Introduction to World Religion REL1300 Class Notes 1 6 12 What is Religion I Class Discussion nothing of importance What is Religion continued I People their theories A Sigmund Freud psychologist Introduction to World Religion REL1300 Class Notes 1 9 12 i Humans have subconscious behavior and societies role is to oppress that behavior ii Described religion as a mass delusion paranoid wish fulfillment iii Wrote 3 books on religion Totalment taboo Future of an illusion moses and monotheism Presented slightly different theories of religion in them a Totalement and Taboo Religion is a social construct that comes about to keep men from killing their fathers and taking their wives edible complex sons have an urge to kill their fathers and take their mothers to be their sexual partners b Future of an Illusion We are all going to suffer and die so we create an illusion of a father figure that exists god that will protect us and that will keep us from the inevitable death Limits anxiety and keeps men from repressing desires Freud was certain that god did not exist and that we made him up for comfort c Moses and Monotheism B Carl Jung psychologist i Described religion as a collective unconscious ii we all share this similar unconsciousness iii Universal predisposition to believe in religion Not based on experience iv We inherently know certain things and crisis opens our minds to them v We are hard wired for religion vi Both freud and Jung s theories are universal but individualistic C Emile Durkheim Sociologist Most famous theorist of religion i We find religion across time and space Throughout history and culture ii Our sacred objects and practices are what distinguish one from another a A unified system of beliefs and practices relative to daced things that is to say set apart and forbidden beliefs and practices which unite into one single moral community called a church all those who adhere to them iii Us vs Them Christan vs Non christian iv 100 reinforcing commutal ties v Religion is universal but not individualistic vi reinforce social norms societies The community existed before you and after your gone Feeling of being apart of something is god religion 100 social D Karl Marx political theorist i Wrote communist manifesto founder of communism socialism ii Everybody is equal everything is distributed equally Associated with anti religion iii Marx describes religion as Human creation meant to alleviate feelings of alienation iv as human beings we feel alienated from ourselves We naturally want to labor work and produce things In a capitalist system we work to give things away low wages for production We created religion to make our miserable lives better v Used by the elite to control the masses opiate of the masses vi the function of EVERYTHING is to reinforce capitalism a Workers not revolt fool them into thinking their lives are less shitty than they are E Richard King still alive religion is not real i Religion is NOT universal Religion is a western construct Religion does not exist ii Religion is a result of imperialism iii Western and Christian bias in our study iv We cannot describe the core of religion because that core does not exist Introduction to World Religion REL1300 Class Notes 1 11 12 Categorizing Religion and Globalization I Classification of Religion A Evolutionary i Examples a Primitive advanced b Tribal National universal c Religious Nature ethical Religious traditions advance and become more sophisticated over time B Phenomenological ii This is all based on European view of Christianity iii Normative claims i Grouping religion via similarity ii Example a Prophetic religions b Ethnic National religions based on similarities of religious life regardless of time and place C Geographical classified based on region of origin i if religions develop in the same place at around the same time they are going to share a lot of things in common beliefs practices and influences A Oral Traditions Indigenous Traditions Phenomenological what we are going to cover religions of africa native american religions context of colonialism II Our Way of Categorizing i ii religions of india iii religions of the far east iv religions of the middle east v new religious movements III Globalization linked to religion B Responses to globalization i Reject globalization a want isolated religious state b common among colonized A Globalization the development of an increasingly integrated global economy marked especially by free trade free flow of capital and the tapping of cheaper foreign markets included freer communication travel and flow of culture i People respond in dramatically different ways to globalization and a lot of times it is they like their original culture and want to retain their own culture Reject foreign influence and imports because they do not want to be profited off of aka making goods and services for cheap for the first world Do not want to become unstable or lower their standard of living c Those who fear a new world order satanic theories unified under one government and the head of that government would be satan aka religious fear ii Reject globalization but want a global religiosity still remain primarily christian iii Accept globalization and work for pluralism a Wanting the US to be isolated separation of church and state but at the same time a Globalization good One becomes open minded when exposed to other cultures b Pluralism is accepting that there are different religions that exist being OK with that and moving on from there Living in peace though conflicting ideas are present C The Real Issue i Focus often perceived failure of a secular state a Westerners are more familiar with non western cultures b A western focus have moved to other parts of the world to bring democracy and secular governments to the rest of the world ii Real issue of identity and control a religion brings people together b Loss of belonging feeling of powerlessness c failure of secular state perceived loss of power and identity d Reclaim traditional religious identity in order to regain sense of power and autonomy Introduction to World Religion REL1300 Class Notes 1 13 12 Academic Study of Religions I Pathetic Fallacy A Giving human characteristics to objects feelings or ideas similar to personification i Ex smiley face on the sun sun obviously doesn t have a face or have the ability to smile ii Ex Geico Gecko iii Ex Love is blind Love is a feeling when people describe love as being blind
View Full Document
Unlocking...