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.
Critical Thinking
Processing, analyzing and evaluating information that is received, asking questions about it, with the goal of maximized learning. To raise one’s unconscious presuppositions to the conscious level and after reflection make a reasoned judgement about our presuppositions. It involves thinking analytically and synthetically to understand very precisely each word and phrase so that our deliberations and discussions are informed with clarity and grounded in reality. It is necessary to recognize that our view of reality is one view, shaped by our experiences, becoming aware of multiple worldviews and that each worldview is a new meaning network.
Disability
According to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, people “. . . with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory [such as hearing or vision] impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.”
Disability Inclusion (CDC)
Understanding Disabilities (Teaching Tolerance)
Disability Awareness (Butler University)
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 the 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.
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.).
Diversity
The presence of a wide range of human qualities and attributes within a small 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.
Ethics
Ethics seeks to resolve questions of human morality by defining concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime. As a field of intellectual inquiry, moral philosophy also is related to the fields of moral psychology, descriptive ethics, and value theory.
Global Ethic: The articulation of the basic principles of right and wrong which in fact are found to be affirmed by all the major, and not so major, religions and ethical systems of the world, past and present.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
Minority Groups
Refers to identifiable groups of people within a society that are either small in numbers or that have little to no access to social, economic, political or religious power. In some area, 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.
Anti-Racism Resource Collection
Courageous Conversations: Resources From Interfaith Action of Central Texas
Anti-Racism Resources (UNC Chapel Hill Office of Diversity and Inclusion)
Social Justice Toolkit (Drake University)
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.
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 of behavior patterns. Sexism includes any act or institutional practices, backed by institutional power, which subordinates people because of gender.
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 experiences. An overgeneralization, in which the information or experiences 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.
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.
Religious Environmentalism and Our Planet's Future
Increasing numbers of organizations, religious and secular, are taking up concern for how our planet will endure beyond the next few decades. Each religious tradition recognizes the human responsibility for sustaining the earth’s resources as part of religious practice. Concern for sustainability is one of the areas where religious pluralists can work to make a difference for themselves as well as the global population. Few people disagree about the need; the challenge then is how to understand the differences in each religion on behalf of the common need.
The word sustainability is derived from the Latin “sustinere” (tenere, to hold; sus, up). Dictionaries provide more than ten meanings for sustain, the main ones being to “maintain,” “support,” or “endure.” Since the 1980s, however, sustainability has been used more in the sense of human sustainability on planet Earth and this has resulted in the most widely quoted definition of sustainability, that of the Bruntland Commission of the United Nations from March 20, 1987: “sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” At the 2005 World Summit it was noted that this requires the reconciliation of environmental, social and economic demands - the “three pillars” of sustainability. This view has been expressed as an illustration using three overlapping ellipses indicating that the three pillars of sustainability are not mutually exclusive and can be mutually reinforcing.
