it is raised 

Near-death experience

When someone about to die has an out-of-body experience   

Paranormal

Unexplained things which are thought to have spiritual causes , for example, ghost, mediums   

Reincarnation

The belief that, after death, souls are reborn in a new   

Abortion

The removal of a foetus from the womb before it can survive   

Sanctity of life

The belief that life is holy and belongs to God   

Assisted suicide

Providing a seriously ill person with the means to commit suicide   

Euthanasia

The painless killing of someone dying from a painful disease   

Non-voluntary euthanasia

Ending someones life painlessly when they are unable to ask, but you have good reason for thinking they would want you to do so   

Quality of life

The idea that life must have some benefits for it to be worth living   

Voluntary euthanasia

ending life painlessly when someone in great pain asks for death

Cohabitation

Living together without being married   

Marriage

A man and woman legally joined so that they are allowed to live together and, usually, have children   

Pre-marital sex

Sex before marriage.   

Promiscuity

Having sex with a number of partners without wanting a relationship with them   

Adultery

Having sex with someone other than your marriage partner (extra-martial sex)   

Faithfulness

Staying with your marriage partner and having sex only with them   

Re-marriage

Marrying after being divorced   

Nuclear Family

Mother, father and children living as a unit   

Extended Family

A family that includes, in addition to the parents and their children, other members such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins   

Re-constituted Family

Where two sets of children (stepbrothers and sisters) become one family when their divorced parents marry each other   

Contraception

A method by which you prevent pregnancy    

Homosexuality

Sexual attraction to people of the same sex    

Civil partnership

A legal ceremony giving a homosexual couple the same legal rights as a husband and wife    

Procreation

Making a new life