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Discrimination and prejudice in the LGBT community
Discrimination and prejudice in the LGBT community
The western worlds understanding of secularism
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The words “Secularism” and “Religion” are used to describe abstract concepts with subjective definitions. As distinct as they are, they also act as mirrors to each other; as one cannot survive without the other to push against, no matter what definition is given to them. These words as defined by various writers, feminists, scholars and historians can be used to define and query these two categories. Gross, Castelli, Cady & Fessenden, Mahmood, Braude and Moallem use examples, culture, and opinions to define each in a different way. While they may be categories, secularism and religion are also answers to some of mankind’s biggest questions; but ultimately they are one in the same and seek to unite followers under a common cause.
“Feminism
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Again she very closely associates secularism and feminism claiming that feminists view religion “negatively” going as far to say “’Religion on the one hand, was produced as a category separate from other elements of human social existence…On the other hand, the binary opposition ‘secular/religious’ imposed itself upon the collective consciousness of the west” (5). Castelli believes that while secularism, a western revolution, works against the “dogma” of religion, they are deeply intertwined. This concept can be applied to the United States today; while this country likes to think it is “western” and “progressive” and even “secular” this country is still holding onto its Christian roots. Religion permeates all aspects of America government with words like “Christian” and “Family” values. It took years and years to secure the right for the LGBT community to get married, and while this is a huge accomplishment, numerous trans people, especially trans people of color are being killed because they don’t fit those good old-fashioned “Christian Values”. LGBT people can be evicted and fired for their sexual and/or gender identity. Republican candidates like Ted Cruz pledge to defund Planned Parenthood and take away women’s rights to their bodies and to decide their own fate. These aspects of American government vehemently show how entrenched our ideals are in religion. While the first amendment of the bill of rights states “Freedom of Religion” it also implies “Freedom from Religion” and the freedom for one to make their own choices and not worship if they please. Castelli categorizes religion as indefinable and ubiquitous and she is correct in that summation as proved by the United States
than it has been in the past, it is the argument of whether or not
Modern Britain as a Secular Society Modern Britain is a secular society . To what extent do sociological
Journal of the American Academy of Religion 62.3 (Autumn 1994): 851-867. Hammer, Olav. The "New Age" The Brill Dictionary of Religion. 2011. The. Hanegraaff, Wouter J. & Co. The "New Age Religion and Secularization." Religion in the Disenchanted World.
Religion is considered as a pervasive force in this world. It shapes people as to how they behave and interact with almost everything present in the society. Influencing behavior, character formations, ideals, policies, standards are just among the dimensions and societal perspectives affected and impacted by religion. Because of these applications and implications in human lives and existence, religion should be understood deeply, particularly, on how it affects the world. Looking at the American perspective of the term "religion," it could be simply
At least philosophically speaking, religion has acquired a bad press in modernity. It may be explicitly rejected, simply not be talked about, or perhaps be discussed as an area of investigation. But religious adherents who explicitly involve their religion in doing philosophy are both rare and seldom respected. Much of this goes back to a history o...
In the book god is not Great, the late Christopher Hitchens examines the dogma of the major religions in the world and makes a case for why a more secular approach to life would be beneficial to society. He attacks all forms of theistic beliefs, providing a myriad of examples how this has led to violence, ignorance, and repression of “natural” behavior in his attempt to show that a secular view of life based on science and reason is the best life.
Section 1: B. What is the relationship between religion and power? Describe five distinct ways that religions exercise power in culture. We live in what has been described as a ‘secular age’. What are at least three of the changes that this ‘secular age’ has made on how religions express power and/or expect to express power? Describe three distinct criteria by which we can evaluate a contemporary religion’s exercises or expressions of power.
Religion is as natural to man as social intercourse. The aim common to the religions of the world is that they undertake to bestow upon mankind the highest blessings, and the special way in which they seek to accomplish this is by establishing friendly relations with a Power which is stronger than the ordinary course of nature. Every religion which has counted for anything has had ready answers to three questions: What does it promise to do for the good of man? What is the nature of the higher Power on whose succor it relies? And, what is required of man as the condition of receiving the expected benefits? A further working test of its value is what it makes of morality.
Secularity, as commonly understood in the sociopolitical context of the United States, denotes a separation of religion from state, and often most public areas – the public sphere. Secularism is understood to mean that the United States has no official religion, and thus the public sphere, as created by the government, is free from religious control. Further, secularism is largely understood to be a Western sociopolitical body of thought. While secularism certainly exists in many non-Western countries, its cornerstone is in the West.
Sudipta Kaviraj, a scholar from Jawaharlal Nehru University, admits that, "among those who consider themselves secular individuals there is an intensifying sense of crisis”. What are the criticisms of secularism which lead to the perception of a predicament? At first glance, the challenge appears minuscule, ...
Religious Fundamentalism is not a modern phenomenon, although, it has received a rise in the late twentieth century. It occurs differently in different parts of the world but arises in societies that are deeply troubled or going through a crisis (Heywood, 2012, p. 282). The rise in Religious Fundamentalism can be linked to the secularization thesis, which implies that victory of reason over religion follows modernization. Also, the moral protest of faiths such as Islam and Christianity can be linked to the rise of Religious Fundamentalism, as they protest the influence of corruption and pretence that infiltrate their beliefs from the spread of secularization (Heywood, 2012, p. 283). Religious Fundamentalists have followed a traditional political thought process, yet, have embraced a militant style of activity which often can turn violent (Heywood, 2012, p. 291).
Religion has always been of high social importance and influence within civilization and their society. This essay will argue that as modernity has progressed the social importance of religion has receded, but the gradient of this recession and by how much varies upon the society. Modernity typically refers to a “post-medieval historical period, one marked by the move from feudalism toward capitalism, industrialization, secularization, rationalization, the nation-state and its constituent institutions” (Barker, 2000). This essay will focus on the degradation of the social importance of religion, not spirituality, which is fundamentally different. Firstly, I will investigate, the impact of modernity on religion from the sociologists and modernisation theorists’ perspective. Secondly, as modernity has developed, scientific discovery has begun to question traditional religious views and hence has influenced the social importance of religion through this development. Finally, the sociological argument for why religion is expected to continue to decline in modern society. All of which will focus on modernity in western society.
The author started the chapter by introducing or defining the term secular. The meaning of secular is originated from the word saeculum, which refers to the place and time and from this concept, this is how the westerners viewed the religion as the historical part of the culture and lead to the process of secularism. The process of secularism begins when there is a clash or the separation between the church authority and the leader of state. The church is strictly opposed the idea of scientific knowledge that carried by the state. As the consequences there were separation between religion and scientific or logical knowledge. The westernized knowledge is starting point of the secular knowledge when they totally rejected the concept of God in the knowledge and believe religion is traditional. Thus, the concept of secularism is refers to an ideology due to the process of revolution from tradition to
The modernization of religion is a response to the changing social, political and economic structures within a society. As the modernization of societies take place, people’s rationalizations change on the topic of religion. Modernity causes the decline of religious participation, religious influence and the result is a loss of faith in religion. Two major changes to religion that are caused by modernity are: secularization and disenchantment. Modernity causes secularization through the change of rationalizations of religion giving people the opportunity to choose a religious life through the idea of the heretical imperative. Additionally, modernity necessarily causes disenchantment through the increase of scientific knowledge which devalues
Religion shapes the reason for qualities, convictions, dispositions, and practices for some individuals. In most of the world, non secular way of life pervades