Page 405 - Social Sciences Humanities - The Ontario Curriculum Grades 9 to 12 - 2013

divine. Possessing the attributes of God or a god. ethics. Ideas relating to morality that influence
how one acts.
ethnocentrism. Judging the cultures and belief systems of others based on one’s own culture and beliefs.
faith. Absolute trust and confidence in the truth of ideas that cannot be definitively proven.
fundamentalism. Adherence to the beliefs of a faith tradition on the basis of a literal interpretation of foundation documents.
laity. Adherents of a particular belief system who are not members of the clergy.
monotheism. The belief that there is only one God or supreme being.
mysticism. The pursuit of union with divinity through contemplative practice.
oral teachings. Sacred beliefs that emerge from, or are transmitted through, the spoken word.
pantheism. The belief that there is no separation between God and the universe.
pilgrimage. A sacred journey to a place for religious or spiritual purposes.
polytheism. The belief that there exists more than one God or supreme being.
profane. That which is not concerned with or related to the religious or sacred realm.
reason. A process of thought through which conclusions about the universe and nature of being are arrived at through the use of logic.
reductionism. The idea that something or some­ one can be reduced to the simplest expression of its form.
religion. The belief in and worship of a supreme being or beings.
rite. A solemn act or ceremony with religious significance.
ritual. An act performed regularly by a person or group.
sacred. Anything set apart from the ordinary by virtue of its connection to the divine.
sect. See denomination.
secular. Not having a relationship to that which
is religious or spiritual.
spiritual. Matters or issues pertaining to the soul rather than the material world.
supernatural. Anything that exists outside of the laws of nature.
tenets. The main principles of a belief system. theology. The systematic study of the divine.
thick description. A contextual description of the behaviour of an individual or group in such a way that the behaviour is meaningful to outsiders.
typological approach. A way of examining behaviours and contexts based on common characteristics.
vocation. A calling to a formalized religious state of life, or a way of living one’s life as an expression of spiritual beliefs.
GLOSSARY
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