Blog 3

                Culture is a broad term which can mean any number of things.  Various definitions have been made of culture.  Clifford Geertz’s definition was that culture is a system of symbols that allow people to communicate.  Geertz believed culture was inherited through socialization through parents, peers, and institutions.  Culture consists of values, norms, beliefs, behaviors, ideology, and language according to Geertz.  There is another definition of culture that builds on Geertz’s.  This new definition argues that culture is also material, and not only symbolic.  Things such as technology, books, computers, clothes and other things were a part of the culture.  Both these definitions of culture hold language as the center of culture, because it is language that culture is passed from generation to generation.  Language allows people to express abstract ideas such as values and belief.  The text argues that semiotic systems as well as language are a universal part of culture.  However, I believe that language is just a type of Semiotic system.  Language is a set of words that have a meaning based on context and rules for which these words should be put together.  Each word is a symbol for an idea, so therefore Language is a form of a semiotic system.

                At the heart of a culture is its meaning system.  Now the substantive definition for religion defines it to be a meaning system, and therefore a culture.  Cultures vary over time and space, as do religions.  Subcultures exist within the main culture, just as religious ideas vary within a religion.  These similarities in both definition and function allow religions to be viewed as cultures.  Most cultures are ethnocentric, meaning that their culture is viewed as the best, and that other cultures are inferior.  When two cultures with these views meet, which is often, a culture clash occurs.  Similarly religions usually view their religion as the correct one, and others as heresy.  A culture clash between two religions can result in religious wars, or sometimes the creation of a new religion.  Some religions, such as Baha’i, blend the values and beliefs of various religions together to create a new religion.  Religions vary on the level of “us and them” they create.  I believe that the level of ethnocentrism is influenced by how systematic and comprehensive the meaning systems of religions are.  If a religion has a comprehensive meaning system, then someone in that religion would have values that would be almost identical to others in the group regardless of personal experience.  This would cause strong bonds between those within the group.  These strong group ties would cause a greater portion of a group to agree with another group’s values and beliefs.  These strong group ties and exclusion of outsiders would cause ethnocentrism to arise in that group.  However, a religion that is not as systematic would have a greater variance of values and therefore be more accepting to outsiders.  In general, New Age religions are less comprehensive and systematic.  One reason this could be, is that these religions are interested in gaining converts.  Since they are not as systematic these groups are less ethnocentric and would be more welcoming to outsiders to join the group.

                Viewing religion as a meaning system incorporates many things under the umbrella of religion, such as nationalism, sports teams, cliques, and others.  In my opinion nationalism is a religion.  It is the belief that your country is superior to others and gives significance to the symbols of the country.  In America, there are six myths that were identified by Richard Hughes.  Today these myths are accepted as universal truths by most Americans.  These myths came about at different times and from different sources, but they have been interwoven into American nationalism.  America is not the only nation with “myths” in its culture.  For example, the New Zealand national anthem emphasizes god and Christianity, its superiority over other nations, its unity, its technological and economic progress, and other things.  Nationalism is a meaning system that contributes to the culture of a country.  Whether it is a religion or not is somewhat unclear.

                In chapter 5 of the online text, the struggle of new religions to keep their converts was discussed.    The online text states that “the more different a group converted to is from the old the more difficult is can be to keep the convert in the new religious fold.”  This is because the converts with a greater difference in values and beliefs is less likely to accept the values and beliefs of the new group.  These groups try to use a variety of strategies to retain their converts.  All of these methods are attempting to quickly socialize these converts, and teach them the views of the group.  These new groups want their converts to share their views as quickly as they can.  Some groups have activities as a group to strengthen a sense of.  Other groups use geographical isolation and communal living arrangements, which also creates a sense of community. The improved sense of community strengthens bonds between the members of the church and allows for a greater flow of ideas.  People still leave these groups, but it is harder when the group is more totalistic.  For example, Amish wishing to leave find it very hard to leave, because they have lived their whole lives within the Amish community.

                In America’s Alternative Religions chapters 9 through 15 various Christian and Jewish movements were discussed. The first being Roman Catholicism, and the various reactions to the reforms known as aggiornamento, which modernized the church.  One group known as the Traditionalist wished to get rid of these reforms, and disobeyed the Vatican to do so.  Conservatives were another group that opposed reforms, but stayed firmly within the church to get the changes the wanted.  The last group was the liberals.  They implanted and supported the reforms.  This situation is an example of how a religion deals with a changing environment, and how and why sects are formed.  Hasidism was discussed next.  Hasidism grew out of Judaism in the eighteenth century as a response to the Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment.  Hasidism was seen as alien by most Jews, especially liberal Jews.  Hasids separate their culture from the rest of the world by having distinct symbols, clothes, and rituals.  The next group discussed was the British Israelites.  They believe they are the descendant from the lost tribes of Israel.  Their belief eventually led to the American belief that America is the chosen nation of God.  The Children of God is a group that tries to rapidly socialize its members through the use of communal living environments.  The Branch Davidians also used communal living environments to rapidly socialize its members, and to isolate themselves.  The Holy Order of MANS, HOM, is an example of how a religious movement deals with changing times.  After the death of its first leader, controversy forced HOM to change to continue to grow.  HOM became more conservative, and emphasized the nuclear family over communal living.  This conservative shift was also caused by the conservative shift of the mainstream.  HOM is an example of a religion that was forced to change because of the environment it was in.

                Meaning systems are everywhere.  Religions, sports teams, cultures, and nationalism all have meaning systems associated with them.  Socialization is the process through which we learn these meaning systems.  Meaning systems allow things to represent ideas.  They give meaning to words, and actions.  Without meaning systems social interactions would not be possible, and therefore meaning systems are a necessary component of society.

Modernizatoin and Religion

                Modernization is the term used to describe the spread of new technologies.  These new technologies can affect society in many ways.  These social changes from new technology can cause social movements, such as new religions, to arise as a reaction to these changes.  Two religions which illustrate different ways that Modernization influences a religion were discussed in chapter three of The Sociology of Religion: A Very Concise Introduction.  These two religions are Mormonism and Baha’i.  Mormonism started for a variety of reasons, one of which was the social anxiety caused by new social mobility.  With the construction of the Erie Canal, economic opportunities appeared in upstate New York.  Many people were unsure of their future, and turned to Mormonism.  Mormonism was authoritative in structure, and gave people less uncertainty in their lives.  The Baha’i faith believes the world is on the threshold of a new era of peace and unity.  Their prophet, Baha’u’llah claimed that all of the world’s people were one.  He urged interracial marriage, and all living things should be revered.  The Baha’i faith embraces the changes to society, and is attempting to accelerate them.  These groups’ beliefs and beginnings are rooted in reactions to Modernization.

                Mormonism was founded by Joseph Smith in Upstate New York.  Many sociologists have theorized why Mormonism was started, and why people converted to it.  Many theories involve changes taking place in Upstate New York at the time of Mormonism’s birth.  These changes include the construction of the Erie Canal, increased social mobility, and urbanization.  The Erie Canal allowed for easier transportation of people and goods between Western New York and the rest of the world.  The Erie Canal led to more economic opportunities that allowed the people of Western New York to move up socially.  Many people moved to cities for more economic opportunities.  Although many people saw these new ways to move up in society as good, others were apprehensive about these changes to society.  Mormonism offered an authoritative system which appealed to many people that were anxious about their future because of these social changes.  Mormonism reacted to modernization by shielding itself by the social changes that it created.

                Baha’i is religion that directly came out of Islam.  However, it embraces all religions and all ethnicities.  Baha’i embraces globalization, which is caused by modernization.  Baha’i treats people equally, and uses its followers to expand.  Each follower of Baha’i is required to bring one new follower to Baha’i a year.  This method of recruiting new members is quite different from Islam and Christianity’s methods.  Baha’i places this job on the each individual and not on trained priests.  This emphasis on the individual comes from modernization.  With modernization came the emphasis on the individual, as more people had access to education.  Baha’i places the job of expansion on all of its followers, instead of a few trained members.  This difference is the result of modernization causing an emphasis on the individual.

                Modernization is a powerful force, and its effects are vast.  Religion is one area which modernization has made a visible impact.  Many religions have changed their ideology to modernize, and others have formed in both opposition and support.  One of the causes for Mormonism’s birth and growth was social anxiety caused by the construction of the Erie Canal.  Baha’i places greater importance on the individual than other religions.  This emphasis on the individual is an idea that was born from modernization.  Modernization is changing society, but people cannot agree if it is for the better or worse.

The Roman Catholic Church and Traditionalism

In the 1960s, the Roman Catholic Church implemented reforms, known as the aggiornamento ("updating"). According to the essay "Roman Catholic Traditionalism," by William Dinges, these reforms were meant to bring both vitality and adaptation to the church. However, these reforms brought controversy and fragmentation. Three general groups that emerged from these reforms and later reforms are liberals, conservatives and traditionalists. Liberals, or progressives, are the term used by conservatives and traditionalists to identify those which instituted and support the reforms. Conservatives are made up of groups which both precede and were formed after the reforms. In general conservatives oppose the reforms and try to repeal them and transform the church to how it was before the aggiornamento. Traditionalists share conservatives opposition to these reforms; however, traditionalists do not follow the hierarchy of the catholic church. These groups differences show how different ideologies within a single religion interact.

Traditionalism is a movement that started by the aggiornamento implemented by the Second Vatican Council. The movement has been highly fragmented, and attempts to centralize it have failed. Traditionalists have also not had much growth due to their focus on dealing with internal issues. Although individual churches have stirred up controversy, the movement on a whole has not caused any significant controversy. The movement has not allied it with any other right wing movements, and I do not believe that this will be likely. The movement shares some ideology with the right wing Protestant movement. However, I do not believe that the movement will join with this movement because this movement started by believing that the reformers instituted brought in "Protestant" beliefs to the Catholic Church. Also an alliance with the right wing Protestant movement would not help the traditionalist movement, because this alliance would cause a schism with the church hierarchy. The traditionalists do not want their own church, but to change the existing Roman Catholic Church. This is shown by the mainstream traditionalist movement condemning those who no longer support the pope. Although the traditionalist no longer follows the church hierarchy, the movement is trying to force change in the church, and not leave it.

Conservatives share the views of traditionalists, that the reforms are bad for the church, but Conservatives believe the best way to undo these reforms are to remain a part of the church.  Conservatives have formed intuitions within the church to further their gains.  Despite a shared belief with traditionalists that the reforms made by the Second Vatican Council were bad, Conservatives are critical of traditionalists.  Conservatives criticize traditionalists for leaving the church.  This opposition is rooted in Catholics hatred of Protestants from leaving the Catholic church.  The difference between Conservatives and Traditionalists is their mind set.  Conservatives see the reforms as unsavory and needing to be changed, but they respect the authority of the church to accept the reforms for the time being.  Traditionalists think that these reforms cannot be changed by practical means and branched off in protest.  Traditionalist see the situation as more dire which means more serious actions.

Liberals have reacted in different ways to traditionalists.  Some Bishops have taken actions to limit the growth of traditionalism by punishing traditionalist priests and not publicly debating traditionalist priests or apologists.  These measures have been taken mostly by American Bishops.  The Vatican has been more sympathetic to traditionalists.

Pope John Paul II allowed the old liturgy to be performed, one of the traditionalist demands, pending permission by the local bishop.  The Vatican implemented these changes in order to prevent a schism.  These changes illustrate that conservative and traditionalist efforts have made some gains, but traditionalists remain separated and conservatives are still upset with the reforms.

These three groups demonstrate how a religion could possibly change over time.  The reforms were made by the liberals in an attempt to modernize the church and attract new members.  Both Conservatives and Traditionalists want the church to return to its old ways.  The traditionalist approach of separating as a result of reforms shows how a new religion could branch out from an existing one.  Traditionalists have not officially separated due to Catholics hatred of schisms stemming back to the Protestant Reformation.  Conservatives demonstrate how a group can attempt to reverse reforms from the inside.  All of these groups have made an impact on modern Catholicism and show how an age old religion can still change.