Religion and rhetoric exam 2

what is prothero’s 4 part framework?

problem-what is wrong with humanity?

solution-what does the religion say will make things right?

technique-what must people do to move from the problem toward the solution?

exemplar-who shows us what this looks like?

What is the class definition of religion?

The quest for complex subjectivity that seeks to answer the questions who are we? what are we? where do we come from? where are we going?

Why is our class definition of religion so vague?

Defining religion as a complex subjectivity means viewing it as a personal and multi-layered experience, it’s not just about beliefs or rituals.

Avoids generalizations

Avoids essentialism

What is the relationship between our definition of religion and prothetro’s 4 part framework?

The relationship between our definition: religion is the quest for complex subjectivity; meaning the quest to discover how to better oneself in life and beyond, and prothero’s 4 part framework; is that prothero’s framework seeks to answer similar questions to those that people who are religious seek to answer. such as who are we? and what are the problems with humanity. How do we solve these problems? What is the technique to move forward from these problems? (where are we going) and who is going to be our exemplar?

Why does defining religion broadly matter when studying religion?

not all religions believe in god(s),

not all religions believe in an afterlife,

not all religions believe you have to be “saved”

religious practice and tradition varies between time, background, and culture

What happens when religion is defined primarily through belief in God?

It is a very christian/western way of studying religion. It leaves out religions who do not worship a God such as bhuddism/ confucianism. It typically only includes the majority religions such as chrsitainity, islam, and hinduism.

Rhetoric

The way signs and symbols influence thought and behavior

Rhetorical argument

A message sent through a text that creates, reinforces, or challenges a taken for granted belief or behavior about what is good or appropriate

Rhetoric as argument

seeks to win a debate

Rhetoric of provocation

challenges assumptions, stirs discomfort, or pushes boundaries to spark critical thinking

Rhetoric of invitation

seeks to open a dialogue or present ideas for the audience to consider without forcing a specific conclusion

The Simpsons as a secular “religion”

-providing meaning and morality (substituting religious narratives with humanist values)

-Rationality and science as alternatives to faith (upholding scientific rationality)

-Rituals and community in nontraditional ways (offering secular parallels to religious rituals)

-Critique of organized religion (highlighting the flaws of religious institutions/ promoting individual spirituality over communal

-Addressing existential questions through humor (offer rhetorical satirical answers to big questions)

-Humanism as a moral foundation (highlighting human potential and flaws/encouraging compassion & tolerance)

What is the relationship between religion and consumer culture?

Religion is sold to people as a way to numb their pain and is treated as a commodity

How does race influence what religions are portrayed as familiar vs unfamiliar?

Religions that are considered western and are mostly white dominated are portrayed as mainstream (eg christianity, judaisim) whereas religions that are mostly upheld my people of color are considered unfamiliar and exotisized (eg, islam, hinduism)

What is the relationship between belief, intuition, experience, and interpretation

Relational allegiances- Belief based upon cultural upbringing and relationship with religion

Emotional history-belief based upon finding emotional comfort in religion

Existential desires- belief based upon wanting to find meaning and purpose in life and beyond

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How does intuition and personal experience shape the way people interpret the world around them?

-Intuition leads, reason follows

-Experience is the lens to interpret religious texts

The allusion of cold neutrality

Belief based on pure reason; a myth because belief is influenced by personal intuition, experience and interpretation

Four models of human engagement

1. The preacher-goal is to persuade you, driven by certainty, is not open to different ideas or approaches

2. The prosecutor-goal is to disprove, is not open minded/just wants to disprove other ways of thinking rather than consider them

3. The politician-goal is to fit in, driven by belonging & social validation, develops opinions based on social validation rather than critical thinking and educated opinions

4. The scientist-goal is to discover truth, given by curiosity and humility, may not consider personal and cultural factors when forming opinions

Durkheiman approach

Durkheim’s theory views society as more than just a collection of individuals: it’s a system guided by social facts, or shared norms and values that shape behavior.

Satire

uses humor as a tool for social criticism, aiming to provoke thought, highlight absurdities, and inspire reform

Civil religion

-Belief system of religion-like function (American culture is sacred)

-Produces dedication to ritual actions (devotion to beliefs of nation, pledge of allegiance, play the national anthem at public events, federal holidays mark passage of each year)

-Produces rights of passage (brith certificate, drivers license, death certificate)

-Upholds sacred stories (myths of origin, myths about future)

-Myths of irreversible progress toward ideal conditions (myths of a chosen nation, myth of a Christian nation, myth of an innocent nation)

Cultural appropriation

the unacknowledged, unauthorized, or inappropriate adoption of elements, customs, or aesthetics from a minority or marginalized culture by a member of a dominant culture.

Commodification

the process of turning something that is normally free, natural, personal, or socially valued into a commodity

Consumerism

the theory that an increasing consumption of goods is economically desirable

Unseen order

-Divine Transcendant, or supernatural reality

-Sacred texts and teachings

-moral and ethical frameworks

-rituals and practices

-symbols and mythology

How does feltmates chapter one describe religious rhetoric in popular culture?

How popular media uses religion as a way to convey their own unseen order, about what is the “right” way to think, according to the writers. It also reflects social divisions in the US, and reflects social, political, and religious biases.

spiritual commodification

selling spirituality as a way to numb peoples pain and provide false comfort rather than challenging people to change their circumstances

How do the television shows in chapter 1 communicate ideas about religion, religious people, and religious practices?

-The television shows in this chapter communicate the idea that the “right” way of thinking is atheism and logical thinking.

-Religious freedom and free thinking are heavily emphasized while restrictive religious practices common with Christianity are heavily mocked.

-Religious people are often seen as fanatics, and religious practices are seen as a hindrance to free thinking.

What are feltmates three essential questions for studying religion through television shows?

-What do you have to believe about different religions and the role of religion in society to find jokes humorous?

-What do the patterns in these programs tell us about religious significance in america?

-What can a critical assessment of religion through popular culture tell us about American civil life?

What is the relationship between religion and consumer culture in chapter 1?

-conversion to another religion (an “uncorrupted” religion like buddhism)

-assaulting consumerism (mocking money grabbing tactics like spiritual books and low effort spirituality focused on profit)

-embracing consumer spirituality (spiritual healing, cultural appropriation for the sake of profit)