Religion Expression of Identity Essay Paper.
Religion plays a significant role in a person’s identity and moral development. Religion refers to a set of organized beliefs and rituals that center on a supernatural being. As a result, a member of a given group shares similar beliefs and rituals. The concept of religion with an aspect of culture has widely been explored primarily in the context of globalization. Religion Expression of Identity Essay Paper.A significant amount of knowledge on the relationship between religion and globalization exists out there with many scholars demonstrating their varied approaches to the impact of globalization on religion and culture. The world is increasingly becoming globalized and it essential to explore some of its effects on religion.
ORDER A CUSTOM-WRITTEN, PLAGIARISM-FREE PAPER HERE
Globalization impacts culture and traditions in a positive were but to a more significant extent, its negative implications are beyond measure. This view is widely explored by Kwame Anthony Appiah in his 2006 article, The Case for Contamination. Religion Expression of Identity Essay Paper. The author uses the word ‘contamination’ in the article’s title to assert that religion is a dangerous anti-cosmopolitanism and a dynamic cultural artifice. The primary argument of the article is that although globalization is good for cultural diversity, it tends to threaten the cultural norms and traditions of some countries. In his view, Appiah believes that the western way of life, values, and modernity, in general, is contaminating traditional values of inferior societies. This argument is derived from the view of purists or preservationists who make their case out of the fear that while globalization continues to spread its wings, traditions will gradually disappear and the western ideologies will occupy its place. Religion Expression of Identity Essay Paper.
Appiah illustrates both the positive and negative implications of globalization in different societies. He explores the case of to represent both sides of globalization to most aspects of life. However, for cultural traditions and way of life, he tends to lean more on unraveling how dominant cultures consume and get rid of inferior cultures. In practice, the depth of some cultures has been compromised by the western ideologies with some elements of traditional elements such as language, dressing, and food among others overridden by modernity. The ability of Appiah’s approach to demonstrating the negative consequences of globalization concerning globalization serves as the strength of his argument. Religion Expression of Identity Essay Paper.The weakness of the approach is that it tends to have a biased argument on the relationship between culture and globalization.
The identity of a person is deeply rooted in the internalization of religious commitment. According to Steward H. Oppong (15), the commitment to a person’s religion influences the development of their individuality and identity. The intensity of involvement in a particular religion and its practices, period covered in the faith, and demography are some of the factors contributing to identity formation. Religious people identify themselves through a diverse range of ways. Naming is one of them; naming is an element of religious identity, and that explains why Christian, Islamic, Buddhist, and Hindu names exist. When people introduce themselves as Mohammed, it becomes automatic that they belong to Islam. Religion Expression of Identity Essay Paper.
ORDER A CUSTOM-WRITTEN, PLAGIARISM-FREE PAPER HERE
Religion is a form of identification as individuals identify themselves using their religious denomination. Often, after mentioning their names, it is possible to identify the religious affiliation of an individual. This is a form of affiliating oneself with their respective religions, and it is evident across multiple religious’ groups. The dressing is also a form of expression of religious identity, and this is common among religions such as Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam. According to Abby Day (102), it is not only individuals who express religious identities but groups as a whole. A religious group may collectively reveal their identity in a variety of ways including spiritual practices such as rituals, traditions, marriages, and more. Religion Expression of Identity Essay Paper.
A significant amount of empirical studies point to the need for and potential for better understanding between religious groups. One of the benefits of facilitating understanding between religions is its ability to resolve the underlying hatred between some faiths. The reality in the actual world is that an enormous amount of tension exists between certain religious groups with Islam and Christianity being a prime example of such hatreds. So often, members of such groups publicly hurl insults at each other due to religious extremism with Muslims being mostly on the receiving end of the hate. Religion Expression of Identity Essay Paper.At many instances, Islam has been associated with terrorism; conversely, due to extremist beliefs, some Muslims are responsible for various violent activities stemming from hatred of rival religious groups and their practices. Understanding also leads to acceptance and accommodation of opinions and views from other religions. When we understand, that is, perceive the world from the perspective of other religions, it becomes impossible to hate.
The primary objective of any dialogue is to gain knowledge; that is, to change and grow in terms of understanding and perception and act according to the gained experience. Having learned this, in my view, some of the best practices for tackling inter-religious dialogues include honesty and sincerity, no preconceptions, willingness to learn and allow healthy criticism. Honesty and openness are essential in any discussion and utmost valuable on sensitive issues such as religion. Religion Expression of Identity Essay Paper.What this means is the participants must express their minor and major thrusts and changes in views during and after a discussion (Riitaoja and Dervin 85). Preconceptions are the source of disagreement and unproductive dialogues, which mean participants, must come with an attitude that eliminates unnecessary conflicts during a discussion. Participants should have a healthy level of criticism towards their own sets of beliefs and traditions. The incapacity to welcome external criticism may imply that a person knows everything about their religion and every bit of what they know is right or factual (Riitaoja and Dervin 85). This kind of attitude means there is no need for dialogue since the participant has all the answers thus not welcoming a sense of learning. On the same account of learning, a person must be willing to acquire new knowledge and gain perspective of his own and other religions. Religion Expression of Identity Essay Paper.
The world is comprised of a diverse range of distinct cultures and traditions spread all across the planet. Every day we learn about new cultures and sometimes emulate ways of life of certain groups of people. Globalization has made it possible for values, norms, beliefs, practices, and more to travel all across the world. Unlike centuries ago, the world of today is characterized by intertwined and various forms of culture and traditions mingling and sometimes merging to produce a unique culture. Contrary to popular belief that globalization has been a hindrance to culture diversity; it has and continues to enhance diversity in terms of culture, religion, and tradition. Religion Expression of Identity Essay Paper.
ORDER A CUSTOM-WRITTEN, PLAGIARISM-FREE PAPER HERE
Works Cited
Appiah, Kwame. “The Case for Contamination.” Nytimes.Com, 2006, https://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/01/magazine/the-case-for-contamination.html. Accessed 15 Apr 2019. Religion Expression of Identity Essay Paper.
Day, Abby. Religion and the individual: Belief, practice, identity. Routledge, 2016.
Oppong, Steward Harrison. “Religion and identity.” American International Journal of Contemporary Research 3.6 (2013): 10-16.
Riitaoja, Anna-Leena, and Fred Dervin. “Interreligious dialogue in schools: beyond asymmetry and categorization?.” Language and Intercultural Communication 14.1 (2014): 76-90. Religion Expression of Identity Essay Paper.