Keywords Flashcards
Talmud
Rabbinic literature commenting on the sacred texts. They come in two forms, the oral (Mishnah) and spoken (Gemara).
Covenant
A promise. Within Judaism, this refers to two covenants with God, the Abrahamic and Mosaic.
Shema
A prayer declaring the Jewish belief in monotheism. It is sung every day and is often placed on a mezuzah.
Omnipotent
Meaning God is all-powerful. Christians and Jews believe that God’s creation of the world in Genesis demonstrates this power.
Omniscient
Meaning God is all-knowing. Christians and Jews believe that God’s ability to create the world from nothing demonstrates this knowledge.
Omnipresent
Meaning God is everywhere. Christians and Jews believe that God can be worshipped anywhere because is he everywhere.
Omnibenevolent
Meaning God is all-loving. Christians believe that God’s omnibenevolence is witnessed by his sending of Jesus to save us.
Monotheism
The belief in one God. The Ten Commandments instruct Jews and Christians to hold no other God before Him.
Shabbat
The Jewish sabbath taking place on a Friday evening. During this day they rest because God rested on the seventh day of creation.
Kashrut
Jewish food laws. This refers to the three categories of kosher (allowed) treifa (not allowed) and parve (neutral) foods.
Kosher
Foods that Jews can eat. These are animals which ‘chew the cud’, i.e. cows or goats.
Treifa
Foods that Jews cannot eat. These include animals such as prawns, pigs, or certain birds like eagles.
Parve
Neutral foods. Jews can always eat these foods, which include fruit and vegetables.
Conscience
This is one’s sense of right and wrong. For example, euthanasia opposes Catholic’s conscience because of their belief in the sanctity of life.
Free-Will
The God-given ability to choose our actions. For example, when Eve ate the apple she did it because she chose to.
Soul
The non-physical part of our body. Jews and Christians believe that God ‘breathed life’ into us during creation and gave us a soul.
Global Citizenship
Being a contributing member of a global society. This could include giving charity to those in need.
Abortion
The stopping of a pregnancy before the foetus’ birth. Catholics do not agree with abortion on grounds of their belief in the sanctity of life.
Euthanasia
Greek for ‘good death.’ The act of aided suicide to prevent suffering within this life.
Mezuzah
A stone tablet placed on the doorpost of a Jewish house. It contains the Shema, a key Jewish prayer.
Bar Mitzvah
A Jewish coming-of-age ceremony. It is during this time that a Jewish boy becomes a man according to Jewish law.
The Abrahamic Covenant
The first Jewish covenant. In return for faith in God, Abraham was rewarded with as many ancestors as there were sons in the sky.
Relative Poverty
When someone is poor by comparison to the rest of society. This might mean having the bare minimum of the essentials, such as food and water.
Stewardship
The God-given instruction to look after the planet. Some Christians think we should use our wealth for this purpose.
Discrimination
To treat someone unfairly because of a specific characteristic. This could include racism, homophobia. or misogyny.
