IS GOD GOOD KEY TERMS (MIDTERM)

Culture

The entire way of life of a community or society including learned beliefs values traditions language and behaviors.

Anthropological Meaning of Culture

Understanding culture as a whole way of life and recognizing that different cultures should be understood in their own contexts.

Humanistic Meaning of Culture

An evaluative view of culture focused on what a person should acquire to become a worthwhile moral person.

Cultural Relativism

Understanding cultural practices within their own cultural context instead of immediately judging them by another culture's standards.

Culture as a Symbolic System

Culture communicates ideas beliefs and expectations through symbols that people give meaning to.

Symbols

Verbal or nonverbal signs words gestures or objects that communicate meaning.

Socially Learned Culture

Culture is learned through interaction with family community and society rather than being something people are born knowing.

Shared Culture

Beliefs practices and behaviors learned and shared by members of a community.

Surface-Level Culture

The visible or easily noticed parts of culture such as holidays clothing greetings and traditions; answers what who when where and how.

Deep-Level Culture

The underlying beliefs values and reasons behind cultural practices; answers why.

Dynamic Culture

Culture is constantly changing because of internal and external influences.

Cultural Change

A change in cultural practices beliefs or values over time.

Profound Cultural Change

A major cultural change that occurs when a culture's underlying values change.

Cultural Environment

The surroundings experiences customs and values that shape how a person thinks and behaves.

Interconnected Parts of Culture

Cultural elements affect one another so a change in one part can influence other parts.

Internal Factors of Cultural Change

Influences from within a culture that cause it to change.

External Factors of Cultural Change

Influences from outside a culture that cause it to change.

Cultural Blueprint

Learned ideas norms standards and expectations people use to guide their behavior.

Context

The circumstances and background needed to understand a person's behavior or a cultural practice.

Absolute Cultural Relativism

A distinction mentioned in the class notes but not specifically defined in the study guide; check class notes.

Religion

A relationship or connection with ultimate reality God or a spiritual reality beyond or permeating the physical world.

Ultimate Reality

The greater spiritual reality that religion seeks to connect with understood in the course notes as God or a reality beyond the physical world.

Religion as Part of Culture

Religion is part of a society's way of life through shared beliefs values morals symbols rituals and traditions.

Religion Above Culture

Religion points beyond human traditions and institutions because God or ultimate reality is understood as greater than culture.

Institutionalized Religion

Organized religion with formal structures leaders shared beliefs rituals traditions and community practices.

Non-institutionalized Religion or Spirituality

Personal beliefs values and spiritual experiences that may exist without formal religious structures or rituals.

Nones

People described in the class notes as spiritual but not religious.

Strengths of Institutionalized Religion

Can provide guidance community belonging purpose hope during hardship and structure in daily life.

Weaknesses of Institutionalized Religion

May involve abuse of authority conflict between religions strict expectations moral disagreements or restrictive structures.

Strengths of Non-institutionalized Religion

Can offer personal freedom flexibility self-reflection individual meaning and freedom from formal rituals.

Weaknesses of Non-institutionalized Religion

May lack clear structure organized community support established traditions or people to discuss beliefs with.

Transcendence

Going beyond or exceeding ordinary human traditions structures or limitations; God or ultimate reality transcends human culture.

Racism

The belief that race determines differences in human character or ability or that one race is superior to others.

Prejudice

A prejudgment or biased attitude toward people often based on assumptions rather than understanding.

Discrimination

Unfair treatment of people based on characteristics such as race.

Denial of Human Finiteness

Forgetting that all human beings have limitations and are imperfect.

Competition and Quest for Power

Using prejudice or racial superiority beliefs to gain or maintain power over others.

Assertion of One's Own Culture

Treating one's own culture as superior to other cultures.

Human Imperfection or Original Sin

The Christian idea discussed in the notes that human beings are imperfect and have a tendency toward prejudiced behavior.

Underlying Beliefs and Ideologies

The ideas and beliefs behind behavior that must be examined to address the roots of racism.

Injustice

Unfair treatment of people or groups.

Bias

A tendency toward unfair or unequal judgments and decisions such as unequal job opportunities.

Violence as an Effect of Racism

Physical harm or hate crimes directed at people because of race.

Un-unified Societies

Societies divided by racism where people struggle to trust one another or work together.

Implicit Bias

Unconscious assumptions or attitudes that can influence how people treat others.

Eradicating Racism

Working to eliminate racism by challenging bias including everyone examining harmful beliefs and learning about other cultures.

Forgiveness

Releasing the hold of hurt and beginning to heal; it does not mean the harm was acceptable.

Reconciliation

Working to rebuild a relationship and trust requiring participation and change from both sides.

Christian Response to Racism

Standing up against injustice including others examining personal biases learning about different cultures and practicing forgiveness.

Knowledge as Power

Learning about people and cultures helps challenge prejudice correct assumptions and change harmful behavior.