Religious Institutions And Personal Devotions - 985 Words

In my initial position paper, I differentiated between faith, works, and religion, and concluded that the academic study of religion is similar to the academic study of other cultural identities, such as race and gender. What I failed to understand, however, was how complex the boundary between religious institutions and personal devotions really was. Popular religion, as I have come to learn, assumes qualities of both public and private worship and belief and illustrates a far greater struggle than I was able to detect. This struggle is that between the individual person, the community, and the institution. Therefore, the anthropology of religion is a field that seems to be characterized largely by studies of self, collective, and power, rather than the more simplistic set, as I defined it originally, of self, other, and ritual. To approach the field in this way, we will analyze Latin American popular religion. I will first distinguish between the self and the collective, showi ng how the latter is a collection of many individuals, but also in a dynamic relationship with the beliefs of its members. This relates to the concept of power, as both parties involved exert some degree of control over the other. Consequently, I will then address the power of the institution and the relationship that it has over the worshippers. As such, I hope the thesis that the anthropology of religion seems to be largely defined by interactions of self, collective, and power will beShow MoreRelatedReligion is a institution that is or is not fixed and can exist independently from a constituents800 Words   |  4 PagesReligion is a institution that is or is not fixed and can exist independently from a constituents or members. Those constituents get involved by attending its services, volunteering in projects, and serving in its administrative offices. Religions can have a very small and very large memberships, because they do not depend on the members in order to be conside red a religion. Religious institutions teach basic beliefs and practices, and expect all members to abide by their institutional guidelines(LundskowRead MoreThe Plight Of Modernity And The Social Conditions Associated With Modern Forms Of Capitalism1421 Words   |  6 Pagesthe works of Marx and Weber. For these theorists, religious institutions serve important roles in understandings of how societal changes emerge. However, their understandings of how religion relates to social change are vastly different. This is the result of fundamentally different assumptions underlying their particular theories. Within Marx’ understanding of religion, ideologies of religious institutions, along with all other social institutions, are based on the economic relations found in societyRead MoreEssay on Same Sex Marriage Should Be Legal564 Words   |  3 PagesWestern Society. It is widely recognized as a ritual between both man and woman. Marriage is deemed as a holy matrimony meant to publically announce a commitment between two heterosexual individuals. For many traditional reasons and religious beliefs the institution of marriage has been denied to homosexuals. Publically opposing the idea of marriage by homosexuals openly shows bias towards equality of citizens under the law and places heterosexuals and homosexuals on separate planes as human beingsRead More Hinduism Essay1327 Words   |  6 Pageshymns were composed. These hymns, called Vedas, were composed by different Brahman priests and were orally passed down between the generations. They contained knowledge that was consid ered useful at the time and were not based on just one persons religious belief. The Vedas told the spiritual thoughts of the Aryas who lived in India (Craig, A., Graham, W., Kagan, D., Ozmet, S., Turner, F., 2011). The Vedas were categorized into four primary groups. Rig Veda contained hymns or mantras to GodRead MoreEssay about The Romans and Christianity979 Words   |  4 PagesThen and now religions shared common dimensions that provide society with a doctrine, narrative, ethics, ritual, experience and a social institution. These six dimensions that Ninian Smart derived spell out the framework for comparative study of religions1. The six dimensions hold true when comparing the daily routine Roman religious thought to modern Christianity. Interwoven into the core of both cultures is a strong unifying spirit that built a strong communal bond for its people. For the RomansRead MoreChallenges facing youths today1513 Words   |  7 Pagesï » ¿Challenges Facing the Youth in Today’s Society Most of the problems facing today’s youth are not restricted to any one ethnic or religious group, but affect young people generally. Most discussions on youth have focussed on issues such as drug abuse, crime, violence, sexuality and poverty. In addition to these, today’s youth are afflicted by new challenges. These include: 1. An Identity Crisis: Who am I? 2. Lack of self confidence and low self esteem: I am worthless 3. A sense of hopelessness:Read MoreMax Weber was the Father of Modern Sociology807 Words   |  3 Pagesdied in 1920, after contracting the Spanish flu. His final manuscript was unfinished, although it was edited in 1922 by his wife and published. Weber’s â€Å"ideal type† is not something that is real. It is a concept that he uses when looking at institutions in their purest form and purest state. When looking at bureaucracies he uses this methodology of ideal type in determining what makes them successful, what they are and what they should be. The theory of â€Å"ideal type† is used as a measuring stickRead More Home-Schooling Essay882 Words   |  4 Pagesnext level of learning, where they might fall behind in a public learning institution. The parent(s) could offer the child extremely individualized attention that is much harder to find in a public school with large numbers of students, many who also have special needs. Home schooling is also a good choice for family?s who want to truly have control over what their children are taught. Possibly more religious families would want to make sure that in addition to the subjects they haveRead MoreThe Idea Of Secularization As A Concept Of Society1590 Words   |  7 PagesOver the past few decades, many theories have evolved around the idea of secularization as a concept in society. The secularization thesis refers to ‘the process by which sectors of society and culture are removed from the domination of religious institutions and symbols’. (Rosta, 2009, chapter 14) Berger was a strong component to the secularization thesis that conducted many studies and developed theories that have been countlessly cited and critiqued. He believed that, in the face of modernityRead More Hasidic Judaism Essay1549 Words   |  7 PagesJews have never been without conflict or disagreement amongst its people. Schisms amongst Jews over long periods of time have led to a branching out of sects and Jewish institutions. What led to the separation of denominations within was a fundamental disagreement on the interpretation and implementation of Halakah (Jewish religious law). Before the 18th century there was little differentiation between sects of Judaism; Jewry was based on Talmudic and Halakhic study and knowledge. Constructed as an