World Religions, Philosophy, and Secularism Lecture Flashcards

Vocabulary terms and definitions covering creation accounts, secularism models, Catholic dialogue and pluralism doctrines, Modernism, and religious fundamentalism.

Creation Myths

Sacred cultural stories whose primary purpose is to explain where the world and humans came from, and why we exist.

The Archē

The uncreated source outside and above all reality, distinct from pagan gods who were created inside the universe.

Genesis Creation (Fiat)

Creation that occurs peacefully through God speaking out of nothing, in contrast to ancient Greek or Babylonian pagan creation resulting from violence, war, and chaos.

Myth (Theological Definition)

A sacred story using symbolic language to explain deep, timeless truths about life and God, distinct from the misconception of being a fake story.

Humanity's Primary Vocation

According to Catholic teaching, humanity's calling beyond social and material progress: to know, love, and serve God in order to share eternal life with Him in heaven.

Canada's 1988 Multiculturalism Act

A policy rooted in Liberal Universalism based on the idea that everyone has equal rights, allowing people to preserve distinct cultural identity while having equal opportunities.

1997 Multiculturalism Policy Revision

A policy shift in Canadian multiculturalism moving away from solely preserving cultural identity toward active participation, anti-racism, social inclusion, and civic integration.

Secularism

A way of thinking and structuring public life that separates government, law, and public life from religious authority or influence.

Secularization

The historical and social process of society becoming less controlled by religion.

Healthy Secularity

A secular model accepted by the Catholic Church where Church and State are separate and the state remains neutral, but religious values are permitted and welcomed in public discussions.

Aggressive Secularism

A secular state model where the state actively attempts to remove and banish religion completely from public life.

Modernity

A historical period starting around the 17th century marked by human reason, science, individual freedom, and skepticism toward religious authority.

Human Secularism

A worldview asserting that humans can find meaning, ethics, and morality strictly through science and reason, without God.

Agnosticism

The position that God's existence is unknown or impossible for the human mind to prove.

Faith and Reason ("Two Wings")

The Catholic view that faith and reason work together harmoniously without contradiction because both originate from God.

Religious Pluralism (Catholic Perspective)

The recognition that other world religions contain partial truths, while affirming that the complete fullness of truth resides in Jesus Christ.

Pursuit of Objective Truth

The critical pursuit necessary when living among diverse cultures and beliefs to avoid uncritically accepting diversity.

Relativism and Indifferentism

Theological dangers warned against by the Church wherein one believes that objective truth does not exist or that it does not matter what religion one follows.

Imago Dei

The theological principle that every person is made in the image and likeness of God, endowing every human being with inherent dignity and value regardless of their beliefs.

"No Neutral Stance"

A ground rule of dialogue acknowledging that every individual enters discussion with their own hidden biases and assumptions.

Seeds of the Word (Semina Verbi)

The Catholic concept that small seeds of divine truth exist within non-Christian religions to prepare people for Christ.

Indifferentism

The theological error of asserting that all religions are equally valid and that one's specific religious beliefs do not matter.

The Mountain Metaphor

The claim that all religions are equal paths up the same mountain to God, which is logically flawed because different religions hold contradictory claims.

Pillars of Modernism

The two core principles stating that: 1. Faith is merely a subjective, internal emotional feeling or personal experience. 2. Truth changes and evolves over time.

Religious Fundamentalism

A religious stance responding to rapid secularization and fear of moral loss, characterized by rigid rules, top-down control, literalist textual interpretation, and an "us vs. them" separation from the outside world.

Secular Dualism

A modern cultural practice within secular fundamentalism characterized by an "us vs. them" mentality, exemplified by cancel culture and extreme political polarization.

Cult (Distinguishing Characteristics)

A group separated from authentic religion through coercive control, manipulation, physical or financial exploitation, isolation, and leaders claiming absolute divine authority.