Unit 1: Vocab

agnosticism

the Belief one cannot or at least does not know ultimate reality or especially God

atheism

A denial of the existence of a supernatural God; a belief in the non existence of a supernatural God

biology

Literally, the "study of life". The living organisms divided into many specialized fields that cover their morphology, physiology, anatomy, behavior, origin and distribution

deism

The belief, based solely on reason, that God created the universe but stands detached from it, giving no supernatural revelation

dichotomy

A division into two mutually exclusive groups

economics

A social science concerned chiefly with description and analysis of the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services

darwinian evolution

The theory proposed by Charles Darwin that species gradually evolve into new species over time due to the process of natural selection. In biology, the idea that life on earth originated from inanimate (lifeless) matter and proceeded to change over time into the diversity of plants and animals as evidence by fossils and currently living organisms

hedonism

The ethical view that pleasure is the greatest good

history

The study of the past, particularly regarding human affairs

humanism

The belief that man is the highest value in the universe

law

The measure of right and wrong

materialism

The belief that reality consists only of material elements, an essential principle of Darwinian Evolution

metanarrative

any overarching, all-encompassing story that seeks to define the whole of reality

modernism

A branch of secular humanism, it's characterized by Darwinian evolution, materialism, and scientism

nihilism

The belief that there is no ultimate value or being in the universe; life has no ultimate meaning

politics

The activities associated with the governance of a country or area, especially the debate between parties having power

presuppositions

To assume beforehand; to take for granted. In worldviews, beliefs about reality that form the core of one's worldview.

postmodernism

A branch of secular humanism, it's the "anti-worldview" worldview characterized by skepticism of absolute truth and morality

psychology

Literally the "study of the soul." The scientific study of the human mind and its functions, especially those affecting behavior in a given context

religion

any system of beliefs used to guide one's conduct, whether that system includes a belief in the existence of God or not. (Note: based on this definitions of religion, an atheistic worldview such as secular humanism is religious)

secular humanism

A worldview based on atheism and Darwinian evolution in which "man is the measure" of all things; man, not God. is the ultimate norm by which truth and morals are to be determined

scientism

The belief that the scientific method provides the only means for arriving at the truth. (The harnessing of empirical data for a non-scientific purpose to enforce conclusions about morality, politics, or metaphysics)

sociology

The systematic study of the development, structure, interaction, and collective behavior organized groups of human beings

theism

A belief in the existence of supernatural God

theology

The study of God and the relations between God, man, and the universe

utopianism

A visionary scheme for a man-made, perfect society on earth

worldview

A commitment, a fundamental orientation of the heart, that can be expressed as a story or in set of presuppositions (assumptions which may be true, partially true, or entirely false) that hold (consciously or subconsciously) about the basic make-up of reality, and that provides the foundation upon which we do life.