Welcome to Comparative Religions

I'm excited that you've chosen to take Honors Comparative Religions this year. We'll use this blog throughout the year to discuss various issues and topics related to Comparative Religions. I'm looking forward to reading your comments.

For your 1st blog post, please respond to the following prompt: If you could have dinner with 3 religious figures, past or present, famous, infamous or little-known, who would you choose and why? Your response should include a brief description for each of your choices.

When Religion and Government Intersect

Please respond to the following prompt:

Do you believe the government should regulate certain religious practices? Use the following example, snake-handling, as a springboard for explaining your opinion. This practice is one of several cases where the government has placed restrictions on a faith-based practice in some way. Use the YouTube video and NPR segment to support your opinion. Be sure to cite specific examples from the links in giving your opinion.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUdc5h10zTo

http://www.npr.org/2013/10/04/226838383/snake-handling-preachers-open-up-about-takin-up-serpents

TIbet: Conflict on the Rooftop of the World

1. Use the link below to read about the self-immolations of Tibetans. Describe your general reaction to the article. What stood out to you? Were you surprised by anything you read? Did the article shed light on some of the reasons some Tibetans have chosen to self-immolate?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-25195006

Use the link below for the BBC website on Tension in Tibet to find out more about the current conflict. Based upon your knowledge of the situation in Tibet, please respond to the following prompts:

2. What do you think might account for the different opinions held by the Dalai Lama and the younger generation of Tibetans regarding the relationship between China and Tibet and the future of Tibet?

3. How might the situation in Tibet be a model for understanding larger global issues in the early 21st century?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/asia_pacific/2008/tibet_tensions/default.stm

Use the link below to access an updated timeline from the BBC

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-16689779

Freedom of Expression, the "Clash of Cultures" and #MuslimRage

In response to the recent violence surrounding the "Innocence of Muslims" youtube trailer, Stanford professor Ruth Starkman recently wrote:  "Whatever the origins of the riots, they underscore the role of social media as a purveyor of provocation. Indifferently offering equal shares of grotesque bigotry, reasoned debate, enlightened humor and a mind-boggling variety of other responses, social media raise complex questions about freedom of speech in an increasingly global world." Consider Starkman's statements, as well as what you know about the film and its responses.  Please comment about 1 or more  of the following: Starkmen's post (see link below), international reactions and the "clash of cultures", potential responses or preventive measures for the future, or connections to similar situations at other times, such as the "Qur'an burning" Florida pastor. Your response should be at least 5-6 sentences in length and should directly reference at least one of the links below.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ruth-starkman/its-all-the-rage-the-inno_b_1906050.html

The New York times article linked below provide additional information about the protests
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/17/world/middleeast/muslims-rage-over-film-fueled-by-culture-divide.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all

Finally, this link details an interesting Twitter development related to the protests
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/09/17/161315765/muslim-rage-explodes-on-twitter-but-in-a-funny-way-yes-really

Leila ليلى@LSal92

Lost your kid Jihad at the airport. Can't yell for him.#MuslimRage

The Supreme Court Rules in Favor of the Westboro Baptist Church

The Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas has been called the "most hated church in America". The church first garnered national attention for picketing at the 1998 funeral of Matthew Shepherd, the Wyoming teen who was murdered because he was gay. They have been the subject of controversy in recent years for picketing at many funerals, including those of soldiers. A recent decision by the Supreme Court upheld the 1st Amendment rights of the Westboro Baptist Church.

Warning: The views of this church are offensive and are expressed in the news clip through spoken language and images.

View the abc news story, "Inside the Westboro Baptist Church"

http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/conversation-inside-westboro-baptist-church-11814748

and read the Time Magazine article found here http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2056471,00.html

How do you fell about the Supreme Court's ruling? Do you believe the Westboro Baptist Church protests are protected but the 1st Amendment? Be sure to cite both the news clip and the article in explaining your opinion.

"Protesting through Self-Immolation"

The Jasmine Revolution erupted in Tunisia after Mohammed Bouazizi set himself on fire. Similar protests have engulfed Egypt this week. Read the Time article, "A Brief History of Self-Immolation" and watch the video below, "Buddhist Monks in War and Protest" to find out more about the history of self-immolation. It can be difficult to understand why someone might engage in self-immolation. What pieces of information in the article and video were most enlightening for you in understanding why this happens. Explain why. Be sure to cite one piece of evidence from each source.

"The Ramayana Reimagined: Sita Sings the Blues"

Provide a brief critique of Nina Paley's film, "Sita Sings the Blues". Use the following as points of discussion:




1. Is Paley's interpretation of the ancient epic The Ramayana an effective one?

2. Comment on the some of the following elements in order to critique the film: narration and dialogue, soundtrack, setting/set decoration, animation, plot and film structure, etc.

3. Did you enjoy the film? Why or why not?

"Is America Islamophobic?"

Time magazine recently posed the question "Is America Islamophobic?" in response to the controversy surrounding the proposed Islamic community center near Ground Zero. Read the editorial "Building on Faith" at http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/08/opinion/08mosque.html

and this link to a summary of some world reactions to the controversy http://theweek.com/article/index/206393/ground-zero-mosque-uproar-world-reactions

Finally, view the following clips for additional information. Use information from the articles and the clip to support your response. Feel free to include information from additional sources.

When government and religion intersect...

Respond to the following prompts:

 Do you believe the government should regulate certain religious practices? Use the following example, snake-handling, as a springboard for explaining your opinion. This practice is one of several cases where the government has placed restrictions on a faith-based practice in some way.

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2010/02/polygamists/anderson-text/2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUdc5h10zTo

The Conflict Continues... Israel, Palestine, shalom, salaam

Choose one of the following to respond to:

1. Why might Palestinians living in the West Bank or Gaza identify so strongly with the themes expressed in "Avatar"?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRdxXPV9GNQ


2. Comment on Vice-President Biden's visit to Israel. What are your thoughts on Biden's position related to Israel's announcement of a new construction project in East Jerusalem?

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-03-10/biden-says-israel-palestinians-to-answer-for-acts-update1-.html

Tibet: Conflict on the Rooftop of the World

Use the link below for the BBC website on Tension in Tibet to find out more about the current conflict. Based upon your knowledge of the situation in Tibet, please respond to the following prompts:

1. What do you think might account for the different opinions held by the Dalai Lama and the younger generation of Tibetans regarding the relationship between China and Tibet and the future of Tibet?

2. How might the situation in Tibet be a model for understanding larger global issues in the early 21st century?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/asia_pacific/2008/tibet_tensions/default.stm

"A Dangerous Sign of the Times?"

Recently, several Gainesville, Florida students were sent home from school to change their clothes. The students had arrived at school wearing T-shirts with"Islam is of the Devil" inscribed on the back. The shirts had been distributed by a local church, the Dove World Outreach Center, as part of a campaign to expose Islam as a "violent and oppressive religion".



Do you believe the school should have had the right to wear these shirts in school? Why or why not? In "Bashing Islam: A Dangerous Sign of the Times", Charles C. Haynes of the First Amendment Center argues that this incident is one example of a larger trend of anti-Islam rhetoric, "a dangerous sign of the times". Do you agree or disagree with Haynes? Explain.