1. Explain how this course is an example of the scientific study religion in society.
This course can be seen as an example of a scientific study of religion due to the fact that throughout this course we have examined the study of religion as social scientists examining different aspects of culture value and beliefs. The critical analysis of different religions within society is an objective scientific study that provides insight onto other cultures globally.
2. Apply Chidester’s theory that pop culture can do the work of religion (from the “Church of Baseball” chapter) and explain how we could theorize a “Church of the iPhone” using specific examples.
Chidester’s theory that popular culture can do the work of religion can be applied
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For many Canadians, hockey is more than just a sport; it is a way of life. One main ceremony that unites Canadians and mobilizes them in pursuit of common goals could be the Olympic hockey games. This is a time where Canadians gather and cheer for our country to win gold. Although many Canadians have different views on the best NHL team, one thing most Canadians can agree on is the support of the Canadian Hockey Team.
9. Deepa Mehta is critical of popular culture that represents India as either a begging bowl or spiritual wonderland, yet some critics have said that she does the same thing in her films. From what you know of her films, in what ways could Mehta be seen as guilty of representing only a begging bowl or spiritual wonderland version of India?
Deepa Mehta’s films show India the way she believes depicts the true India, and not the India that westerners believe is a begging bowl or a spiritual wonderland. Although she attempts to create films that do not show India for those two conceptions, in her films it is clear that these conceptions are somewhat relevant in India. Although her films show these aspects, she does not dwell on them as negatives or conclude that this is all India has to offer, as some films that are westernized tend to do.
10. According to our course, how can mega-churches be theorized as both authentic and inauthentic religion?
Mega churches can be theorized as inauthentic religion as many people believe that by commodifying the
Students revisit how the world and our country have developed over time in regards to religious beliefs and traditions vs. scientific discoveries and achievements. They trace how individuals have come together or been torn apart by differences in customs, practices, and teachings. They study this at the personal, school, community, national, and international levels. They compare and contrast actions and reactions taken over time and draw conclusions about people from them.
There are many books on religion that try to break down each with enough facts to get the reader to understand. Though books are filled fact after fact and at times, slight biases, they sometimes forget to include values and reasons why people follow them. Because of this, students can miss out on a chance to get a deeper understanding of religion and the people that follow it. Huston Smith’s The World's Religion, Revised & Updated is that book that can broaden students’ viewpoint of all religions.
In his book, A Critical Introduction to the Study of World Religions, Craig Martin aims to introduce undergraduate students to a socio-functional approach in exposing the methods in which religion disrupts class equality. He succeeds by using intelligible explanations, arguments, and examples to skeptically understand how man is shaped by religion.
“The approach taken here is to view religion as an area of human life that needs to be studied using various well-established academic disciplines. Thus, to really study a religion, students to need
Upon reading the chapters written by both Kessler and Martin this week I believe that this will be an interesting course for the seven remaining weeks. Even though I identify myself as a follower of the Christian faith, I think it will be nice to have a fresh outlook on religion from the outsider's point of view. From my time as a first grader through my time as an eighth grader, I spent at least an hour or two each week learning about the Catholic faith in a religion class. Also, I would like to see how this course will possibly change my outlook or open my eyes to different aspects of religion. In addition, I expect to have discussions about several religions from the various regions of the world. I hope that these discussions will help me broaden my understanding and appreciation of other religion and cultural backgrounds
What is religion? Why is it so controversial? What is the significance of religion? These are some of the questions that are encountered when studying religions. Finding the answer, however, is not as simple as it may seem. In fact, there are many different approaches to studying religions. Some of these techniques include the religious method, the phenomenological method, and the historical method.
Firstly, Steve Bruce (1995, 1996) attributes the development of a range of religious institutions, including sects and cults, to a general process of modernization and secularization. He believes the weakness of more conventional institutionalized religions has encouraged some people to consider less traditional alternatives. As modern societies
The relationship between religion and science is indubitably debated. Barbour describes four ways of viewing this relationship (conflict, independence, dialogue--religion explains what science cannot, and integration--religion and science overlap). Gould presents a case in which religion and science are non-overlapping magisteria (NOMA), that the two entities teach different things and therefore do not conflict. The subject of this essay is Worrall, who says that religion and science does conflict, and that genuine religious beliefs are incompatible with a proper scientific attitude. The former half of the essay will describe his argument, while the latter will present a criticism of his argument.
In my opinion, Deepa Mehta is a courageous and bold director to produce a movie ‘Water’ which is intended to affront the tradition and living style of Indians back then. She displays how every character brings up almost perfectly similar kind of stance which is because of the doctrine and beliefs that have been set in their minds for a long period of time. The practice inherited from one generation to another generation which later becomes the tradition of Indian community. I could see how every widow refuses and rebuffs changes; which they are forbidden to marry again as a result of believing in they themselves bring unluckiness or bad luck to others. In fact, other women either married
Students studying Religions in the non-confessional way as Chryssides and Geaves says are expecting to receive fully in depth information on the main six religions and that’s all. But instead of that the study of religion focuses on how the study of religions began. They would research different approaches to religion and they will realise that religion involves different academic disciplines that for some might be surprising
“Religion is a ritualized system of beliefs and practices related to things defined as sacred by an organized community of believers.” (Basirico et.al. 379). Religion is an important element in the society because it influences the way individuals act and think. It has shaped the relationship and bonding among families as well as influenced the decision made in economics and politics. Religion in general has contributed to shape a society and a government structure which will influence the way the individuals under certain governmental structure behave. Sociologists are interested in religion mainly because religious belief is heavily rooted in individuals’ lives and it helps sociologists to interpret human’s actions, expression, and
As Mehta describes the Bombay of his youth, the reader is given a nostalgic view of what the city used to be. As a child, growing up there he is not the outsider that he becomes when his family moves to New York. He describes this experience as a, “central event, that fulcrum of time,” which shaped the rest of his life (6). Subsequently, throughout the rest of his childhood he desires to go back to Bombay and to leave New York, a place
In this paper the topic of religious study will be presented. The goal is to get an understanding on the viewpoints or perspectives that many scholars, students, or educators have when it comes to the topic of either learning about religion or teaching about religion.
This “another” sense of coherence and reality often plays a vital role in the portrayal of characters belonging to different ethnic backgrounds in the mainstream Bollywood flicks. The reason why non-Indian characters from the subcontinent, i.e. the Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, Nepalese, Bhutanese, Afghans or Sri Lankans are not being considered in this discussion is that the socio-cultural gap between India and her neighbouring countries are relatively less and how they are portrayed in Bollywood films demands a new discussion altogether due to extremely convoluted bilateral or multilateral political, social and historical relationships between India and any of these countries.
This composition will give you information on why I chose the topic Christianity. What is compelling about this issue and why is it important in the study of religion? This assignment and the content within it will explain the significance of Christianity across all religions studied. The information in this composition will show in what ways Christianity is significant for religious beliefs. I will give you, the reader an example of how this religion, have a profound effect on my life, and the area I reside. What impact does Christianity have on the everyday lives of people who practice Christianity in my area?