Relationship Between Power And Religion

Section 1: B. What is the relationship between religion and power? Describe five distinct ways that religions exercise power in culture. We live in what has been described as a ‘secular age’. What are at least three of the changes that this ‘secular age’ has made on how religions express power and/or expect to express power? Describe three distinct criteria by which we can evaluate a contemporary religion’s exercises or expressions of power.

Power and religion takes many forms of interpretation and understanding, a consistent meaning is needed to understand the discussion between the relationship of religion and power under a conventional scrutiny. In this essay, power is “the capacity or ability to direct or influence the behavior of others

or the course of events,” (Power, n.d.) following the Oxford’s definition. Individuals or group of people who are in a position to impose a certain interest, ideologies, attitude, structure, etc. exercise it. In today’s modern society, in the Western culture mostly, power and wealth is closely associated. People, individually, in groups or as a nation, were engaged in activities that maximize power relations in accordance with religion and culture. On the other hand, defining religion is rather challenging, it has profound characteristics and biases. For the sake of consistency and the most fitting definition for the purpose of this paper, Oxford defines religion as “a pursuit or interest to which someone ascribes supreme importance." (Religion, n.d.) Religion creates and deals tension between distinction, “identity and difference, man and woman, permissible and non-permissible,” virtuous and sinful. (Benavides & Daly, 1989, p. 5) “Power is a basic religious category. The universe is filled with many kinds of powers that require humans to do different sorts of things in order to get along in life and prosper.” (Kessler, p. 60) The religions’ power to influence actions and thought process is what makes it phenomenal.
Ways that religion exercise power in culture is through ideologies, namely; superstition, sanctification, religious symbols, social status, and social relations. “Superstition is a custom or act based on such belief, especially in connection with religion.” Superstition. (n.d.) The origins of superstition can be dated way back to the ancient Greeks, and superstition had different meanings in different cultures influenced by religion. The notion of superstition is originally about “God fearing” beliefs. In the modern-English speaking society, not everyone believes in God or a Supernatural being, but the power of religion to influence a culture or community made certain superstitions ingrained in everyone, even the non religious. Some examples are, people unconsciously “God bless” a sneeze, people knock on wood for assurance, people believe its bad luck to walk under a ladder even if “the superstition, interpreting it in light of Christ's death… because a ladder had rested against the crucifix, it became a symbol of wickedness, betrayal, and death. Walking under a ladder courted misfortune.” (Adjumain, para. 12) These superstitions are driven by religious power in our culture. Sanctification and religious symbols is another way of how religions exercise power in culture. Sanctification is about achieving “holiness,” set free from sin, becoming more “God-like” and attaining spiritual maturity. Not everyone may want to be more like God, but people from a different culture was influenced by different religion to act righteously—differentiate what is right from what is wrong. In addition, religious symbols such as, totem “an animal that embodies the spiritual essence of a group. Animal symbols (e.g. California is the bear state), and athletic teams (e.g. the Tigers).” (Kessler, p. 62-63) Symbols that represent a nation, structure, tribe, beliefs and religions in different cultures. “Totems stand for opposing social categories and regulate such important social affairs as marriage between clans, inheritance, warfare, and ritual obligations.” (Kessler, p. 63) The beliefs of deities, Gods and Goddesses in the form of statues were also considered a powerful exercise of religion in cultures. There are specific holidays that are intended to celebrate these religious symbols and they are supported and respected in different cultures, nation, and society—i.e. Christmas, a Christian holiday symbolizing the birth of Christ and Ramadan, an Islam holiday to commemorate the revelations of their Qu’ran ‘holy bible’. Moreover, social status and social relations are influence by power in a culture. “Only the elite of any society have time to speculate… religion on the street is different from religion in the books.” (Kessler, p. 60) Social condition, status and relations influence how religious people think and act in a society. Behavior, decision-making, issues and interests are influenced by religious beliefs and powered by communication.
We live in an ever-changing society; today we live in what is described as ‘Secular Age.’ Secular age is the decline of religion, “religious change from traditional public patterns in the direction of increasing privatization... [and the] threat to traditional religious power.” (Kessler, p. 343) Secularization was introduced in hopes to reduce social conflicts between religions. “Conflict theory, postulates that conflict arises cases of power differences… religions are in competition.” (Kessler, p. 342-343) Religions are in competition for power, influence, and wealth. New religions are emerging, and the more religion there is, the more competition there will be—conflict and fight of power between and within groups. Secularism makes belief in religion harder; ideas of subjectivity, social relations, and material prosperity are the changes in this ‘Secular Age’ that made religion more difficult to express power. A deeper understanding of self and subjectivity are changes under the condition of secularism. In this age, values, beliefs, and knowledge have grown and are influenced in so many ways—art, science, nature, and are not limited to religious domains. For this reason, social relations are greater than religious engagements and relatively about the affairs of the world and ordinary affirmations of life (e.g. political stance, social issues). “The rise of secularism transformed the immersion of the material world” and capitalism. (Calhoun, p. 461) “Training in a disciplined, sober, industrious life helped to shape both the instrumental character of modern secular society and its productivity,” new approach to morality, values, within the secular culture and quite distinct to religious power. (Calhoun, p. 460) People often adept change in the world and accepts it as a fixed reality.
Lived experience in the contemporary religion is associated with prevalent reality. Not essentially about the experiences around Gods or supernatural being, but more of a physical and emotional actuality. Contemporary religions live in ‘certainty’ and most if not all exercise self-sufficient power of reason; power of fulfillment from within, the nature or something physical rather than transcendent; and the modern moral order. (Taylor, 2007) Numerous influences in the new/re-emerging religions/spirituality are materialism, scientific progress, and growth in ecological awareness, adversity and disenchantment of the traditional practices. Traditional religious practices and expressions of power are antiquated in this contemporary lifestyle and broad society. Expressing contemporary power by reasoning, a capability to liberate from accustomed beliefs, something “developed if it is through our own, often heroic action” that is self-sufficient leading to fulfillment. (Taylor, p. 9) The power of fulfillment from within and comparable to the meaning of life. “Sources of fulfillment that are not transcendent, they are found in Nature, in our own inner depths, or in both.” (Taylor, p. 9) Furthermore, the modern moral order of “the highest moral capacity and inspiration, without reference to God, but within the range of purely intra-human powers.” (Taylor, p. 245) Moral concerns that is clearly inspired by traditional beliefs however, aspiration for equality, universal justice, benevolence, respect, and non-maleficence are personal aspects that in ‘secular age’ does not demand the notion of ‘traditional religious beliefs’ and can be solely driven by human motivation.
Section 2: C. What is a worldview? How do worldviews function? Describe the relationship between worldviews and religion. Describe the relationship between worldviews and culture. Describe the relationship between worldviews and politics. Explain the role of symbols and rituals in the construction and transmission of worldviews.
Worldview is the mental perspective of reality; a theory of the world.

Everyone has his or her own worldview, a different ideas on how one lives and interprets the world, influenced by a set of beliefs that makes sense to oneself. Worldviews are affected by many factors such as; values, religion, science, culture, life experiences, social status, characteristics, acquired knowledge etc. According to Clifford Geertz, “worldview is a historically transmitted pattern of meanings embodied in symbolic forms by means of which men [sic] communicate, perpetuate, and develop their knowledge about and attitudes towards life.” (Emmanuel, slide 7) It is also a cluster of beliefs, which one holds most significant in life, whether about God, humanity, the cosmos, or

meta-ethics.
Worldview functions in a set of frameworks that “supplies a comprehensive view of what a person considers real, true, rational, good, valuable, and beautiful.” (Samples, para. 3) This framework assists oneself to answer issues about human concerns, the thoughts about the meaning and purpose of life, and to justify actions and behaviors. A comprehensive awareness of the reality, nature, origin of Man, purpose of life, spirituality/religion, history, morals, etc. are interrelated aspects that influence how one thinks, perceives, know and do. Guided by the mentioned aspects, everybody has a different worldview and ways to articulate such belief. A worldview function is simply a paradigm of reality in an adaptive, changing society that gives people a sense of satisfaction.
People have different ways of looking at the world. A worldview validates beliefs and values; people whom are associated with a certain religion have their own beliefs that influence how they see the world. People in general seek answers to life’s biggest questions such as, is there a ‘Supernatural Being’ that controls human life and how is the world made. Human beings are in constant search for the ‘unknowns’ and religion sets a belief that determine what is worth living for. Religion provides a theological concept as a basis for these human needs and influence the outlook about the world. Religious beliefs are a vital element that determines one’s concept of truth that weighs heavily in determination of individual worldview.
Culture is the set of beliefs, values, and traditions socially transmitted down generations. So much of what we know about culture is already made up, the beliefs of how the world works. The overall aspects of religion, politics, science, economics, language, and customs define worldview as a culture. Culture is being conscious about religion, political and economic factors, and cultural worldview is a peculiar way of viewing the world as a reality perceived and experienced shared under such considerations surrounding the society. Culture can change overtime and including how worldview perceived reality through diffusion, acculturation, new knowledge and discoveries.
Differences in worldviews can create or escalate conflict. Our belief about the world brings out a moral lens where we understand what is right from wrong, good and bad that differs from one another. What links politics and worldview is how activities, laws and affairs are established in the government with considerations of conflicting beliefs and values among the people of the nation that would lead to a truce. The conservatives, democratic, liberalist, independent, and republicans etc. are examples of different premises for political worldviews. For example, the liberals support the welfare and education of children and support labors, while conservatives stand against abortion and opposed to social welfare from government funds. Ideology varies moral, motives and goals that individualize worldview about politics.
The world has variety of theories, customs, philosophies, lifestyle, culture and religion.

These are the concepts where individuals or groups of people make up their worldview. Understanding of worldview can analyze the differences between people. Through symbols, rituals and myths shared by individual or group of people, we can learn and understand their beliefs. Symbols are popular in religion and how they emphasize doctrine. For example, Christianity uses a cross to symbolize their belief in Jesus Christ as their God. Symbols can also represent a nation, structure, tribe, and culture; it conveys a particular meaning that impacts how the world is interpreted. Different ‘totems’, an animal symbol are used to represent a culture. Also, specific religions and cultures have distinct rituals that express their belief. It is a cherished ceremony, repeated in the same way, it can be habitual, and everyone with the shared belief does it, and implies a particular teaching or behavior. An example of a ritual would be a baptism associated with Catholics and Christianity, and Ramadan—a fasting for a period of time associated with Islam teachings. Symbols and rituals are influential because of its association with a specific belief, religion or culture. For this reason, symbols and rituals are successful in conveying a notion particularly about

worldviews.