This week, we learned about everyday religion among upper-class individuals, ethnically diverse Catholic parishes, and Orthodox Jewish women. The first presentation discussed religious expression in everyday life, at home and work, in public life, and in the physical body. The survey sample made distinctions between conservative white Protestants, black Protestants, Catholics, Jews, and “others,” including New Age religionists. It found that religious expression is by no means monolithic and that respondents’ varying levels of spirituality determine their level of religious expression.
The second presentation discussed the new concept of the Catholic “shared parish,” which hosts both a white and Latino congregation. Each ethnic group, while not openly hostile to sharing a parish, experiences difficulties with the other congregation. Part of these differences lie in linguistic and cultural disparities, while others lie in deeper misunderstandings of the ethnic group as a whole. As a result, these groups largely self-segregate, incorporating their own practices and languages into separate Masses. The cultural encapsulation can be helpful for immigrants who need a safe space within their community, but it also prevents greater mixing and understanding between the two groups.
Finally, the presentation on Orthodox Jewish women discussed two kinds of communities: a sectarian Lubavitch group with its own text and practices and a modern Orthodox synagogue in New York City. Both organizations provide women with an opportunity for matchmaking and a strong Jewish community. However, the Lubavitch group creates a sectarian experience completely walled off from the outer world, while the Lincoln Square synagogue accepts modern society and allows its members to have regular jobs. These three presentations allowed us to glimpse into modern religious expression in several disparate forms.
Updating Religion
After listening to the Reinventing American Protestantism presentation, I began thinking about what people really look for within religion. People turn to religion for many reasons. Religions of all kinds provide a sense of structure, community, and security. Growing up in a Catholic church, I always understood that I was to remain quiet and attentive while the Father gave his sermon. I learned from the presentation that some Protestant churches are reforming the way they worship into something that is more energizing and interactive. In these new churches, such as my best friend’s church, Sandals, in Riverside, CA, church services are said to resemble concerts with intricate stage set ups and loud live music. The pastors of the church consider themselves equal rather than higher than the church goers they are preaching to. Because these churches have only recently been appearing, it makes me wonder whether new generations are finding it harder to sit through traditional, less interactive services. With the rise of technology and media, our society is being groomed to need constant stimulation from the world around us. These new churches are doing just that. Instead of listening to an individual speak in a white-walled chapel with fifty people from around town, church attendees can enter a massive warehouse, surrounded by hundreds, dancing and singing to God as colorful lights flash, and massive screens project a concert. By keeping services casual and interactive, it is harder to lose focus or interest in what is being taught because of everything that is happening around them. While some may need the structure of a traditional church sermon, I think it is interesting to see churches develop to fit new needs of society.
Reflection on Family and Religion
Last class we had two more presentations that emphasized something that I think is vital to religion and that is family, or a sense of community. In the presentation on the two communities Bais Chana and the Lincoln Square Synagogue, one of the biggest draws was the sense of community and sense of belonging to something greater than one’s self. This also seemed to be the case with the paradigm churches discussed in the second presentation. I personally found the idea of the paradigm church to be appealing but would most likely enjoy smaller spaces for service rather than auditorium size.
In this day and age, I think it is very easy to get lost and feel disconnected from the rest of society. In big cities it’s easy to feel like just one of many, to feel small, and it is difficult to create communities with people and feel connected to others. I think this is one of the reasons why community and family are so appealing. Humans are wired to be social beings, arguably, it’s because that ensures our survival, but also because connection with others and the world around us can allow us to find meaning in our lives. Religion is one of those ways in which we can find meaning in our lives while also being part of something greater than ourselves. However, for me religion provided meaning but I was never part of a religious community the way it seems the members of Protestant paradigm churches and Bais Chana and Lincoln Square Synagogue were like. Maybe my own religious path would have been much different if this was the case.
(Sunday 2/16 Reflection)
Different Groups of Faith
This week in class groups of students took turns presenting case studies from books they read. These case studies each dealt with different religious groups. One dealt with Catholics, another with orthodox Jews, one dealt with a cult from the late 20th century, one dealt with newer mega churches, and there were one or two others. Each of these case studies dealt with particular places that the authors of the books focused in on for their study samples. The authors spent certain amounts of time at these places, getting to know the people and the way they did things, and they even participated in activities sometimes. They also would interview people within their case study groups as well. Then in their books, they wrote down what they discovered. For example, the case study my group talked about and presented was about a Catholic community church in the Midwest that was dealing with the changing demographic of its attendance. (The Shared Parish, Hoover) Before, it had been primarily attended by Euro-American families. (The Shared Parish, Hoover) However in more recent years, immigration from Latin America created a parish that now has both Caucasian and Hispanic families attending services. (The Shared Parish, Hoover) The book talked about this change, how it affected both groups, and how it created two separate church communities who just happen to share the same church facilities. (The Shared Parish, Hoover) It really had some interesting stuff to talk about. Another case study that was presented talked about why certain women were converting to Orthodox Judaism. Another talked about the properties of mega churches and why they’ve become so popular with people. In the end, this is all interesting stuff to read and learn about, and it offers people a glimpse into these communities and what they’re about.
Religion and Structure
There seems to be a pattern in what draws people to a religion, especially the more conservative ones. Many people who flocked to a religion are trying to find structure in their lives. This was shown in Tradition in a Rootless World. In Tradition in a Rootless World the women in the book were seeking conformation that their traditional roles are not being complete lost to the feminist movement. Orthodox Jews have a very traditional view of a women’s role, meaning they believe that a women’s duty is to become wife and a mother and take care of the household. These women felt isolated and were confused about their gender roles in the new womens landscape. These women as Orthodox Jews. were trying to find something that is bigger than themselves and find structure that can help them with their everyday lives and actions. Once people get out of institutions like schools, they start to feel lost or feel like they have a lack of purpose. It becomes harder to meet people and find a community when you step out into the world on your own. People start to look for other places of structure and people find religion to guide them. Due to the strict nature of Orthodox Jews, their religion effects every aspect of their lives, from what they eat to how they should feel about things in the changing world around them. Religion provides structure in a time the world seems to be in disarray and people crave that structure.
Build Bridges not Walls
In this article from Religion News Service, it talks about Pope Francis’ opposition to Trump’s proposed “wall,” and how it is a very un-Christian thing to do. Pope Francis states that we should be building bridges instead of walls, and to “overcome evil with good.” The Pope also stated that Trump should be guided by ethical values, and take care of the poor and the outcast during his time as President, as these are very unique times in US history and history in general. Inclusiveness, generosity, love, and compassion are all Christian values, yet many Christians seem to lose sight of them. This article relates to the presentation on The Shared Parish because many Christians lose sight of their values, but when it comes down to it everyone wants the same thing and by helping others in need you are only gaining from that, never losing. Although it is an unideal situation to share a parish with a group of people you don’t know, the most Christian thing one could do is open up their doors and welcome those in need. Just like The Shared Parish, Trump should remember his Christian values since he claims to be one, and welcome those in need rather than turn them away based on minor differences.
Immigrant Workers, Families to Protest by Staying Home
“Organizers in cities across the U.S. are telling immigrants to miss class, miss work and not patronize businesses Thursday”. This protest is supposed to show how crucial immigrant workers are to the American Economy and what it would be like if massive immigration raids are swept through cities.
Although this protest is a comment towards Trump’s administration it gives a good example of the exclusiveness of immigrants. This may also affect religion as a whole in these states. Because immigrants from Mexico are usually Roman Catholic I think shared parishes and Spanish speaking churches will decrease tremendously. The idea that Trump is expressing ties in with American civil religion and believes that living in America is a privilege and is taking action.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/02/15/immigrant-workers-families-to-protest-by-staying-home.html
Catholics helping other Catholics
President Trump has arisen numerous concerns among the people of America, especially those who are immigrants. Reading Brett Hoover’s book “Shared Parish: Latinos, Anglos and the Future of US Catholicism” really displayed how both the Immigrants coming to this country and the Euro American already present in the Catholic Church struggled to share a place of worship that was an important part of their spiritual and mental well being. Looking at the article “Catholic Bishops Challenge Donald Trump on Immigration” it is clear that the Catholic Church is taking a stand in order to help those that are being alienated by the Trump Administration. According to the article the Catholic Church agrees with Trump on Abortion, same sex marriage and some affordable care act policies. However, they are also in great defense of Hispanic members as “Latinos represent the future of the church: Sixty percent of Catholics in the United States younger than 18 are Latino, and 90 percent of them were born here”. I find it heart warming that the Catholic Church wants to help its Hispanic population, but on the other hand shouldn’t it be the Christian thing to do to help all those that are being discriminated upon like Muslims not just the Hispanic Catholics?
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/16/us/catholic-bishops-trump-immigration-hispanics.html?_r=0
Response to Quebec Mosque Attacks
On the first Friday following the deadly attack at the Islamic Center in Quebec, hundreds of demonstrators from many faiths formed a “human shield” around a mosque in Toronto. Jews, Christians, and people of no faith gathered to show their solidarity with the Muslims inside, who, in spite of the recent killings, had gathered for prayer nonetheless. Organized by Jewish rabbi, the event first consisted only of congregants from the local synagogue, but as others in Toronto heard and saw the demonstrations, many more joined in.
While many people in the United States are aware of the rise in Islamophobia since 9/11, few know that the same sentiments exist in Canada. Alexandre Bissonnette, a young French-Canadian, became the most violent of the anti-Islamic dissenters when he killed six people and badly injured five more two weeks ago. However, the response of politicians and ordinary citizens with demonstrations such as these have turned the tragedy into an opportunity to speak out against hatred. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Syed Pirzada, the imam of the mosque where the attacks occurred, said that Canada’s response to Bissonnette’s killings showed the country’s overall inclusivity and intolerance of hatred.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/rings-of-peace-canada-mosques_us_5894f9d1e4b040613137020f?section=us_religion
Beyonce, Chance the Rapper, A Tribe Called Quest bring religion to the Grammys
While religion at the Grammys is no new concept, this year’s award ceremony echoed important political messages within the religiously based performances. First, in Beyonce’s performance, she embodied a variety of different eastern and western religions from Hinduism to Catholicism. Beyonce performed with her very obviously pregnant belly, which personified her as a “divine mother” figure. Next, A Tribe Called Quest’s performance held much more political undertones, as it was a directed response to Trump’s travel ban. Lyrics in his song thanked Trump for his “unsuccessful attempt at the Muslim Ban” while women in hijabs performed, knocking down a staged construction wall. Lastly, Chance the Rapper preformed with the Christian artist, Chris Tomlin. Together they performed the song “How Great is Our God”. Religion at the Grammys this year showed up in diverse and unexpected ways. The religious performances and speeches proved that religion in American society is seen as creating social cohesion, but also conflict as McGuire has discussed in previous chapters.
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865673313/Beyonce-Chance-the-Rapper-A-Tribe-Called-Quest-bring-religion-to-Grammys.html