I began this class understanding that America had a unique relationship with religion. I knew what most people who went through high school here knew about the colonization of America by religious groups seeking religious freedom. I knew that from this sprouted the colonies and then the United States, and then I knew that due to the 1st amendment and because of Thomas Jefferson's writings, the definition of the where each of the spheres of religion, politics and personal life intersected became a uniquely American struggle.
However, I discovered much of what I believed to be a gross simplification. Religion is a tangled mess in the present day, but that's always been the case. Comparatively speaking, we are living in a time of relatively unified ideas, especially when you think about the early 1800s. We live in a society that thinks, on some degree at least, that religions are usually private affairs, but that idea has only recently began to be mainstream.
I found the personally challenging traditions of Mormonism and Spiritualism particularly interesting to study, and in the readings, discussions, and videos, I found that these philosophies are distinctly American ideas that only could have taken root and flourished in places like the United States; each of these traditions, in their own ways, represent the American experience. Religions that are much maligned, like Scientology, are truly American enterprises, and whether an American will admit it or not, Mormons, Scientologists, Spiritualists, New-Agers and Neo-Pagans all have a special place in this country's philosophical debate.
Also, I learned how important the influence of vastly different religions have been in the culture of other faiths. It seems as if a common story in the American religious landscape is that one tradition travels to America and soon after, questions of legitimacy, schisms, and disputes eventually arise. Take Hinduism and Buddhism, for example, two traditions that in America have been lumped into identities that they did not have in their home countries. However, because of this new identity, are those who say they are Hindu or Buddhist in America not entitled to the same traditions as those back in the native countries?
The fact that religions are not monolithic entities, while it shouldn't be surprising, was an interesting rediscovery for me this semester. Hinduism, especially, has such a particular meaning that I hesitate to use the word to describe the tradition. There are as many versions of a religion as there are people who practice it, and time after time I've found myself realizing that while there are some main tenets one can believe in within a faith, the actual application of that working definition is constantly challenged.
Overall, the class this semester was intellectually provoking in its refusal to be so easily defined and put aside. Our class discussions were wonderful viewpoints into what our amazingly intelligent classmates were thinking, and for the first time I found myself excited to hear what people had to say about a subject (That totally sounds like I'm a jerk now that I re-read it, but hey, it's the truth!).
Overall, I would say this class was rewarding, challenging, and interesting in the fullest meaning of those words.
10/10 would take again.
No comments:
Post a Comment