Global Religion and Politics
Fall Semester 2014
In my first semester at the University of Cincinnati, I decided to take an Honors Seminar that focused on global religions and the relationship that these religions have with each other and with politics, both locally and around the globe. The class was interesting to me because of the past experience I had in high school with both politics and religious interfaith work. As a debater who focused on new political and economic issues every month for several years, I had a pretty extensive familiarity with political issues, especially several ones tied to religion. I also did a lot of interfaith work while serving on the Executive Board of my mosque's youth group, so when I saw that a class that examined both issues was offered, I jumped at the chance of taking it.
The class itself was very well-structured, with a great deal of focus on discussion and immersive experiential learning through visits to local religious institutions. Each week, different themes like non-religious spirituality, hidden communities, defining religion, the role of women in religion, oppression, and creation were explored and discussed in class based on selected readings. For some of these discussions, further preparation in the form of a formal reflection paper was required to enhance the discussion. The class also incorporated several visits to religious institutions around the area and reflections on these visits and the learning that was gained on them. Finally, an in-depth research paper and presentation (included below) capped off the class. For my project, I decided to examine the role of religious politicization and how this led to the polarization in Yugoslavia that caused the Yugoslav Civil War of the early 1990s. Overall, the class taught me a great deal about the interplay between religion and politics. I learned that religion and politics are always intertwined and that often an action that may seem religiously motivated may in fact have a great deal of political incentivization as well. In addition, I grew to understand the important driving force that religion can be in cultural change and to acknowledge the changing religious landscape in our nation and throughout the world. As I have learned over the course of the semester, religion plays a major role in many of the world's most contentious issues, and it is important to keep this in mind when trying to develop solutions for these problems.
I feel that the course was extremely beneficial and engaging, and one that I would definitely recommend to any classmates if it was offered again. I definitely benefited from the discussions in the classroom, especially because of the diversity in opinion and perspective that was represented in the interdisciplinary course. I also am appreciative of the ability to get a first-hand look into the practices, beliefs, and customs of religions with which I previously had a greater degree of unfamiliarity. Actually being immersed and guided through some of the important places in these religions gave me a better perspective on how adherents think. Moving forward, I hope to extend my learning in the classroom to practical application in my life. Now fully aware of the important role that religion plays in daily life, I will make sure to consider its role in international developments and policy construction about which I read in the future. I will also utilize my experience in the classroom as a stepping stone towards further exploration of politics and cultural issues. While I will have somewhat limited availability in the classroom to take more politics classes or seminars, I am excited to get involved with UC's Student Government and organizations like the Muslim Student Association that facilitate religious discussions and interfaith work. With these co-curricular activities, I hope to engage myself in developing my interest in the area of politics and religion even if I cannot do so inside of the classroom.
Below are my final paper and presentation on the in-depth research project which I conducted and some of the reflections on visits to religious institutions that I engaged in for the class. The paper and presentation were important because they served as a culminating experience that brought my entire learning from the course into a final independent project in which I could explore themes important to me. The pre-visit and post-visit questions for visiting religious institutions helped facilitate my learning by encouraging me to actively reflect on my experiences. This is turn allowed me to take a more in-depth look at how exposure to new religions and religious places of worship or significance expanded my cultural and religious sensitivity.
The class itself was very well-structured, with a great deal of focus on discussion and immersive experiential learning through visits to local religious institutions. Each week, different themes like non-religious spirituality, hidden communities, defining religion, the role of women in religion, oppression, and creation were explored and discussed in class based on selected readings. For some of these discussions, further preparation in the form of a formal reflection paper was required to enhance the discussion. The class also incorporated several visits to religious institutions around the area and reflections on these visits and the learning that was gained on them. Finally, an in-depth research paper and presentation (included below) capped off the class. For my project, I decided to examine the role of religious politicization and how this led to the polarization in Yugoslavia that caused the Yugoslav Civil War of the early 1990s. Overall, the class taught me a great deal about the interplay between religion and politics. I learned that religion and politics are always intertwined and that often an action that may seem religiously motivated may in fact have a great deal of political incentivization as well. In addition, I grew to understand the important driving force that religion can be in cultural change and to acknowledge the changing religious landscape in our nation and throughout the world. As I have learned over the course of the semester, religion plays a major role in many of the world's most contentious issues, and it is important to keep this in mind when trying to develop solutions for these problems.
I feel that the course was extremely beneficial and engaging, and one that I would definitely recommend to any classmates if it was offered again. I definitely benefited from the discussions in the classroom, especially because of the diversity in opinion and perspective that was represented in the interdisciplinary course. I also am appreciative of the ability to get a first-hand look into the practices, beliefs, and customs of religions with which I previously had a greater degree of unfamiliarity. Actually being immersed and guided through some of the important places in these religions gave me a better perspective on how adherents think. Moving forward, I hope to extend my learning in the classroom to practical application in my life. Now fully aware of the important role that religion plays in daily life, I will make sure to consider its role in international developments and policy construction about which I read in the future. I will also utilize my experience in the classroom as a stepping stone towards further exploration of politics and cultural issues. While I will have somewhat limited availability in the classroom to take more politics classes or seminars, I am excited to get involved with UC's Student Government and organizations like the Muslim Student Association that facilitate religious discussions and interfaith work. With these co-curricular activities, I hope to engage myself in developing my interest in the area of politics and religion even if I cannot do so inside of the classroom.
Below are my final paper and presentation on the in-depth research project which I conducted and some of the reflections on visits to religious institutions that I engaged in for the class. The paper and presentation were important because they served as a culminating experience that brought my entire learning from the course into a final independent project in which I could explore themes important to me. The pre-visit and post-visit questions for visiting religious institutions helped facilitate my learning by encouraging me to actively reflect on my experiences. This is turn allowed me to take a more in-depth look at how exposure to new religions and religious places of worship or significance expanded my cultural and religious sensitivity.
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Visits to Religious Institutions
Skirball Museum at Hebrew Union CollegePre-Visit Questions:
1. As one of the oldest collections of Jewish cultural artifacts in America, how does the Skirball Museum work with researchers to track the history of Jewish Americans throughout the course of our nation's history? 2. What kind of interdisciplinary classes focused on understanding different world religions or world religions in a more general sense--like Beyond Belief--are offered at Hebrew Union College? Does the presence or lacking of such classes create an environment that is welcome to interfaith cooperation? 3. What lessons from the Holocaust can be cross-applied to some of the conflicts going on around the world today? What parallels can be drawn between the Holocaust and other similar terrible genocides in Rwanda, Yugoslavia, and elsewhere? What can be done to stop further acts of ethnic cleansing from taking place? |
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Post-Visit Reflections:
Visiting the Skirball Museum on the campus of Hebrew Union College was a wonderful experience that gave me a great deal of insight into a branch of Judaism with which I was previously unfamiliar. I was particularly intrigued by the fact that the Reform Judaism movement was started right here in Cincinnati, and that it so closely intertwines Jewish religious values with an American cultural tradition. I definitely empathize with those who practice Reform Judaism in their belief that it is important to connect to God, and that sometimes that necessitates a change in the language in which sermons are read. In that sense, I find the ideas that make up the crux of this branch of Judaism to be very translatable to other faiths and to other spiritual people who are trying to have a better connection with God and look to make their relationship with Him simpler in order to do so. One of the questions I had before the visit related to the museum’s partnership with scholars as one of the oldest collections of Jewish American artefacts. I found out that the museum does indeed work closely with many scholars both inside and outside of the Jewish faith to track the history of Jews in America. Because Reform Judaism is so centrally tied to the United States, the museum paid a special focus to American Jews and all of their contributions in a special exhibit as well. Another one of my questions focused on inter-disciplinary classes that examine different world religions—much like our Beyond Belief class—and their availability at HUC. I found that while classes that are exactly the same as our seminar may not be offered, many of the lessons that we learn in class are also examined at HUC. In general, I developed a sense that the Reform movement was very receptive to open-mindedness and progressive thinking—some of the first female Rabbis came out of Reform schools—and so despite not having specific global religion classes, members of the movement are very eager to learn more about other religions. My final question pertained to the Holocaust Memorial that I was expecting at the museum. I was pleasantly surprised, however, that the Holocaust-related section of the museum was relatively minimal, and that instead the main focus was on the triumphs of Jewish culture. I think it is important that the museum chose to focus on the successes and survival of Jewish culture through all of the displacement and persecution that Jews have faced in order to promote a positive atmosphere. In my opinion, it is wonderful that HUC decided to highlight what makes the Jewish faith great rather than emphasize the horrors enacted by those who tried to tear it down.
Visiting the Skirball Museum on the campus of Hebrew Union College was a wonderful experience that gave me a great deal of insight into a branch of Judaism with which I was previously unfamiliar. I was particularly intrigued by the fact that the Reform Judaism movement was started right here in Cincinnati, and that it so closely intertwines Jewish religious values with an American cultural tradition. I definitely empathize with those who practice Reform Judaism in their belief that it is important to connect to God, and that sometimes that necessitates a change in the language in which sermons are read. In that sense, I find the ideas that make up the crux of this branch of Judaism to be very translatable to other faiths and to other spiritual people who are trying to have a better connection with God and look to make their relationship with Him simpler in order to do so. One of the questions I had before the visit related to the museum’s partnership with scholars as one of the oldest collections of Jewish American artefacts. I found out that the museum does indeed work closely with many scholars both inside and outside of the Jewish faith to track the history of Jews in America. Because Reform Judaism is so centrally tied to the United States, the museum paid a special focus to American Jews and all of their contributions in a special exhibit as well. Another one of my questions focused on inter-disciplinary classes that examine different world religions—much like our Beyond Belief class—and their availability at HUC. I found that while classes that are exactly the same as our seminar may not be offered, many of the lessons that we learn in class are also examined at HUC. In general, I developed a sense that the Reform movement was very receptive to open-mindedness and progressive thinking—some of the first female Rabbis came out of Reform schools—and so despite not having specific global religion classes, members of the movement are very eager to learn more about other religions. My final question pertained to the Holocaust Memorial that I was expecting at the museum. I was pleasantly surprised, however, that the Holocaust-related section of the museum was relatively minimal, and that instead the main focus was on the triumphs of Jewish culture. I think it is important that the museum chose to focus on the successes and survival of Jewish culture through all of the displacement and persecution that Jews have faced in order to promote a positive atmosphere. In my opinion, it is wonderful that HUC decided to highlight what makes the Jewish faith great rather than emphasize the horrors enacted by those who tried to tear it down.
Clifton Mosque /
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Post-Visit Reflections:
While I have been to the Clifton Mosque many times previously to engage in religious worship, going to the mosque with a class of people from many different religions was an interesting and insightful experience. I was able to gain an understanding of the mosque through the eyes of a non-Muslim and by doing so learned some new pieces of information about the perceptions of Islam outside the Muslim community. By listening to the Imam speak specifically about political issues in Islam, I gained insight about the interplay between political forces and the Islamic religion throughout history and how this interplay translates into many of the problems experienced in the Muslim World today. It was also very interesting to me that the Imam compared his own stance in Islam to that of Reform Jews in Judaism, which tied directly into our previous visit to Hebrew Union College. It is fascinating that both religious institutions are so liberal in their practice of faith, and I wonder whether this is specifically due to the proximity of these institutions to the major urban center of Cincinnati. This is definitely a topic to consider in the future.
One of the questions I had before visiting the Clifton Mosque related to the diverse Muslim community that the mosque services. I found out from the visit that the mosque is very receptive to all different groups of Muslims and is working towards being even more welcoming to different people. One example of a way in which the mosque welcomes people of different cultures is through cultural nights that are meant to celebrate the traditions, cuisine, and society of distinct Muslim countries that have populations in Clifton. The Imam also mentioned that in the near future, a Shia speaker would be coming to give a talk at the primarily Sunni mosque, which showcases the kind of welcoming attitude that the mosque has towards people from a wide range of backgrounds. I was also interested in learning more about the expansion of the Muslim community and projected growth of this community going forward. I had read before the visit that the mosque had changed locations several times throughout its history in order to compensate for new Muslims coming into the area, so I wondered whether such a change would be necessary once again any time in the near future. Based on the Imam’s estimates, this new location very well might be necessary in the next few years. In the four months since he first began as the Imam, Friday Prayer attendance has more than doubled, and over 1,000 Muslims prayed the Eid Prayer during the religious holiday. The Muslim community is definitely growing quickly in the Clifton area, and it is possible that a larger facility will soon have to be built to accommodate all of the new Muslims that call Cincinnati home. Finally, I was interested in the Mosque’s role in the general community and how they partnered with other groups to achieve change in the community. While I knew that the mosque had close ties to the Muslim Student Association on campus and the Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati in West Chester, OH, I was unaware of the scope of interfaith work that was being done on the part of the mosque. I found out that the mosque works closely with other religious groups to target specific societal issues like educational disparities in the public school system and that the current Imam was actually hired in part because of his interfaith work. I think this commitment to interfaith work and social justice is just another strong aspect of a wonderful religious institution that has a lot to offer to the community.
While I have been to the Clifton Mosque many times previously to engage in religious worship, going to the mosque with a class of people from many different religions was an interesting and insightful experience. I was able to gain an understanding of the mosque through the eyes of a non-Muslim and by doing so learned some new pieces of information about the perceptions of Islam outside the Muslim community. By listening to the Imam speak specifically about political issues in Islam, I gained insight about the interplay between political forces and the Islamic religion throughout history and how this interplay translates into many of the problems experienced in the Muslim World today. It was also very interesting to me that the Imam compared his own stance in Islam to that of Reform Jews in Judaism, which tied directly into our previous visit to Hebrew Union College. It is fascinating that both religious institutions are so liberal in their practice of faith, and I wonder whether this is specifically due to the proximity of these institutions to the major urban center of Cincinnati. This is definitely a topic to consider in the future.
One of the questions I had before visiting the Clifton Mosque related to the diverse Muslim community that the mosque services. I found out from the visit that the mosque is very receptive to all different groups of Muslims and is working towards being even more welcoming to different people. One example of a way in which the mosque welcomes people of different cultures is through cultural nights that are meant to celebrate the traditions, cuisine, and society of distinct Muslim countries that have populations in Clifton. The Imam also mentioned that in the near future, a Shia speaker would be coming to give a talk at the primarily Sunni mosque, which showcases the kind of welcoming attitude that the mosque has towards people from a wide range of backgrounds. I was also interested in learning more about the expansion of the Muslim community and projected growth of this community going forward. I had read before the visit that the mosque had changed locations several times throughout its history in order to compensate for new Muslims coming into the area, so I wondered whether such a change would be necessary once again any time in the near future. Based on the Imam’s estimates, this new location very well might be necessary in the next few years. In the four months since he first began as the Imam, Friday Prayer attendance has more than doubled, and over 1,000 Muslims prayed the Eid Prayer during the religious holiday. The Muslim community is definitely growing quickly in the Clifton area, and it is possible that a larger facility will soon have to be built to accommodate all of the new Muslims that call Cincinnati home. Finally, I was interested in the Mosque’s role in the general community and how they partnered with other groups to achieve change in the community. While I knew that the mosque had close ties to the Muslim Student Association on campus and the Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati in West Chester, OH, I was unaware of the scope of interfaith work that was being done on the part of the mosque. I found out that the mosque works closely with other religious groups to target specific societal issues like educational disparities in the public school system and that the current Imam was actually hired in part because of his interfaith work. I think this commitment to interfaith work and social justice is just another strong aspect of a wonderful religious institution that has a lot to offer to the community.
Creation MuseumPre-Visit Questions:
1. What is the Creation Museum's perspective on the Catholic Church of the Middle Ages and its intolerance towards science? 2. How does the Creation Museum respond to those who claim that the account of Creation described in the Bible differs from the scientific theory of how the world came to be? 3. Why is it important for there to be a physical museum that showcases the Christian events of Creation as opposed to simply having the stories that are told in the Bible? Post-Visit Reflections:
Going to the Creation Museum was a very eye-opening experience. Before visiting, I had some familiarity with the concept on which the museum was built, and had previously heard the debate between Ken Ham and Bill Nye that I thought might have given me some background as to what the museum was like. Actually visiting the museum, though, was an entirely different experience that blew away my expectations. The quality of presentation that the museum offered—rich with animatronics and lifelike scenes of the story of Creation—was excellent and engaging. I was able to stay invested in the story and in learning more about the Creationist perspective throughout my entire time at the museum. This engaging, physical aspect of the museum is the major reason for its creation in the first place, according to museum staff. Before visiting the Creation Museum, I was interested to know why there was a need for a museum that described Creation if all of the events of the story were already laid out in the Bible. The staff explained to me that a physical showcase of the Creation story was important because it gave people something concrete onto which they could latch. People identify with stories that they can imagine, so the Creation Museum put the Biblical story on display in a way that helps people better envision the events that took place. This was especially important for providing the physical evidence that Creationists use to support their views on the beginnings of the universe. With tangible evidence in the form of museum exhibits, a more concrete defense of their position is possible than if they had to solely rely on theoretical or hypothetical examples. A physical museum was also important, in their eyes, because it served as a meeting place for like-minded people to gather, hold discussions, and hear from experts in the field. This brought together a community which could educate each other and future generations. |
Before my visit, I was also interested in learning more about the perspective that the Creation Museum holds with respect to the Catholic Church of the Middle Ages and its intolerance toward science. I again asked museum staff what they thought of this issue. From their point of view, the reason that the old Catholic Church was so against scientific discovery is because of the concept of dualism in Catholicism. This idea holds that things which are earthly and things which are holy are completely separate, and should never be mixed. This mindset, in the eyes of the staff members, is the reason that the Church was so against exploring the world scientifically. They explained that Protestant Christians were more open to the idea that “God is the Creator of all things” and therefore were more likely to try and understand His creations in a scientific way. It is also worth noting that in today’s Catholic Church, several popes have come out in favor of evolution, describing it as a mechanism that God can use to control His world. If I had to address one flaw that I found in the museum, it would be a lack of a similar kind of acknowledgement. I feel that the hardline stance that the museum took detracted from its overall message of the truth behind the Creation story. Before visiting, I was interested in knowing how Creationists defended the Biblical account of Creation against modern scientists. After seeing some of the exhibits at the museum, I realized that this was done in a manner which wasn’t as convincing as I thought it might be. By assuring guests that dinosaurs and humans lived at the same time, the museum lost some of its credibility in my eyes. At the same time, exhibits in the museum did bring up several important points, like the multiple creative liberties and interpretations which could be taken with designing a physical animal out of the Lucy skeleton. Overall, I feel that if the museum had a stance that was not as strongly against evolution, the Bing Bang, and other scientific theories, but rather used them to explain the Biblical Creation story like many other modern Christians do, it would have presented a much more convincing argument.
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