RELIGN 110 MIDTERM

violence narrow definition

physical

violence broad definition

verbal, psychological, systemic, structural, and/or symbolic use of force

types of violence: physical

sexual violence

types of violence: psychological

gaslighting, social isolation

types of violence: verbal

name calling, bullying

types of violence: emotional

manipulating someone else’s state of wellbeing

types of violence: systemic, structural, symbolic

the way out society is structured is violent but we just don’t see it because we’re in it

violence working defintion

intentional use of physical force in order to hurt damage kill another person/group which violates a person’s rights and causes injury making it unethical

what kind of speech is protected?

offensive/insulting speech advocating for hatred and violence

what kind of speech is NOT protected?

hate speech that directly incites violence

violent/non-violent test case: suicide

violent: suicide as self inflicted violence

non violent: seen as martydom as sacralized violence

=suicide discouraged by religion while martydom is an honor

violent/non-violent test case: terrorism

violent: terrorism universally condemned as violence

non violent: if participants believe what they’re doing is to protect/defend cause then its not violence but as a sacred mandate

violent/non-violent test case: self defense

violent: retaliation because you decided to use more than enough force

non violent: defense using force because you’re not committing anything clsoe to the violence as retaliation does

violent/non-violent test case: murder

violence: murder

non-violent: involuntary manslaughter as less violent

sacrifice definition

sacrificium etymology

to make sacred, process, transformative act

sacralization

taking something ordinary/mundane and transferring it to the divine

make something sacred that was previously not

evolution of sacrifice?

1. human oldest form - someone thought most valuable thing was another human being

2. animal - used as substitute, still savage but at least its not us

3. plant/flower/oil - non violent sacrifice

4. symbolic/self sacrifice- don’t need objects, just give god your heart/innerness (purest form)

why don’t we have clear evolution of sacrifice?

we have a complicated and coexisting company of possibilities based on the central intuition that making offering to deities is a good idea

anti judaism and anti semitism distinctions

anti judaism: religious hatred

anti semitism: racial hatred

anti judaism origins

started out as ethno religious conflict

jews as christ killers in new testament which is used to blame jews forever

scriptual foundations that give give hostile view of jews

anti semitism origin

protocols of elders of zion (1903) explains that there’s secret meetings of “jewish elders” plotting to overthrow government, control media, and try to achieve world domination

why is there deep seated revulsion against jews?

inherited propaganda, animosity, religious anti judaism which has now taking form of antisemitism through protocols of elders of zion and the hamas charter

2 types of intergroup conflict

1. social identity theory

2. religious identity

social identity theory

1. perception of difference -

2. othering

3. stereotyping

4. prejudice

5. discrimination

6. violence

racial identity theory

1. sacralization (violation of sacred leads to deeper violence)

2. desecration

3. violation

4. demonization (religious language)

5. rage

6. violence

Gill’s rational choice theory

useful in accounting for general group patterns

less in explaining indirect and random acts of violence

what does rational choice theory in suicidal terrorism avoid?

conflict, exposing organization, exposing organization members

rational choice theory benefits in suicidal terorism

doesn’t require escape plan

evoke heroic martyr narratives

rewards other worldly benefits

first way religion facilitates violence

identifying the “sacred” initiates mechanisms involving violence

second way religion facilitates violence

boundaries create conflict over identity and membership (exclusion/inclusion)

third way religion facilitates violence

religious rewards (salvation) controlled via social group dynamics of inclusion and exclusion

fourth way religion facilitates violence

religious characteristics manipulate members into violence and abuse

Cavanaugh’s 3 models of religion

1.substantive/essentialist

2.functionalist

3.constructionist

Substantive/essentialist model of religion

identifies substance of religion (Prothero’s 4 part model)

socio, political,psych, task it performs

Functionalist model of religion

lacking because too many things act like a religion, trans historical

Constructionist

social construct because it’s a word that is limited globally (many don’t use word religion)

rational choice theory

people (deeply religious) believe they live in a world of scarce and physical resources and make “economic” decisions based on a cost benefit analysis

apocalpticism world view

predicting resolution of conflict threough violence emerging circa 200bce which gives hope

What are the 4 reading strategies ppl use to neutralize offense of bible’s violent verses

1. canon within canon

2. relativist approach

3. paradigmatic approach

4. evolutionary approach

girard’s mimetic theory of sacrifice

mimetic desire leads to rivalry and conflicts and acts of collective violence against a victim