The social role of religion has long gone back and forth. Northern Ireland is a prime example as to how religion has and continues to divide people and tear societies apart. Across Northern Ireland the struggle between the Catholics and Protestants is clearly expressed in street art we saw, but the divide goes deeper influencing the development of different communities and the political structure as well. The argument could be made that though the larger community is torn apart, the smaller contending communities within are brought closer together. In contrast where religion tears societies apart, religion also holds societies together. Civil religion unites societies as it has done in the United States. The historical mythology of the United States binds citizens together, like the heroic stories of George Washington or Johnny Appleseed in the early legends of bravery surrounding the pioneer day. Civil religion is reflective of the society on a general basis, allowing each person to relate to the mythology and values at a rudimentary level and then build upon that belief, like American Exceptionalism. To each person of the United States American Exceptionalism means something different, but overall it is a general sense of pride and superiority of the United States, uniting the public behind that idea. Passionate Journeys further emphasizes the impact of religion to build a community. Women from all walks of life came and joined together around a singular belief system that has largely unified a previously nonexistent community. Whereas God Needs No Passport, contributes to the idea that conflicting outlooks on different religions threatens the societal makeup especially in the case of Alice in a particularly developing part of Massachusetts.
McGuire Chapter 6 Reflection
This week we discussed Religion’s power to hold society together, as well as its ability to cause conflict. This was a very interesting, and timely, discussion to have, as today’s society is very heavily charged in both the political and the religious sense. This was further emphasized in the discussion of one of the case studies, God Needs No Passport. Talk of the politics of religion, most notably the Muslim ban that the Trump administration is trying inflict, is always an important discussion to have, and it was a very insightful talk. The other case study presentation, Passionate Journeys, was also very fascinating, if somewhat less politically relevant. It was truly fascinating to see such an unconventional perspective on the sociology and psychology of joining a cult such as this, and I was truly fascinated to see these points of view.
This week was spent largely by me preparing for my own case study presentation on Monday. These preparations are, of course, the most prominent thing on my mind today, as is the subject matter of the book, Sacred Stories, Spiritual Tribes. The everyday perspectives given on the intimate relationship many normal people had with religion and spirituality are very interesting, and I look forward to getting a chance to present and discuss them in class tomorrow.
Reflection
In our last class we learned about two different presentations. The presentation on the book, “God Needs No Passport” made me think about how we see the people around us who are involved with religion and those who aren’t. I studied abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark for four months, and while I was there I noticed how secular the people seem to be as well as their emphasis on humanism, equality, fairness etc. This reminded me of the two terms discussed in the presentation. What I saw in Denmark appeared to be a great example of religious tolerance. Religion isn’t something that is really talked about to your friends or people you know and is something private in Denmark. The majority of the Danish people seem to be accepting of other religions, but the next step to pluralism doesn’t seem to be there. It takes effort to be able to find communities or spaces in which to practice your religion with others, so in this way Denmark seems to be tolerant, but not pluralist. All of this is just my opinion from what I have learned and experienced in Denmark.
The presentation on different types of people in terms of their relationship to religion was interesting. I think it is hard to have only four categories of people just because the relationship an individual can have with their religion and how they treat others can not be reduced to four archetypes. There are many factors that can play into how one sees religion in the world versus in their lives versus in their communities and I think people and nations need to learn to be more tolerant of different beliefs to allow people to coexist.
An Experience Bigger than Oneself
Religion provides an experience that is larger than oneself. After our discussion on Monday and the presentations on Wednesday, this thought has rang true. Religion, throughout history, has caused tremendous conflict. Whether it be through wars, colonialism, or a passive judgement between individuals, official and unofficial religion persists. One who is devout in their religion holds it dear to his or her heart, and will often defend it relentlessly. We’ve seen conflict between Ted and his Born Again brother, we have seen conflict in the daily lives of the characters of God Needs No Passport, and with Sheela in the Rajneesh cult who poisoned 750 people. Despite the fact that many of the foundational values of dominant religions are similar, historically, people have had a tendency to find their personal beliefs superior. This trend has declined with time.
But why have people been so persistent with their religious beliefs? Religion provides an experience that is bigger than oneself. Those who were apart of Rajneesh in Oregon felt that their religion provided an opportunity to be the truest form of themselves. Their religion provided a platform for self discovery, and an opportunity to live more freely, openly and peacefully than a typical society would allow. The feeling evoked from dynamic meditation made the sannyasins feel beyond an individual living a mortal life– they felt as if they were apart of a movement and connected to a greater spiritual being. Members of the Fundamentalist Baptist Church in the film Born Again, felt a purpose in life greater than just living day to day. They felt that their life’s purpose was to live and spread the word of God, and by doing so, they were apart of a grander experience.
Religion has pulled people apart. But religion also coheres people together, with others who desire to feel something bigger than oneself, making it worth some strife.
Religion’s Role
This week in class we talked about religion and its value to society by talking about the idea of religious cohesion. (Durkheim, McGuire, 196-197) A few hundred years ago, people didn’t need each other as much for things. People could do everything themselves and they were all alike so they didn’t really interact much. Society could not be held together this way. Religion, however, was the one thing that connected them and brought them together. (Durkheim, McGuire, 198) It made people feel like they were part of a group and a part of something bigger than themselves. (Durkheim, McGuire, 198) This made religion more important to society back then because it held society together. (Durkheim, McGuire, 198) However, at the same time, religion could also tear society apart. (McGuire, 215-216) Two groups who believed in two different religions often times fought over whose way was right. (McGuire, 215-216) Now in modern times, religion doesn’t play such a pivotal role in holding society together. (Durkheim, McGuire, 198) This is because people in general need each other more and interact more on their own now. This comes from the fact that there are more specialized jobs now and not everyone knows how to do everything. Hence, religion has somewhat declined in its value to society. However, that doesn’t mean it’s no longer important. Religion still brings people together and tears them apart. It can still give people a sense of unity, community and comfort through good times and bad. At the same time though, it can also still create violence and conflict among people.
“Always Searching, Always Seeking”
The presentation of Passionate Journeys really changed my perspective on “cults” or new age religious movements. From mainstream media, the story of Bhagwan Rajneesh and his followers was one of “brainwashing” and poisoning of some of Organs people, but in reality that was only one women that the media focused on. The reality of the majority of the people on this commune was just about finding yourself without the limits that society has placed on people. The stories of the Rajneesh’s followers were rarely told to the public. I knew the story of the poisoning but I never knew anything about the other people on the commune. I now have a whole new understanding of what drew these women to leave their lives and their families to become a part of this movement. Their lives in the “normal” world were unsatisfying and they wanted to break away from the idea of traditional women and find themselves. The idea of “always searching, always seeking” really stuck with me because I think majority of people do spend their live searching for something larger then themselves to believe in. These women broke out of the cages that society had put them in, and then never looked back. Even after Rajneesh fled the United States, many of his followers still practiced his teaching and never really assimilated back into society completely. Rajneesh’s teaching gave them a sense of purpose that mainstream religions just couldn’t give them. The presentation gave me a new perspective on new religious movements.
Donald Trump Says He Would Prioritize Resettling Christians Over Other Refugees
After signing the executive order to impose “new vetting measures to keep radical Islamic terrorists out of the United States”, Donald Trump said he would prioritize bringing in Christian refugees, over any other refugees. His argument is that Christian refugees have been “horribly treated” and that not enough of them are granted asylum compared to Muslim refugees. Simon Henshaw, of the State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, said that although Christians made up about 10 percent of Syria’s prewar population, they comprised only about 1 percent of those who have fled, which may explain as to why the percentage of admitted Christian refugees is lower than that of Muslim refugees. Additionally, Christian, Jewish, and other refugee-focused programs have actually condemned efforts to exclude Muslims or to prioritize members of one religion over another.
I was able to connect this article to McGuire’s chapter about Religion, Social Cohesion, and Conflict. McGuire makes the argument that those whose religions fit the dominant society’s “image” of a religious community will gain acceptance more readily than marginalized ethno-religious groups. I believe that is what we’re seeing here in Trump’s executive order. This is also fueled through a sense of nationalism which Trump is also promoting. With nationalism, there always has to be an enemy – in this case being “radical Islamic terrorists”. This also ties in with religious particularism because we are seeing Trump view Christianity refugees as more valuable to resettle into the country. It’s extremely problematic.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/trump-christian-refugees-syria_us_588bb872e4b0b065cbbbf26f
‘Ring of Peace’
In Chapter 6 McGuire highlights the different roles religion can play within a society. Two ways she proposed was that it helped to hold a society together through cohesion, while the other suggested religion tears a society a part. However, it is clear that religion can do both at the same time.
An article entitled ‘Ring of Peace’ Surround Canada’s Mosques in Wake of Deadly Attack posted on The Huffington Post portrayed McGuire’s depictions well. In Toronto Canada a group of individuals from multiple religions stood in solidarity around the Islamic Center. Last week a gunman open fired in a Canadian Mosque. He killed six individuals and injured nineteen. In response to this, others held hands around their local Islamic Center protecting it and sending a message that despite their religion, they are humans.
Throughout recent years Islamophobia has become more prevalent. There have been religious extremists from different religions both aiding Islamophobia and trying to prevent it. I think this article is an example that while extremism and fear can tear a society a part by means of religion, religion can also bring people together to fight against this.
“Pope Francis Threw Shade at Trump in the Classiest Way Possible”
Although not explicitly addressing Trump and his baffling immigration orders, the Pope addressed the public to remind people that welcoming refugees and helping the poor and marginalized is our duty as fellow humans and as religious peoples. As I scroll through the articles concerning religion in the news, I cannot help but notice that almost all of the articles are about Trump and the religious philosophies that his ideals are coming in conflict with. I cannot help but wonder if this very controversial president might actually unite people of different religious backgrounds. Thus far, at the women’s marches and other ceremonies, leaders of many religions have come together to agree on matters that the president has overlooked or simply ignored. I do not recall which chapter, but I remember in McGuire’s text she discusses how in times of chaos and social imbalance, a presence of religion in society can actually increase as people seek comfort in distressing times. I am curious then, as to whether or not this presidency will affect the religious landscape of America. Also, how might religious groups of people in other parts of the world view our country and our religious ideals? Will the international opinion of America’s religious values be discounted because of the actions of our president? Is the current political atmosphere making in our country people feel hopeless and depressed and stray away from religion, or are people investing themselves deeper in religion in a time of uncertainty and fear?
Unspoken Boundaries
There have been many controversies surrounding the Catholic church and allegations of sexual abuse by prominent clergymen spanning across countries, many of them from decades earlier, so who is to say what has yet to be revealed. In an article for The Guardian on Monday February 6th, Melissa Davey wrote on yet another instance of sexual abuse allegations, this time by an Australian cardinal, George Pell. Davey writes that Australian police “have been investigating allegations that Pell exposed himself to three young boys at Torquay life-saving club in Victoria in the summer of 1986-1987” (Davey, The Guardian, 2/6/17). Pell has continued to reject all allegations of sexual abuse brought against him, and has willingly participated in police interviews after they traveled to the Vatican to find him where Pell manages the Vatican’s finances. Additional allegations against Pell include him repeatedly touching former St. Alipius students’ genitals while swimming with them in Ballarat in 1978-1979. In chapter 6 of McGuire, she writes on some of the boundaries between members of an official religion and those deemed as “outsiders”. This boundary presents itself in many of the workings of the Catholic church, including these pedophilia and sexual assault controversies because by looking at the dates, one can interpret that there must have been at least an inkling of previous knowledge during these occurrences. But nothing was said until fairly recently, perhaps because of the generally clear boundaries that the Catholic church declared “their business”, and what should be told to outsiders. Until people started to come forward and break the previously set boundaries by the church, the public was ignorant to what was truly happening behind closed doors.