Thinking about Religion 1.12.16 Thinking about Religion

What was your main takeaway from appiah’s tedtalk?

Clifford Geertz, Religion as a Cultural System More Definitions of Religion “a religion is (1) a system of symbols which act to (2) establish powerful, pervasive, and long-lasting moods and motivations in [humans] by (3) formulating conceptions of a general order of existence and (4) clothing these conceptions with such an aura of factuality that (5) the moods and motivations seem uniquely realistic” Clifford Geertz, Religion as a Cultural System

What does that even mean???

Translation of Geertz’s definition “Religion is something that a group of people do that make them feel like things are meaningful and the emotional effects make it feel real” Dr David Bell

TalaL ASAD Critique of Geertz’s definition: Interiority is the locus Problematizing the project of defining religion TalaL ASAD Critique of Geertz’s definition: Interiority is the locus Translation: definition focuses on interior belief, feelings, and the individual and ignores embodied practice, ritual, and community Religion is not a separate category Entire concept of “defining” religion assumes that religion is a discreet, separate thing from culture

Problematizing the project of defining religion TalaL ASAD Con’t “Defining” religion is purely Western construct, influenced by the Age of Enlightment and Protestant Reformation Any definition that privileges one aspect, dimension, or component of the religious necessarily fails, because it normalized some specific traditions, while simultaneously dismissing or stigmatizing others (pg 5) Conclusion: All attempts to define religion are futile

a) institution B) Practice c) Discourse d) Individual e) Community Which of the following is not part of Lincoln’s categories of religion?

Bruce Lincoln’s Response to Asad Defining religion is connected to historical course doesn't mean it’s completely futile, just need to keep in mind implications of history/culture Polythetic and flexible definition of religion, allowing wide variations and attending to at least four domains: Discourse - spoken and written words Practice - ritual and behavior Community - group of people, closely tied to identity Institution - officials that regulate the discourse, practices and community

Two ModelS of Religiosity Lincoln con’t Two ModelS of Religiosity Maximalist — conviction that religion ought to permeate all aspects of human existence Minimalist — view that restricts religion to a set of chiefly metaphysical concerns, protests its privileges against state intrusion, but restricts its activity and influence to specialized sphere

How do you understand the relationship between globalization, modernization and religion?

Religion, Globalization & Pluralism “The problem with religion in the modern world is not that there is no god or that god is dead, as Nietzsche thought at the beginning of the twentieth century. Instead, there are too many gods.” Peter Berger

Secularization theory Religion, Globalization & Pluralism Secularization theory Modernity brings about a decline of religion actually only characterized Europe and the Western Intelligentsia Reactions to pluralism resistance coexistence, synthesis, creative compartmentalization Acceptance, dialogue

Religion, Globalization & Pluralism Multiple Modernities Western secularity is not the only form of modernity other versions of modernity in which religion is accorded a much more central place

Religion, Globalization & Pluralism What does Peter Berger mean by the statement: “I’ve described globalization as a gigantic transformation from destiny to choice.” What are the implications of this transition?

Given our discussion the past two days, what are some problems with defining religion?

How do we know we’re talking about the same thing?