3. Subject Specific Terminology


Social Transformation
Social Cohesion
Social cohesion is the bringing together or bonding of people of people together in society. The positive effect of this could be a gathering at a church for an event such as Christmas or Easter. The moral underpinning is the religious framework.
Rational Humanism
The willingness to accept claims about God and his existence provided that it can be proven in a rational way using investigative methods. Rational Humanism accepts that there are many phenomena now and in the past, although it does not mean that the inability to explain the reasoning of those occurrences justify the existence of God.
Scientific Humanism
Scientific humanism is a belief that humankind can be perfected and knowledge attained through rational thought and experimentation. It repudiates anything that cannot be verified or dealt with using the scientific method.
-(http://www.religioustolerance. org/humanism1.htm)
-(http://www.apologeticspress. 97org/articles/19)


Polytheism
The belief that there is more than one God or supreme higher being. Eg the Celtics had more than one God for significant items of their life, such as water/oceans.

Agnosticism

Underpinned by a need for evidence,
Agnosticism is a belief that only material
things can be known. It therefore teaches
that the existence or non-existence of
God, as well as supernatural beings, cannot be known or proven.




Atheism
Is the lack of belief in a God. Originating from the Greek language, Theos meaning God and Atheism meaning No God. It is defined more broadly as an absence of belief in deities.
Transcendent
A being that goes above all humanity which is surpreme

Humanism
Is part of ethical philosophies that affirm the the dignity and worth of all people, based on the ability to determine right and wrong by appealing to universal human qualities. It is a process by which truth and morality is sought through human investigation
Monotheism

The belief that there is only one God or supreme deity.
Eg Christianity


Animism
A belief that all things in and apart of nature
have souls or consciousness. Trees, mountains
and the sky are examples of such things
believed to be 'conscious' or 'aware'.


Religion
A set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature and purpose of the universe.
Human History
A record of past events that interprets past events involving human beings

Global Distribution
The action of sharing something, such as a religion, throughout the world

Aspirations
Strong desire or ambition

Social Responsibility
The duty in which each person has to their society.