RLG101 - Introduction to the Study of Religion

Summary      Other than accepting the Bible, it is the concept of belief that seems to define Christianity Christians can believe in many things, however, they are all supposed to believe in a god who combines the status of father, son, and spirit The ways in which Christians have understood belief is different for those who are non-Christians Belief is often assumed to be a central and defining element of the study of religions. However, this concept carries a lot of theoretical and ideological

Summary The practice of religion is not only to be found in rituals; rituals are just one particular type of bodily place in which religiosity is practiced Religion is practiced in the lives people lead, their daily activities, and in how they interact with other material things, such as texts, objects, and places Maurice Bloch suggests that the study of religion would be better framed as the study of ritual The term where ritual is helpful, however, is in the importance it puts on the practice

Max Muiller Study of religion is the study of sacred texts He argues that sacred texts for religion should be the primary focus for scholars studying religion, because these texts contain the real documentation of a specific religion’s founders and their disciples Texts connect us to the origins of that specific religion, and the (male) founders of that text Reading the text is the “pure” tradition vs. changes over time He also states that these sacred texts are in contrast to the actual practic

Raymond Williams : Types of Culture Culture as an Ideal: The term is used to mark out and distinguish particular types of product which are thought to be of high quality and of considerable artistic worth (Ex. Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, Qur’anic texts, Bible) Culture as a Documentary: They are less great and not ideal or perfect but they are popular (Ex. Madonna, Beyonce, Stephen King) Culture in a Social Sense: What all people do in the culture Stuart Hall: Popular Culture Popular as well li

Power Power relations are complex because they consist of cooperation, yet resistance. Power relations include multiple actors such as the oppressed / oppressors Power can be social, economic and political Theories associated with power are concerned with social justice Ideology: Power as natural (Ex. Parents should have authority over children) (Ex. Teachers / Professors) Power relations exist in all human communities/ institutions (Ex. Kids have more knowledge than their parents when it come

Summary   How do men and women experience and participate in religion? Elisabeth Schussler Fiorenza has argued that any study of religion should be based on a feminist hermeneutics of suspicion Sex is a biological ‘given’ anatomical difference Gender is not natural or universal it is something that is produced specific cultural circumstances Judith Butler has argued how gender is a powerful discourse which creates the sense by which we define and understand the bodies we live in. She is revisin