Glossary of Terms
Abrahamic Traditions: The three faiths that recognize a spiritual tradition identified with Abraham for 1,300 years of historical linkageof Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
Bias / Prejudice: negative opinion(s) held about someone before knowing them. (Read more about Bias in the Tolerance Education Glossary below.)
Clergy: collective term referring to persons who hold formal leadership positions in a given religious tradition. They are usually involved in teaching or in other ways passing on the tenets (central beliefs) of their religion; in leading the ritual practices of their religion; and in dealing with events such as weddings, funerals, baptisms, circumcisions, and coming of age ceremonies. (Singular: clergyperson.)
Critical thinking: processing, analyzing and evaluating information that is received, asking questions about it, with the goal of maximized learning.
Democracy: a type of government in which the people hold the supreme power, which is exercised through direct or indirect political representation, usually achieved through periodically held elections.
Dialogue: a two-way communication between persons or groups who hold significantly differing views on a subject, with the purpose of learning more truth about the subject from one another.
Ecumenical (from the Greek word ‘oecoumene’ meaning ‘universal’): an event or initiative involving or aiming at all the different Christian groups.
Globalization: the process by which regional economies, societies, and cultures have become integrated through a global network of communication, transportation, and trade. Economic globalization is the integration of national economies into the international economy through trade, foreign, direct investment, capital flows, migration, the spread of technology, and military presence; however, globalization is usually recognized as being driven by a combination of economic, technological, sociocultural, political, and biological factors. The term can also refer to the transnational circulation of ideas, languages, or popular culture through acculturation.
Ideology: an explanation of the meaning of life and how to live accordingly that does not include the transcendent.
Inter-ideological: an event or initiative involving representatives / followers of different ideologies.
Inter-religious: an event or initiative involving representatives / practitioners of different religious traditions.
Intra-religious: involving dialogue within one religious tradition (e.g. within Islam) or one religious community / denomination (e.g. within the Sunni Muslim community).
Inclusiveness: making it possible for all people who wish to be involved, to take part in dialogue as equal participants, regardless of class, wealth, age, gender, race, education etc.
Laity: a collective term used to describe all those people who are not members of the clergy. (Singular: layperson.)
Paradigm shift: a major change in a mental model into which all new information is fitted (e.g. accepting that the Earth is round and it moves around the Sun).
Plain: pursuing a simple lifestyle, simple dress and a simple manner of speech, in accord with conservation of the environment.
Religion: an explanation of the meaning of life and how to live accordingly that includes the transcendent. It includes four areas: creed (belief system), code (ethical system), cult (public and private worship), and community structure (social system). Elements of belonging, believing, andbehaving are present in each religious tradition.
Religious Pluralism: an intentional, engaged response to the reality of religious plurality (the presence of multiple religious groups) within a community or society. Pluralism moves beyond mere recognition of religious diversity, to the positive valuing of differences as a source of potential strength for the community. Religious pluralism does not require that one view the truth claim of every single religious community as equal, but calls for recognition and respect of the truth claims and traditions of others. A perspective of pluralism encourages movement from mere toleration of differences, to positive appreciation, to dialogue and cooperation that seeks common ground from which a shared social, moral, cultural etc. framework can be created.
Worship: public or private religious service, including various acts and/or rituals.
Houses of Worship
Church:
a)The central building for most (but not all) forms of Christian worship.
b)The community of Christian believers who worship together;
House church: Christian religious community, which regularly meets in the home(s) of one or more of its members, which is the central location of their worship.
Meetinghouse: Building where the Quaker (Society of Friends) hold religious meetings.
Mosque: Place of worship for followers of Islam (Arabic name, masjid literally means ‘place of prostration’). There is a distinction in Arabic between the smaller masjids dedicated for daily five prayers and the larger masjid where the daily five prayers and the Friday congregation sermons are held, as well as the teaching of Qur'an.
Synagogue: Greek term for assembly house (“Beit Knesset” in Hebrew). It is a place for Jewish study, prayer, and community center. Synagogues are not consecrated spaces, nor is it necessary for worship. Communal Jewish worship can be carried out wherever ten Jews (minyan) assemble.The earliest synagogues were established in Jewish communities in Egypt in 300 BCE. They became normative, serving as schools and Jewish prayer houses throughout the world, as a new and distinct form of “worship” different from that in the Temple in Jerusalem. In recent times, in liberal Judaism, the term “temple” is used interchangeably with “synagogue”.
Temple:
a)A sacred building; can be used to refer to the house of worship of various religions (e.g. Buddhist, Hindu, sometimes Christian [Baptist, etc]);
b)The Holy Temple in Jerusalem (destroyed twice, once in 586 BCE by the Babylonians, and the second time in 70 CE (AD) by the Roman Empire, is the central physical focus of the Jewish religion, with pilgrimages and offerings. King Solomon, son of David, built the Holy Temple in 921 BCE. The one remaining wall, referred to as the “Western Wall” or the “Wailing Wall” is the holiest site in the Jewish religion. The 9th of the month of Av is the fasting date to commemorate the destruction of the Temple and the forced exile, though every day it is remembered in Jewish ritual and observance.
Sacred Texts
Bible: In Judaism, the word applies to the Hebrew Scriptures (referred to by some Christians as The Old Testament) is the Holy Book for Judaism and Christianity. This collection of 39 books written between 1,200 BCE and 200 CE are a collection of Hebrew writings on history, poetry and law is also referred to as the Tanach and is an acronym for Torah, Prophets and Writings.
In Christianity, the term Bible includes both the Hebrew Scriptures (above) and the Christian Scriptures called The New Testament or Apostolic Writings and is a collection of 27 books, of 4 different genres of Christian literature (Gospels, Acts of the Apostles, Epistles [letters] and the Apocalypse/Revelation). Jesus is its central figure. These writings in Greek and Aramaic-Hebrew became canonical scripture around 400CE. Somewhat different lists of works were accepted into “canons,” ranging from 39 to 46, depending on which canon was accepted. To this was added the 27-book canon of the New Testament used by Christian churches today.
Qur’an (Koran): Islam’s Holy Book, written in Arabic, is also known as The Recitation. Divinely revealed to the Prophet Muhammad between 610-632 CE, it consists of 114 chapters or suras and a total of 6,000 verses.
Torah: Most commonly used to refer to the hand written scroll of the Five Books of Moses (the first five books of the Bible) used in worship and as a focal point in the synagogue. It is housed in a “holy ark” (special cabinet) and under an “eternal flame”. Its broader meaning includes all of the Hebrew Scriptures and full body of rabbinic writings, most notably, the Talmud.
Tolerance Education Glossary
Acceptance: Affirmation and recognition of those whose race, religion, culture, nationality, ancestry, ethnicity, language, and/or other similar factors are different from one’s own.
Accommodation: Occurs when adjustments are made to policies or practices so that someone is not disadvantaged or discriminated against on the basis of any of the prohibited grounds of discrimination. The duty to accommodate is an obligation within a human rights context which arises where requirements or qualifications, which may be imposed in good faith, have an adverse impact on, or provide an unfair preference for a group of persons based on a protected ground under the Human Rights Code. There is an obligation to accommodate unless to do so would create undue hardship.
Anti-Black racism: Racial stereotyping, prejudice and/or discrimination that is directed against people of African descent.
Anti-Semitism: Hostility or hatred directed towards individual Jews or the Jewish people, leading to social, economic, institutional, religious, cultural or political discrimination. Anti-Semitism has also been expressed through individual acts of physical violence, vandalism, the organized destruction of entire communities and genocide. Term originated in 19th century Germany to express “Jew-hatred”.
Bias: A subjective opinion, preference, prejudice or inclination, formed without reasonable justification that influences an individual’s or group’s ability to evaluate a particular situation objectively or accurately; a preference for or against. Reasonable apprehension of bias exists when there is a reasonable belief that an individual or group will pre-judge a matter and therefore cannot assess a matter fairly because of bias.
Bullying: Typically a form of repeated, persistent, and aggressive behaviors directed at an individual or individuals that is intended to cause (or should be known to cause) fear and distress and/or harm to another person’s body, feelings, self-esteem, or reputation. Bullying occurs in a context where there is real or perceived power imbalance. Cyberbullying is similar to the above but takes place over the Internet.
Culture: The way groups of people have learned to live by sharing certain historical experiences, including ideas, beliefs, values, knowledge, historical, geographical, linguistic, racial, religious, ethnic or social traditions. Culture is a complex and dynamic organization of meaning, knowledge, artifacts and symbols that guide human behavior, account for shared patterns of thought and action; and, contribute to human, social, and physical survival.
Disability: Inborn or assigned characteristics of an individual that may prevent full participation in educational, social, economic, political, religious, institutional or formal activities of a group, or that may require accommodation to enable full participation. These include physical, sensory, developmental and mental disabilities as well as brain injury.
Discrimination: The denial of equal treatment, civil liberties and opportunity to individuals or groups. Behavior that results from prejudiced attitudes by individuals or institutions, resulting in inequitable outcomes for persons who are perceived as different. It may occur on the basis of factors such as race, nationality, gender, age, religion, political or ethnic affiliation, sexual orientation, marital or family status, physical, developmental or mental disability, or other similar factors. Includes the denial of cultural, economic, educational, political and/or social rights of members of non-dominant groups.
Diversity: The presence of a wide range of human qualities and attributes within a group, organization or society. The dimensions of diversity include, but are not limited to ancestry, culture, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, language, physical and intellectual ability, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, and socio-economic status.
Dominant Group: Considered the most powerful and privileged of groups in a particular society or context; a group either largest in number, in a superior social position, or that successfully shapes or controls other groups through social, economic, cultural, political, military or religious power.
Equity: A condition or state of fair, inclusive and respectful treatment of all people. Equity does not mean treating people the same without regard for individual differences.
Ethnicity: The multiplicity of beliefs, behaviors and traditions held in common by a group of people bound by particular linguistic, historical, geographical, religious and/or racial homogeneity. Ethnic diversity is the variation of such groups and the presence of a number of ethnic groups within one society or nation.
Genocide: Deliberate decisions and actions made by one nation or group of people in order to eliminate, usually through mass murder, the entirety of another nation or group. Term originated to describe the Holocaust, the extermination of the Jewish people by Nazi Germany in WWII.
Harassment: Persistent, on-going communication (in any form) of negative attitudes, beliefs or actions towards an individual or group, with the intention of placing that person or group in a disparaging role. Harassment is manifested in name calling, jokes or slurs, graffiti, insults, threats, discourteous treatment, and written or physical abuse. Harassment may be subtle or overt.
Hate Crime: Any criminal offence committed against a person or property that is motivated, in whole or in part, by bias or prejudice based on real or perceived race, ancestry, national or ethnic origin, language, color, religion, gender, age, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, or any other similar factor, whether that of a victim or that of associates with whom a victim is closely affiliated.
Hate Propaganda: Ideologies and beliefs transmitted in written, verbal or electronic form in order to create, promote, perpetuate or exacerbate antagonistic, hateful and belligerent attitudes and action or contempt against a specific group or groups of people.
Human Rights: Human rights affirm and protect the right of every individual to live and work without discrimination and harassment. Human Rights policies and legislation attempt to create a climate in which the dignity, worth and rights of all people are respected, regardless of race, ancestry, place of origin, color, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, family status or disability.
Inclusive Education: Education that is based on the principles of acceptance and inclusion of all students. Students see themselves reflected in their curriculum, their physical surroundings and in the broader environment, in which diversity is honored and all individuals are respected.
Islamophobia: Fear or hatred of Muslims (the name given to followers of Islam) or of Islamic culture; characterized by negative stereotypes, bias, discrimination, hostility or acts of vandalism or violence towards individual Muslims or people thought to be followers of Islam.
Minority Groups: Refers to identifiable groups of people within a society that are either small in numbers or that have little or no access to social, economic, political or religious power. In some areas, they are not in the minority numerically. Minority rights are protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Canadian and provincial Human Rights Acts and Codes, and the UN Convention on the Rights of Minorities.
Multicultural or Tolerance Education: A broad term which may refer to a set of structured learning activities and curricula designed to create and enhance understanding of and respect for cultural diversity. It is increasingly recognized that multicultural education should include racial, ethnic, religious, and linguistic diversity, and also be inclusive of the culture, heritage, history, beliefs and values of the various people and groups within a pluralistic society.
Race: A social construct; refers to a group of people of common ancestry, distinguished from others by characteristics such as color of skin, shape of eyes, hair texture and/or facial features. The term is also used to designate social categories.
Racism: A set of erroneous assumptions, opinions, and/or actions stemming from the belief that one race is inherently superior to another. Racism may be present in organizational and institutional structures and programs as well as in the attitudes of individuals. It results from the combination of racial prejudice and power.
Scapegoating: Scapegoating is the practice of singling out one child, member of a group of peers, ethnic or religious group, or country for unjust blame or unfair negative treatment. The scapegoat is the victim of hostility, frustration and aggression and is usually chosen because of a vulnerable or minority position.
Sexism: Beliefs and erroneous assumptions and actions based upon an ideology of inherent superiority of one gender over another and may be evident within organizational or institutional structures or programs, as well as within individual thought or behavior patterns. Sexism includes any act or institutional practice, backed by institutional power, which subordinates people because of gender.
Sexual Orientation: The direction of one’s sexual interest or attraction for the same sex, for the opposite sex or for both sexes, and does not require sexual activity or intimacy.
Social Justice: A concept premised upon the belief that each individual and group within society is to be given equal opportunity, fairness, civil liberties and participation in the social, educational, economic, institutional and moral freedoms and responsibilities valued by the society.
Stereotype: A mental picture or image of a group of people, ascribing the same characteristic(s) to all members of the group, regardless of their individual differences. An overgeneralization, in which the information or experience on which the image is based may be true for some of the individual group members, but not for all members. Stereotyping may be based upon misconceptions, incomplete information and/or false generalizations about race, age, ethnic, linguistic, geographical or national groups, religions, social, marital or family status, physical, developmental or mental attributes, gender or sexual orientation, or other similar factors.
Systemic Discrimination: The institutionalization of discrimination through policies and/or practices which may appear neutral on the surface but which have an exclusionary impact on particular groups, such that various minority groups are discriminated against, intentionally or unintentionally. It occurs in institutions or organizations in their policies, practices or procedures (e.g. employment systems; job requirements, recruitment and hiring practices, promotion procedures, etc.).
Tolerance: the attitude of respecting those whose ideas and/or practices are different from our own, whether those differences are religious, ethnic, cultural, political etc. Tolerance does not necessarily mean agreeing with these different ways but it does mean treating the persons who think, worship and act differently from us with the same respect and dignity we wish to receive from them.
