The moral erosion, corporate agenda, and hollow traditions that plague the once deservedly esteemed Yale University are recounted in Sex and God at Yale, as Nathan Harden critiques the ungodly horrors he was forced to endure throughout his undergraduate career at the institution. As a homeschooled high school drop out, Harden desperately strove for acceptance to the elite university that he blindly worshiped as the paramount American intellectual endeavor. However, his experience was far from ideal, rather, at times it was an intellectual comedy mocking the demise of morality within modern institutions. This mockery was epitomized by Yale’s annual engulfment in the celebration of Sex Week, a corporately funded series of events led by porn stars, condom brand representatives, and other workers within the sex industry. “Sex and God at Yale” destroys readers’ idealized perceptions of an institution breeding future leaders through exposing its moral ambivalence, faulty partnerships, and feeble values, which ultimately acts as a catalyst to push …show more content…
The rapid evolution of society brought on by globalization has allowed many ideologies to become increasingly fluid. Despite this fluidity, scholarly institutions like Yale must strive to embrace religion as an intellectual feat rather than abandon moral fundamentals in order to prevent our society from plummeting into
“Religion is the backbone of evolution.” Without the cultural differences and belief systems we would not have a regulated religious base. It is evident some religions can be both alike but yet still very different. The historical William Bradford and Jonathan Edwards demonstrate this theory. William Bradford portrays more leniencies while allowing for more religious tolerance within the puritan community. With some contrasting beliefs but familiar goals, Jonathan Edwards, pursued a stricter religious background. Both of these author’s play an important role in sculpting the puritan way of life.
Butler, J., Balmer, R., & Wacker, G. (2008). Religion in American Life : A Short History. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
As James Madison, the fourth President of the United States said, “The religion of every man must be left to the conviction and conscience of every man, and it is right of every man to exercise it as they may dictate” (Haynes, C...
Jon H. Roberts and James Turner, The Sacred and the Secular University, (Princeton University press,2000).29
Winter, Gibson. Address. "Religious Social Ethics in a Postmodern World." Temple University, Philadelphia, 22 March 1995.
Nord, Warren A. Religion & American Education: Rethinking a National Dilemma. Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press, 1995.
There are many knowledgeable books that introduce religions as well as specific religious traditions. However, students are naturally introduced to abstract methodological issues such as observer bias, rather than the religions themselves. If religions of the world are not approached with purpose and method, then students are likely to gain “stereotypes… of misinformation supplied by certain sectors of the media” (Chryssides & Geaves, 2014). Thus, in order to see how religion is lived in day to day life, one must “walk a mile in [the] moccasins [of religious people]” as Smart (1998) says. Therefore this essay will attempt to answer why it is important to study religion off campus and how this may challenge traditional understandings of religion.
In 2000, Alan Keyes and Alan Dershowitz debated the question “does organized religion hold answers to the problems of the 21st century?” Alan Keyes is a conservative activist that in this debate argued in favor of organized religion while Alan Dershowitz, a lawyer and liberal who defends civil liberties, argues against the need for organized religion. This debate took place in 2000, but is still relevant today due to the many conflicts going on in today’s society and how morally corrupt it is. By examining both sides of the debate, we can see that morality is in fact greatly needed but organized religion is not the only answer to the problem.
Each and every individual holds a certain set of beliefs that guide them through their life decisions. Simply put, everybody has a faith. This faith defines people by separating them into different religions based on similar beliefs. Similar beliefs shared by a population that get passed along through generations make up the spiritual climate of a certain place. I have examined the spiritual climate of America through readings in the IS 101 Reader and through my personal observations from the news and social media. I have found that traditional beliefs and ways of practice are sometimes confronted by new discoveries, such as evolutionary studies, and changed as new generations hold different values. America has always
Over the years, society has come to evolve and progressively become more efficient as society’s viewpoints and perspectives on various aspects of life have also changed. However, the one aspect of life that has stayed constant has been religion. The impact of a constant religious opinion on a changing society has detrimental and benign effects on the populace of such a society.
...ve begins generating rumors for male peers who do not qualify as a stereotypical male. For instance, Olive pretends to have sex with a male peer during a popular house party (Gluck, 2010). This imaginary hook-up benefits the male peer’s bullying dilemma. Again, gender policing occurs between men when masculinity is questioned (Kimmel, 2008). “One survey found that most Americans boys would be rather be punched in the face than called gay” (Kimmel, 2000, p.77). The gender police govern Olive’s and the male peer’s status in social standings. America’s obsession with sex disregards if a girl truly sleeps around.
Truth, virtue, morality and sin are subjects of much controversy and debate in Western culture and the Church—these topics become more amplified especially within the confines of our political system. As American society ventures further away from the Christian ideals and principles once implemented at the foundations of our nation, these concepts continue to blur and become less important to the collective mind of our nation. Some may argue that these principles should remain separate from government and the political arena, stating that Christian ideals such as these are “antiquated” or “out of touch” with the direction society is heading; however, one ought to argue that government should never be separate from these ideals and it was the
America is a melting pot of culture and race. Thus, bringing many different types of religious faiths to today’s society. Whether the beliefs are ancient, new, reconstructed or if people have no faith at all, it is all in America. It is difficult to scrutinize one religion without it concerning another. All religions have diverse beliefs ranging from; the belief of...
“One of the most marked characteristics of the new secular intellectuals was the relish with which they subjected religion and its protagonists to critical scrutiny. How far had they benefited or harmed humanity, these great systems of faith? To what extent had these popes and pastors lived up to their precepts, of purity and truthfulness, of charity and benevolence? The verdicts on both churches and clergy were harsh. Now, after two centuries during which the influence of religion has continued to decline, and secular intellectuals have played an ever-growing role in shaping our attitudes and institutions, it is time to examine their record, both public and personal. In particular, I want to focus on the moral and judgmental credentials of intellectuals to tell mankind how to conduct itself.”
Molloy, Michael. Experiencing the World's Religions: Tradition, Challenge, and Change. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2010. Print