http://www.albawaba.com/slideshow/islamic-state-isis-593675
This link is from the Arabic news website, al Bawaba English, and is titled "ISIS ISIS baby! 13 Facts About the Baddest Boys of Religious Fundamentalism." This article does a great job explaining how ISIS has gotten to where they are and how they continue to be a stronghold from Islamic extremism in the middle east. It gives you a historical background and information on how they became what they are today.
Because of the power they have, as we studied in our Sociology class, the fear that they are using to get people to follow them is continuing to work. Not only are there threats to those who do not follow the group, they also have created videos, statements, and have killed a lot of people in many villages and towns across Iraq and Syria. The group continues to spread, the violence continues to worsen, and the people become increasingly fearful of what ISIS is capable of. I have to say though, if you're looking to threaten, scare, and force a nation to follow you, they're doing a pretty good job of it. It may be short lived, I'm sure they won't be able to go on forever creating terror, but I can say that they have already done a lot of damage and I don't think they're stopping anytime soon (until the rest of the world steps in.)
Saturday, August 9, 2014
Image Heavy 2: Religious Fundamentalism
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| https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKy_8pU1_wXoWnpp_GtKfGeIZFAG6jEL0EMj4Q9TDgiZt3SONAftuBv3eQw0f5DLqqF5Ug7_ngDPsoiORETcrnjMVRwxyMI2ZJRSj0ODgU5dVtMMcrE3sxjT6gKLKdzwdWGSrRbi5Ts7d6/s1600/monicks-religion.jpeg Religion has always been an excuse for war, or holy wars, and it doesn't look like it's going to change anytime soon. From the Sociological perspective, groups will continue to try to make sense of of life and gather to support a specific religion. As they do this and create their own set of values, morals, and rules, they will begin to clash with other groups and mixed with other circumstances (like oil), "holy wars" will continue to erupt. |
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| http://www.proprofs.com/quiz-school/upload/yuiupload/1012996923.jpg An example of how the religions are broken up across the world. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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| http://occupywallst.org/forum/religious-fundamentalists-the-same-all-over/ Religion and religious fundamentalism is used across the world to help people get what they want. As you can see in the picture above, they are comparing the Taliban making women cover themselves along with a weapon as power, to state legislature in the United States using religion to make several woman-specific rules and regulations. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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| http://cdn.freedomoutpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/040813_1726_MilitaryInd1.jpg Examples of religious extremism across the world with groups, where they are, and what religion they are affiliated with. |
Friday, August 8, 2014
Reflection 2: Islamic Fundamentalism and Religious Studies
When I attended my first university, I started out as a religious studies major because it offset my mathematics major (which was easy, but boring). I love learning about all of the different religions, and as I progressed in the program, I was able to choose my higher level classes and direct my focus on the areas that most interested me. One of my first religious studies teachers was a huge mentor and I enjoyed all of his stories of travels, experiences, and wisdom, so I ended up choosing most of the classes that he taught. This particular teacher was focused on Islamic Fundamentalism, knew Arabic, and spent a lot of time teaching and studying in the Middle East when he wasn't at the university teaching us. My last year, I ended up taking a religious fundamentalism class, which covered fundamentalism across Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.
I was so intrigued by the differences in religions, but did not even think about the fact that each religion usually has a fundamentalist sect of some sort, if not many. Christianity was well known to us and we flew through those discussions and lessons, but Judaism and Islam was incredibly fascinating to study. We looked at what the most strict, religious, and/or extremist did on a daily basis in the name of their religion, and how that affected the people, the area surrounded that group, and the religion itself. I do not want to go into the actually class subject matter, but instead focus on how different it was to look at religion in that light. At a time of war and extremism, it was fascinating to see why each group acted and reacted to different situations, the reasoning to each action, and how they formed those thoughts. It gave incredible insight into the world of war and the middle east, terrorism, extremism, fundamentalism, and how each religion can be changed, adapted, and followed. I would highly recommend this to anyone who has the least bit of interest. I know it helped me a lot, and I think it would help most people, especially in the United States, to see things from a different perspective.
I was so intrigued by the differences in religions, but did not even think about the fact that each religion usually has a fundamentalist sect of some sort, if not many. Christianity was well known to us and we flew through those discussions and lessons, but Judaism and Islam was incredibly fascinating to study. We looked at what the most strict, religious, and/or extremist did on a daily basis in the name of their religion, and how that affected the people, the area surrounded that group, and the religion itself. I do not want to go into the actually class subject matter, but instead focus on how different it was to look at religion in that light. At a time of war and extremism, it was fascinating to see why each group acted and reacted to different situations, the reasoning to each action, and how they formed those thoughts. It gave incredible insight into the world of war and the middle east, terrorism, extremism, fundamentalism, and how each religion can be changed, adapted, and followed. I would highly recommend this to anyone who has the least bit of interest. I know it helped me a lot, and I think it would help most people, especially in the United States, to see things from a different perspective.
Thursday, August 7, 2014
Reflection 1: Friends, Family, and Personal Experiences in Religious Fundamentalism
I have personally seen religious fundamentalism at work in my own life, particularly in friends, family, and my own personal experience with those people. The first time that I encountered fundamentalist Christianity always comes to mind when I think of where this can go in religious groups around the world. Now, I will not be touching on any terrorism or Islamic fundamentalism around the world in this reflection, but will in the next reflection. This one will strictly be for Christian fundamentalism.
Sarah (name changed for this story) was one of my best friends throughout my childhood and teenage years. Both of our parents required us to go to church every weekend, and our families attended two different churches, so we would hang out around that schedule and abide by the rules of our households. Every now and then, when there was a sleepover, we'd attend one another's service if our parents allowed it, but usually it was her attending my Catholic service and me attending her children's ministries or teenager ministry programs while her mother attended regular service. One weekend, and I do not recall why, both Sarah and I attended church service with her mother instead of the separate program.
Now, her family was Christian, but they attended the non-denominational church in the town, which means that they can make it pretty much however they want to. I was used to Catholic churches remaining fairly the same across the board, but with her church, there was something incredibly different. As the service started with a live band and sing-a-long words on the screen, I looked around uncomfortable at all of the people raising their hands, closing their eyes, and singing the words to Christian songs that they have obviously sung a hundred times before. Nothing was familiar, nothing was like my Catholic church with hymns and sitting there quietly, and there was so much interaction that I had no idea what to do.
Sarah seemed to be comfortable, though she kept her hands to her sides and did not sing, so I continued to follow her lead. As the pastor ran up to the stage and started his sermon, we sat down and listened quietly. Again, it was uncomfortable and new, but I just kept quiet and treated it like a normal service that I was used to. As the pastor's sermon came to a close, I thought the service was over and we were almost out of there, but he instead called up the prayer warriors and anyone in need of prayer. This is where we get into the fundamentalist part of it. Sick, worried, frustrated, broken people slowly stood up from their seats around us in the crowd and walked to the front. As they came to end of the rows, prayer warriors were there to lead them across the front of the stage, down below, and starting surrounding each person.
The prayers started out quiet and slow, almost inaudible over the music. I looked at Sarah, who looked disinterested, then looked at her mother, who had her eyes closed, her hands raised, and seemed to be either singing to herself or mumbling prayers. As the people kneeled down, one after another, and the prayer warriors continued to pray over them, voices started to rise and get much louder. "Yes Lord", "heal him Lord", "lead her Jesus", and "Amen" began to fill the open room, the music seemed to be getting louder, and the people began to shake. One woman, who was in front of us with an older man who appeared to be suffering from a physical ailment, started screaming and shouting, her eyes closed and hands up, then she would kneel down and put her hands on this man's shoulder. I quickly looked around to see if anyone else felt alarmed or wanted to run out of there, but everyone seemed to be praying, watching, or acting like it's just another day of usual church. I sat there incredibly scared, incredibly lost, and the only thing I wanted to do was run, run, RUN.
The voices slowly got quieter, the people began to return to quieter prayers and small movements, and each person that needed extra prayers either stayed kneeling at the front or quietly returned to their seats with looks of relief and healing on their faces. Everyone remained quiet, watched, and as the pastor closed the service, each family popped up and started conversing with those around them, catching up, and talking life. I was in shock, I didn't say a word, and I just remember waiting until I could go home to tell my parents that I never want to go to their church again. I don't think I've ever been so grateful for the Catholic church. This was absolutely normal to those that attended this church, but from an outside perspective, it was terrifying and puzzling. I am incredibly grateful to have had an experience like this, to experience this kind of new thing and be able to feel like an outsider, but it still gives me a bit of fear and a drop to my stomach. To this day, I still wouldn't go back there and witness that again. One time was enough for me, but I hold nothing against Sarah for continuing to call that her home church.
Sarah (name changed for this story) was one of my best friends throughout my childhood and teenage years. Both of our parents required us to go to church every weekend, and our families attended two different churches, so we would hang out around that schedule and abide by the rules of our households. Every now and then, when there was a sleepover, we'd attend one another's service if our parents allowed it, but usually it was her attending my Catholic service and me attending her children's ministries or teenager ministry programs while her mother attended regular service. One weekend, and I do not recall why, both Sarah and I attended church service with her mother instead of the separate program.
Now, her family was Christian, but they attended the non-denominational church in the town, which means that they can make it pretty much however they want to. I was used to Catholic churches remaining fairly the same across the board, but with her church, there was something incredibly different. As the service started with a live band and sing-a-long words on the screen, I looked around uncomfortable at all of the people raising their hands, closing their eyes, and singing the words to Christian songs that they have obviously sung a hundred times before. Nothing was familiar, nothing was like my Catholic church with hymns and sitting there quietly, and there was so much interaction that I had no idea what to do.
Sarah seemed to be comfortable, though she kept her hands to her sides and did not sing, so I continued to follow her lead. As the pastor ran up to the stage and started his sermon, we sat down and listened quietly. Again, it was uncomfortable and new, but I just kept quiet and treated it like a normal service that I was used to. As the pastor's sermon came to a close, I thought the service was over and we were almost out of there, but he instead called up the prayer warriors and anyone in need of prayer. This is where we get into the fundamentalist part of it. Sick, worried, frustrated, broken people slowly stood up from their seats around us in the crowd and walked to the front. As they came to end of the rows, prayer warriors were there to lead them across the front of the stage, down below, and starting surrounding each person.
The prayers started out quiet and slow, almost inaudible over the music. I looked at Sarah, who looked disinterested, then looked at her mother, who had her eyes closed, her hands raised, and seemed to be either singing to herself or mumbling prayers. As the people kneeled down, one after another, and the prayer warriors continued to pray over them, voices started to rise and get much louder. "Yes Lord", "heal him Lord", "lead her Jesus", and "Amen" began to fill the open room, the music seemed to be getting louder, and the people began to shake. One woman, who was in front of us with an older man who appeared to be suffering from a physical ailment, started screaming and shouting, her eyes closed and hands up, then she would kneel down and put her hands on this man's shoulder. I quickly looked around to see if anyone else felt alarmed or wanted to run out of there, but everyone seemed to be praying, watching, or acting like it's just another day of usual church. I sat there incredibly scared, incredibly lost, and the only thing I wanted to do was run, run, RUN.
The voices slowly got quieter, the people began to return to quieter prayers and small movements, and each person that needed extra prayers either stayed kneeling at the front or quietly returned to their seats with looks of relief and healing on their faces. Everyone remained quiet, watched, and as the pastor closed the service, each family popped up and started conversing with those around them, catching up, and talking life. I was in shock, I didn't say a word, and I just remember waiting until I could go home to tell my parents that I never want to go to their church again. I don't think I've ever been so grateful for the Catholic church. This was absolutely normal to those that attended this church, but from an outside perspective, it was terrifying and puzzling. I am incredibly grateful to have had an experience like this, to experience this kind of new thing and be able to feel like an outsider, but it still gives me a bit of fear and a drop to my stomach. To this day, I still wouldn't go back there and witness that again. One time was enough for me, but I hold nothing against Sarah for continuing to call that her home church.
Monday, August 4, 2014
Reblog 2: "Religious Fundamentalism"
"Relgious Fundamentalism"
http://tmkersen.wordpress.com/sociology-of-religion/october-11-2010/
This blog is great to look at an overview of different fundamentalist religions as well as what can be classified as fundamentalism. This person blogged for a class, just like I am doing, and did a great job at giving an overview of the subject. Also, there is an attached video clip about the Scopes Trial in addition to many pictures and great sources linked to the blog. I like the George Orwell quotes that the write incorporates, and how that ties in with the sociological parts of religious fundamentalism. Just as the writer states, controlling the past and future times often had to do with religion and I can see how being able to control people can help things develop as well.
http://tmkersen.wordpress.com/sociology-of-religion/october-11-2010/
This blog is great to look at an overview of different fundamentalist religions as well as what can be classified as fundamentalism. This person blogged for a class, just like I am doing, and did a great job at giving an overview of the subject. Also, there is an attached video clip about the Scopes Trial in addition to many pictures and great sources linked to the blog. I like the George Orwell quotes that the write incorporates, and how that ties in with the sociological parts of religious fundamentalism. Just as the writer states, controlling the past and future times often had to do with religion and I can see how being able to control people can help things develop as well.
Sunday, August 3, 2014
Wildcard 1: Equality, Stereotypes, and Jonestown
Below are two articles from the website, http://jonestown.sdsu.edu, which have a different perspective on what came out of a religious fundamentalist group, the People's Temple, and mass suicide in Jonestown. These articles show the side of Jonestown that attracted people, and gives insight into the sociological aspect of escaping stereotypes and providing equality through the group.
Sex, Gender and Female Empowerment: Recovering a Positive Perspective on Jonestown: http://jonestown.sdsu.edu/?page_id=34238
In this thesis from a Williams College student, Jonestown is seen from the perspective of women's equality rather than the negative aspect of being a fundamentalist religious group. The student points out that although the media and researchers focus on the cult and ultimately suicidal outcome of the People's Temple, the initial ideas and workings of the group was focused on equality of the people. The student has very interesting takes on Jonestown and pulls from reliable sources. This is only the beginning of the thesis, so it would be very interesting to read the rest as well.
Looking Past Stereotypes: http://jonestown.sdsu.edu/?page_id=30774
Again, this article written by an anonymous former member of the People's Temple takes a more positive spin on the religious group. He points out that growing up in an area surrounded by stereotyping, racism, and hate, Jonestown offered acceptance and an escape. They did not know where Jonestown or the People's Temple would ultimately end up, but he does point out that the ideas of the People's Temple had no question as to why people would want to join. Especially looking at people that were suppressed, hated, and treated badly otherwise.
Sex, Gender and Female Empowerment: Recovering a Positive Perspective on Jonestown: http://jonestown.sdsu.edu/?page_id=34238
In this thesis from a Williams College student, Jonestown is seen from the perspective of women's equality rather than the negative aspect of being a fundamentalist religious group. The student points out that although the media and researchers focus on the cult and ultimately suicidal outcome of the People's Temple, the initial ideas and workings of the group was focused on equality of the people. The student has very interesting takes on Jonestown and pulls from reliable sources. This is only the beginning of the thesis, so it would be very interesting to read the rest as well.
Looking Past Stereotypes: http://jonestown.sdsu.edu/?page_id=30774
Again, this article written by an anonymous former member of the People's Temple takes a more positive spin on the religious group. He points out that growing up in an area surrounded by stereotyping, racism, and hate, Jonestown offered acceptance and an escape. They did not know where Jonestown or the People's Temple would ultimately end up, but he does point out that the ideas of the People's Temple had no question as to why people would want to join. Especially looking at people that were suppressed, hated, and treated badly otherwise.
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
Reblog 1: "Was I Spiritually Abused?"
"Was I Spiritually Abused?", Heather, January 30, 2013
http://becomingworldly.wordpress.com/2013/01/30/was-i-spiritually-abused/
Heather's blog describes what she went through as a child in what appears to be a fundamentalism Christian family. She describes her brother getting "cured" from the flu by the laying of hands, threats of getting away from her religion and it resulting in hell, specific clothing and makeup rules, being homeschooled and removed from the outside world, and her struggle and fear of the way she was to live. It is incredibly interesting to see a personal account of someone who experienced fundamentalist thoughts and actions imposed on her in the name of religion, and where she is now.
In the subject of sociology, Heather describes how this fundamentalist Christianity shaped and formed her thoughts, and also how it affected how she viewed and interacted with those outside of her group. She describes seeing certain people as wrong in their beliefs, and she was dismissive to those who did not agree with what she was taught to believe.
http://becomingworldly.wordpress.com/2013/01/30/was-i-spiritually-abused/
Heather's blog describes what she went through as a child in what appears to be a fundamentalism Christian family. She describes her brother getting "cured" from the flu by the laying of hands, threats of getting away from her religion and it resulting in hell, specific clothing and makeup rules, being homeschooled and removed from the outside world, and her struggle and fear of the way she was to live. It is incredibly interesting to see a personal account of someone who experienced fundamentalist thoughts and actions imposed on her in the name of religion, and where she is now.
In the subject of sociology, Heather describes how this fundamentalist Christianity shaped and formed her thoughts, and also how it affected how she viewed and interacted with those outside of her group. She describes seeing certain people as wrong in their beliefs, and she was dismissive to those who did not agree with what she was taught to believe.
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