Troy McNaughtonDo all Jews have deep pockets?
May 21st 2007 22:48
Are all Muslims fanatical terrorists?
Do all Jews have deep pockets?
Are all Pentecostals rigid fundamentalists?
Do all Jehovah’s Witness’ carry the Watchtower in their back pocket?
...the list goes on…
Society is governed by unequivocal stereotypes and one’s dire need to associate specific sectors with often incorrect generalisations. There is a blatant formulaic understanding of religion and its counterparts. Boundaries are placed on spiritual learning as a result of deep-seeded and maintained stereotypes. Such cardboard cut-outs have potentially grave affects.
Religion stems from history and plays an important role in the lives of many. It is not the shallow, misguided message it is often portrayed to be. Individuals fail to realize the importance and significance of religion and its practice, not only throughout history, but in the present day.
Religions, especially those of a contemporary nature, are growing at an unpredicted and unprecedented rate. E.g. growth of the Pentecostal movement is overtaking that of Catholicism in Latin America, causing great concern to the Pope.
Religion can be, and is, applicable to today. It is essential to look past the stereotypes and embody the true essence of religion; beliefs and lifestyle. While many are consumed by their natural and socially inflicted desire to mock religion, it seems there is a curiosity that lies within every individual. Once media inflamed stereotypes are quashed, religion holds a wonder and beauty that goes far beyond the logistics of theology.
Whether it be Muslim, Buddhist, Christian or Hindu, be open to the notion that a spiritual realm exists, and that ones preconceived religious ideas may be a result of subconscious learning and lack of knowledge.
Breakdown the stereotype…what do you see?
Do all Jews have deep pockets?
Are all Pentecostals rigid fundamentalists?
Do all Jehovah’s Witness’ carry the Watchtower in their back pocket?
...the list goes on…
Society is governed by unequivocal stereotypes and one’s dire need to associate specific sectors with often incorrect generalisations. There is a blatant formulaic understanding of religion and its counterparts. Boundaries are placed on spiritual learning as a result of deep-seeded and maintained stereotypes. Such cardboard cut-outs have potentially grave affects.
Religion stems from history and plays an important role in the lives of many. It is not the shallow, misguided message it is often portrayed to be. Individuals fail to realize the importance and significance of religion and its practice, not only throughout history, but in the present day.
Religions, especially those of a contemporary nature, are growing at an unpredicted and unprecedented rate. E.g. growth of the Pentecostal movement is overtaking that of Catholicism in Latin America, causing great concern to the Pope.
Religion can be, and is, applicable to today. It is essential to look past the stereotypes and embody the true essence of religion; beliefs and lifestyle. While many are consumed by their natural and socially inflicted desire to mock religion, it seems there is a curiosity that lies within every individual. Once media inflamed stereotypes are quashed, religion holds a wonder and beauty that goes far beyond the logistics of theology.
Whether it be Muslim, Buddhist, Christian or Hindu, be open to the notion that a spiritual realm exists, and that ones preconceived religious ideas may be a result of subconscious learning and lack of knowledge.
Breakdown the stereotype…what do you see?
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Comment by Winston
Small Thoughts on Big Questions
Religious practitioners tend to take on a "martyr" persona today. Religion, as you say, is experiencing tremendous growth. It now (inappropriately) wields tremendous political influence. It is everywhere. And yet, very often I hear sound bites from various people decrying how religion is being attacked. How so? Because some people have stood up and asked for honest, defensible proofs of why people should give their lives over to such beliefs? If belonging to a large majority group that has vast political/financial/social influence is the same as being "attacked", then sign me up. Would that we all had such minor threats to worry about.
Regarding your stereotypes argument: of course the caricatures you present in the opening of your post are two-dimensional cutouts. Only the very ignorant or the very mean-spirited would believe otherwise. However, those stereotypes exist for a reason. Radical, fundamentalist Islam is a large problem. It only takes a relative handful of Muslims to make it so. Rigid, fundamentalist Christians do exist, in droves. On a smaller scale, fundamentalist Christians who favor injecting their religion into law and politics also exist. They may be a minority, but they are a loud one. If bad qualities are associated with an entire group en masse, that is a stereotype, and it is lazy thinking. If bad qualities are rightly associated with certain specific persons or groups that clearly demonstrate those behaviors, that is truth. For example, stating that "all Muslims are terrorists" is a stereotype. Stating that "Middle Eastern terrorists tend to be fundamentalist Muslims" is the truth. There's a difference.
What constitutes "mocking" religion, in your view? Actively holding it up for parody? Or does the act of questioning religious views and seeking for empirical truths to claims made by religious people also count as mocking? In either case religion, like politics, is a matter of public discourse and, as such, is not exempt from either scrutiny or ridicule. It is essential to respect everyone's rights to believe as they wish. It is not, however, essential to respect those flawed beliefs themselves.
As a final thought, you indicate in your closing statement that the reason religion faces resistance from some people stems from lack of knowledge, or ignorance. In my experience, the exact opposite is true. It is truly astounding how little many theists really know about the history of their own theology, not to mention that of other religions. Those people who actively refute religious views tend to be quite well educated about not just one religion, but many. The path to freethought is paved with education and inquiry, while the religious road is cobbled with the ignorance and dogma of 3000 years. It's no wonder that such a road leads nowhere.