www.scientology-washingtondc.org
I have chosen Scientology as my American faith group for this weeks blog task, mainly as it is the most recent of faith groups and perhaps the one I know the least about, plus it is fast becoming a contemporary faith within the United States which is highly criticised and controversial.
Scientology was first created by L.Ron Hubbard in 1952 and he incorporated Scientology as a religion in New Jersey in 1953. The main teachings within Scientology are that people are known as immortal beings that may have forgotten what their true nature is.
The website for this religion that I have chosen is for the church of Scientology for Washington DC. The website starts. With sections that go into detail as to what Scientology is by detailing that it is a recognised religion that "offers tools anyone can use to become happier and more able as a person and to improve conditions in life for himself and others". In this section of the website you are also given some information on the meaning of the word 'Scientology' and more of its beliefs along with why it is a religion as it meets the 3 criterion that religious scholars use when examining religions. These are - the beliefe is some Ultimate Reality i.e. Supreme Being, Religious practices directed towards understanding and a community of believers who join together in the pursuit of the ultimate reality.
There is also the chance to view its basic principles and beliefs in a video or text format.
Other parts of the website advise the reader of L.Ron Hubbard who is the creator of the religion and details his philosophy and the details of his Dianetics techniques which is the modern science of mental health. Along with this you are able to search for Scientology churches, materials that you are able to purchase and how to "get started" with Scientology as a religion.
I feel that this religion is more of a self help belief as it is a complete lifestyle change from personal well being, thinking clearly, how to ease unhappiness, stress, anxiety and depression, how to improve and maintain a successful marriage plus being able to acknowledge integrity, honest, right and wrong and generally improve life.
Monday, 12 March 2012
Sunday, 11 March 2012
Catholicism and the US
http://www.bostoncatholic.org/
Quotes taken from: http://www.webcitation.org
Haven't been feeling well,
I think the Catholic church is an interesting one in the US. The united states was set up fundamentally as very anti Catholic:
"Anti-Catholicism was official government policy for the English who settled the colonies along the Atlantic seaboard.
Most English colonies had official established churches; none of which were Catholic. In fact, some English colonies had anti-Catholic laws and anti-Catholicism was rampant"
The United States of America were set up on the principles that they wouldn't be governed by a Prince. Whether it be the King of England/United Kingdom or the Pope in rome. The US was at first rampantly anti Catholics.
Yet however: With more than 68.5 million registered members, it is the largest single religious denomination in the United States, comprising about 22 percent of the population. "According to a new 2011 study by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University, "The US Catholic population is currently 77.7 million." The United States has the fourth largest Catholic population in the world, after Brazil, Mexico, and the Philippines.
Because of the separation of church and state There has been a great growth in the number of Catholics, mainly from Irish background. They are concentrated around the Boston area, Louisiana (French influence), Florida (Spain) and in the Hispanic population. This means as a single church they are the most powerful in America, making their voice one of the strongest. Though protestant would probably be more "American". Catholicism is a major force, and very effective on American politics and social structure.
Quotes taken from: http://www.webcitation.org
Haven't been feeling well,
I think the Catholic church is an interesting one in the US. The united states was set up fundamentally as very anti Catholic:
"Anti-Catholicism was official government policy for the English who settled the colonies along the Atlantic seaboard.
Most English colonies had official established churches; none of which were Catholic. In fact, some English colonies had anti-Catholic laws and anti-Catholicism was rampant"
The United States of America were set up on the principles that they wouldn't be governed by a Prince. Whether it be the King of England/United Kingdom or the Pope in rome. The US was at first rampantly anti Catholics.
Yet however: With more than 68.5 million registered members, it is the largest single religious denomination in the United States, comprising about 22 percent of the population. "According to a new 2011 study by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University, "The US Catholic population is currently 77.7 million." The United States has the fourth largest Catholic population in the world, after Brazil, Mexico, and the Philippines.
Because of the separation of church and state There has been a great growth in the number of Catholics, mainly from Irish background. They are concentrated around the Boston area, Louisiana (French influence), Florida (Spain) and in the Hispanic population. This means as a single church they are the most powerful in America, making their voice one of the strongest. Though protestant would probably be more "American". Catholicism is a major force, and very effective on American politics and social structure.
http://www.religioustolerance.org/statbelief.htm
Religious Tolerence is a primarily Christian denomination website which I chose to look at as I was unlike any other religious organisatio I have seen before. It takes religious believes and takes them and uses them for their good and moral message to others no matter what background or religious orientation they come from. It states that even though they base themselves a Christian they have got memebers who are Atheist, Agnostic, Wiccan, Buddist and so on.
They dont believe in descrimination against anybody and make a point of saying that they feel everyone is entitled to a voice and all should be treated as equals. This therefore relates to American society as it shows the organisatio is pro Affirmative Action. They talk about the importance of every body as being equals whether that be sexual orientation, gender, race or religion etc. This therefore separates themselves from other religious denominations i have come across as it is evident in the Christian church that homosexuality is not accepted.They do define themselves however as being a democratic group, which makes sense considering their liberal views on topics which are somtimes frown upon by the republican party. They also believe that the governement should not control religion or religious groups and not promote one over another. This therefore suggests that they are not anti American government as such but they are against government control and feel they can survive without it.
Unlike other religious groups or denominations i have seen this group accnowledges the negative and unreliable aspects of religion. Higlighting that they understand the doubts that people have and aims to try to explain and work through peoples questions. They acknowledge that prayer can be an 'unsuccesfull' and 'unreliable' way of communicationg with God and how the concept with good vs evil within religion can be confusing. This shows a different side to American society through religion in my opinion. Americans can sometimes be accused of having on rose tinted glasses when it comes to religion, believing in the bible to literally and chosing not to acknowledge the realities of life vs religion, making them almost apear as if they are unrealistic and not down to earth. This group however acknowledges, accepts and talks about that, in my opinion therefore making the group more personable and relatable as eith other relions/groups it can almost feel as if you have to buy into somthing that you dont 100% agree with or respect.
Religious Tolerence is a primarily Christian denomination website which I chose to look at as I was unlike any other religious organisatio I have seen before. It takes religious believes and takes them and uses them for their good and moral message to others no matter what background or religious orientation they come from. It states that even though they base themselves a Christian they have got memebers who are Atheist, Agnostic, Wiccan, Buddist and so on.
They dont believe in descrimination against anybody and make a point of saying that they feel everyone is entitled to a voice and all should be treated as equals. This therefore relates to American society as it shows the organisatio is pro Affirmative Action. They talk about the importance of every body as being equals whether that be sexual orientation, gender, race or religion etc. This therefore separates themselves from other religious denominations i have come across as it is evident in the Christian church that homosexuality is not accepted.They do define themselves however as being a democratic group, which makes sense considering their liberal views on topics which are somtimes frown upon by the republican party. They also believe that the governement should not control religion or religious groups and not promote one over another. This therefore suggests that they are not anti American government as such but they are against government control and feel they can survive without it.
Unlike other religious groups or denominations i have seen this group accnowledges the negative and unreliable aspects of religion. Higlighting that they understand the doubts that people have and aims to try to explain and work through peoples questions. They acknowledge that prayer can be an 'unsuccesfull' and 'unreliable' way of communicationg with God and how the concept with good vs evil within religion can be confusing. This shows a different side to American society through religion in my opinion. Americans can sometimes be accused of having on rose tinted glasses when it comes to religion, believing in the bible to literally and chosing not to acknowledge the realities of life vs religion, making them almost apear as if they are unrealistic and not down to earth. This group however acknowledges, accepts and talks about that, in my opinion therefore making the group more personable and relatable as eith other relions/groups it can almost feel as if you have to buy into somthing that you dont 100% agree with or respect.
Christian Science
I have to start by saying Christian Science is not and has nothing to do with Scientology! And this is something that the group put across quite strongly. Christian Science however is love. It is based on the bible and "God's goodness."
The group was founded in 1879 by a woman called Mary Baker Eddy who discovered what she thought to be the "Science of the Christianity" that was taught by Jesus. Following this discovery she devoted her life to teaching, preaching and healing. She also wrote books about her teachings so that others could join the lifestyle she lived. Today there are members in 130 countries and democratically run churches in 75 countries. From these numbers it is seemingly popular religion, even though I will admit, before now I had never heard of it!
Christian Science is often confused with Scientology as I mentioned before but this is not the only type of religious practice that people confuse it with, religions such as new age movements and Eastern religions are also common confusions. This is due to its spiritual nature. However Christian Science is not based solely on positive thinking or positive energy as many of the above are. Christian Science states that "It is never God's will for anyone to suffer, be sick or die. Instead it shows how God is entirely good" here it obvious that the presence of God is important in this religion.
A particular area of the religion that I wanted to focus on was the relationship that the religion has with medicine and illness. The group place particular focus on prayer as a form of healing as it is a direct connection with God, who is the only person that can make you healthy again. The website has it's own section entitled "Relationship with Western Medicine," here the indication that prayer, overall should be the main option regarding healthcare for Christian Scientists. Although, the website does state that members are allowed to choose the healthcare plan that they feel is right from them, there is a strong indication that mainstream healthcare is not preferred. I found this quite interesting especially in connection to the United States where healthcare is expensive and without insurance is impossible to pay out for, for those on an average and even above average income. As we saw in Nickel and Dimed health insurance for those working at Wal-Mart was a vital part of their income and in some of the other jobs Ehrenreich did the employees could not afford to get sick at all. Christian Science seems to be a way out of this mainstream, capitalist system, especially for those on a low income. The group allows these people to feel as if something is being done about their problems without the worry of money.
Much like many other religions, Christian Science holds a Church service on a Sunday which includes prayer, hymns and sermons. They also have a Wednesday service but this is not seen as important to attend as the Sunday service. The group has a youth club, Sunday school and public talks and lectures that members can also attend. From this I feel that there is a strong sense of community like that of most religions and that everyone is welcome.
Christian Science is an interesting religion with its main focus on positive thinking, love and progression. I feel that this parallels with American ideas and identity. Often Americans think about the future, they pride themselves on being a nation that looks forward and not back which is what Christian Science seemingly do. They look for new ways to heal the sick without having to use mainstream healthcare. Positive thinking is another link between this religious group and American identity itself. Much like progression, positive thinking is something that defines America, for example Obama's 2008 campaign speech revolved around "Yes we can." This is something exclusive to the United States and likewise can be seen within the Christian Church through the idea that with God's love you can be healthy. Lastly I would like to note one more parallel between American identity and Christian Science. On the dollar bill the words "In God we trust" are printed, Christian Science is all about trusting in God and the belief that through prayer God will heal you.
The Holiness Snake Handlers Official Site
http://holiness-snake-handlers.webs.com/
The Holiness Snake Handlers are a sect who reside predominantly in the deep South, their belief is that The King James Bible is the true word of God and that Jesus is God, growing up in a heavily dominated Church of England area beliefs such as theirs differ from the ones conveyed to me throughout my own childhood, although what I read next seemed rather obscure in its entirety. Their belief is that they must handle snakes and drink strychnine a poisonous substance in order to release The Holy Ghost. There have been few fatalities within this though theirs is a religious practice which is dangerous nonetheless. Analysts have said that that snake bites are high within their community though they feel this is right and a kind of rite of passage so when bitten their bodies are able to narrowly escape death due to their strong belief, you must also bear in mind that they do not believe in receiving medical attention once these injuries are received.
The site itself was very emphatic towards the religion and its beliefs, obviously it wasn’t able to find time to outline the fact that joining their sect could end in a fatality, and they preferred to convey to the world that they are in no way associated with Hinduism or interestingly the stricter Snake Handling groups which exist elsewhere. The first statements they make in the introductory page other than the latter is that they respect the fact that others who worship God are welcome to do so in their own way the deeper you get into reading this introduction they seem to condemn certain sects by name and pastor which I found rather ignorant as this completely alleviates any mediated attempt to classify themselves as an un-confrontational group.
There was little else to look at within the site as they wished to access my private information by making me a member in order for me to access their photos and videos that would help me to learn more about the group. Though their rights page seemed to be rather extreme they exclaimed that for not allowing the ban on snake handling to be lifted America could in fact be compared to communist China all written in capitals then going on to say how only a police state would jeopardise a belief system such as theirs. Personally I feel each to their own and after watching the documentary which they featured in in last week’s seminar they seemed one of the happiest groups I have seen on the whole. Though I am not a fan of their commercial extremity the groups people do not feel the need to portray their happiness to the masses as they are content with what they have, they say religion and its sense of community is where people should seek solace, the snake handlers seem to have achieved this.
The Holiness Snake Handlers are a sect who reside predominantly in the deep South, their belief is that The King James Bible is the true word of God and that Jesus is God, growing up in a heavily dominated Church of England area beliefs such as theirs differ from the ones conveyed to me throughout my own childhood, although what I read next seemed rather obscure in its entirety. Their belief is that they must handle snakes and drink strychnine a poisonous substance in order to release The Holy Ghost. There have been few fatalities within this though theirs is a religious practice which is dangerous nonetheless. Analysts have said that that snake bites are high within their community though they feel this is right and a kind of rite of passage so when bitten their bodies are able to narrowly escape death due to their strong belief, you must also bear in mind that they do not believe in receiving medical attention once these injuries are received.
The site itself was very emphatic towards the religion and its beliefs, obviously it wasn’t able to find time to outline the fact that joining their sect could end in a fatality, and they preferred to convey to the world that they are in no way associated with Hinduism or interestingly the stricter Snake Handling groups which exist elsewhere. The first statements they make in the introductory page other than the latter is that they respect the fact that others who worship God are welcome to do so in their own way the deeper you get into reading this introduction they seem to condemn certain sects by name and pastor which I found rather ignorant as this completely alleviates any mediated attempt to classify themselves as an un-confrontational group.
There was little else to look at within the site as they wished to access my private information by making me a member in order for me to access their photos and videos that would help me to learn more about the group. Though their rights page seemed to be rather extreme they exclaimed that for not allowing the ban on snake handling to be lifted America could in fact be compared to communist China all written in capitals then going on to say how only a police state would jeopardise a belief system such as theirs. Personally I feel each to their own and after watching the documentary which they featured in in last week’s seminar they seemed one of the happiest groups I have seen on the whole. Though I am not a fan of their commercial extremity the groups people do not feel the need to portray their happiness to the masses as they are content with what they have, they say religion and its sense of community is where people should seek solace, the snake handlers seem to have achieved this.
Faithful America
http://www.faithfulamerica.org/about/
The above website is for an online community of people who claim they are motivated by faith to take action on what they consider the 'pressing moral issues of our time.' They comprise many different religions, but share a commitment to upholding the common good within America and restoring communities to their former glory. Their core aims are as follows:
- end poverty and promote economic security for all
- promote peace and restore America's commitment to human rights and diplomacy
- prevent the catastrophic effects of climate change
- counter hate speech and misinformation in the media pertaining to people of faith
- work for welcoming communities where immigrants and people of all faiths are welcome
They propose achieving this by mobilising forces to speak out in public areas, in what they call the building of 'a powerful grassroots movement.' They also believe this is a critical phase in history where people’s actions or inaction have a permanent global consequence, and their faith demands they act now.
In terms of American identity, their general aims and the reasons behind them are very reminiscent of the early European settlers; they want diplomacy back, and they want everybody to be equal. They also heavily depend on their religious morality for guidance, claiming they 'are all in this together,' in a very patriotic stance.
Further investigation of their website reveals that in order to access 'action alerts' for the latest speeches, you must become a member. The sign up procedure is simple, and they even have a Facebook page dedicated to spreading their messages - this is a very modern approach given their old values, but it ensures they maintain a high membership in this changing society.
The website also offers the option of donating money to their cause (although I think they might be slightly overly optimistic of the amounts expected given that one of the pre-typed donations is $4600), and has a page dedicated to providing proof of the actions they have taken part in. They appear to be a very active organisation which would appeal to the younger generation eager for change.
Their main motto is 'Make a difference' and I think this speaks to all generations of Americans, who seek to find their own American Dream, and ultimately make a difference somewhere. Unsurprisingly, the articles on the website are heavily motivated by Christianity and very much concerned with the Occupy Wall Street movement - something they fully support.
Wednesday, 7 March 2012
Homosexual Identity in America - That's So Gay.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?gl=GB&hl=en-GB&client=mv-google&v=Q7JTXrl0TVo
I have chosen a comical spoof video from "That's Gay". The reason why I have chosen this is that it has actual news clips with pastors and politicians comparing gay marriage to peaodophillia and beastiality with referenve to 'Gay Penguins' which is putting a funny twist on how America sensationalises homosexuality as being so wrong and un-natural.
The video also goes on to ridicule the 'sactity of marriage' with clips from reality talk shows of couples who are admitting or have been caught cheating on one another which is showing that the institution of marriage is not as respected by everyone so what exactly are those opposing same sex marriages, protecting?
Another section of the video clip touches on the subject of children within same sex marriages and as to whether they would understand the situation. This is then ridiculed by the presenter saying thst children do not understand alot such as spelling,m numbers and time zomes, indicating that this could be something that the child would be able to understand in due course.
I feel that in regards to gay and lesbian identity, this video shows that in contemporary USA, people are just afraid of the idea of relationships and marriage being redefined as historically, people have believed that it is an existential threat to the development of America and threatens family values.
I have chosen a comical spoof video from "That's Gay". The reason why I have chosen this is that it has actual news clips with pastors and politicians comparing gay marriage to peaodophillia and beastiality with referenve to 'Gay Penguins' which is putting a funny twist on how America sensationalises homosexuality as being so wrong and un-natural.
The video also goes on to ridicule the 'sactity of marriage' with clips from reality talk shows of couples who are admitting or have been caught cheating on one another which is showing that the institution of marriage is not as respected by everyone so what exactly are those opposing same sex marriages, protecting?
Another section of the video clip touches on the subject of children within same sex marriages and as to whether they would understand the situation. This is then ridiculed by the presenter saying thst children do not understand alot such as spelling,m numbers and time zomes, indicating that this could be something that the child would be able to understand in due course.
I feel that in regards to gay and lesbian identity, this video shows that in contemporary USA, people are just afraid of the idea of relationships and marriage being redefined as historically, people have believed that it is an existential threat to the development of America and threatens family values.
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