Download Religion Overview: What is special about writing for Religion?

Religion
Overview │ Types of Assignments │ Example of Reading Notes
Overview: What is special about writing for Religion?
Religion is very personal to people and topics are often very controversial, or at the very
least contested. When writing papers for religion classes, you should try to be as
politically correct as possible and be aware of the ways that certain terms and arguments
can be offensive. Avoid using terms such as 'them' or 'these people' when talking about
another group of people. Only use 'they' if it is a back reference to a group already
explicitly identified in the correct manner. Never imply truth or falsity in the belief of
another person or group of people.
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Bad sentence: "In India they actually think that there is more than one God."
Better sentence: "In India many Hindus believe in a multitude of deities."
Religion is a very interdisciplinary subject and has many readings from anthropology,
history, philosophy, psychology, sociology etc. Always try to understand the academic
style that you are being expected to write in. If in doubt ask the professor.
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Examples: Freud/ William James - Psychological, Geertz - Cultural/
Anthropological, Shaw- Gender Studies, Durkheim/ Weber/ Marx - Sociological
There really aren't many objectively "right" or "wrong" answers. You should be careful
not to generalize, as different things are true or false in different situations at different
times. Forming critical arguments means being specific to certain circumstances and
exploring dynamics within those boundaries.
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Bad sentence: "Christians believe that if you're too good for hell, but not good
enough for heaven, you'll go to Purgatory."
Better sentence: "Some denominations of Christianity, such as Catholicism, have
historically expressed belief in an intermediate afterlife realm called Purgatory."
Final note: The academic study of religion should be removed from personal responses to
religious phenomena. UVM is a public university and so professors are also not allowed
to teach you in a way that would challenge your own personal beliefs. There is virtually
never an appropriate time to express your own personal religious beliefs or lack thereof in
writing or in class discussion.
Types of Assignments
Reading Notes
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Reading notes are frequently assigned in religion classes. They are normally 1page in length and feature a summary of the reading and a reflection.
The reflection should connect the reading to the class in general or other class
readings.
Personal opinions can often be shared here, but the reflection should be more than
just a personal reaction to the reading.
Most professors have a format that they would like for your reading notes. Make
sure you know what it is (it is probably described in your syllabus somewhere).
Try to use the language of the reading you are responding to where possible.
Define any terms that are not common language terms.
Analyses
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Analytical essays in Religion are normally comparative, theoretical, or
methodological
o Comparative papers compare two religions, religious tenets, rituals,
monastic communities, texts etc.
o Theoretical papers involve explaining, arguing or comparing one or
several theories of religion.
o Methodological papers involve analyzing the methods that a scholar of
religion or anthropology has used in their research.
These assignments are critical and normally have a specific prompt - make sure
you stick to the assignment!
Successful critical analyses should generate new information in their analysis, not
just summarize or describe their subjects. Do your best to give the most concise
summary you can and then try to "connect the dots" in an original, interesting
way.
Quote when necessary and make sure to cite anything that you did not come up
with on your own - including when you paraphrase! Try to use the language of the
reading you are responding to where possible. Define any terms that are not
common language terms.
Research
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Research in Religion is common and normally involves exploring a specific
religion, practice, region, or theme.
Coming up with a good topic is crucial to being able to write a good paper. As an
undergraduate student you shouldn't try to research something too big. Looking
through research already done in areas of interest before you pick a topic can help
guide your research.
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All of the religion professors are experts in various religions, regions and schools
of thought. Meet with your professor and discuss your topic early! If there is
another professor in the department who may know about your topic, try to get in
contact with them. They are often eager to help any student and will be able to
direct you to sources if not give you a copy of a useful book themselves!
Example Reading Notes
from Religion 107 - "Religious Perspectives on Death and Dying"
(Format - ~1 page, half summary, half reflection)
Reading Notes - Religion As A Cultural System - Clifford Geertz
In this chapter, Geertz looks to define religion through a cultural lens in an attempt to
advance the anthropological study of religion. Geertz observes, and believes, that the
anthropological study of religion is stagnant due to a narrow focus on "transcendent
figures (p. 89)" such as Freud, Durkheim and Weber. Endeavoring to springboard off of
the great theories of the past Geertz wants to explore the "cultural dimension of religious
analysis (p. 89)."
In order to do this, Geertz has to further explain what he means by "culture" and
"religion." Culture is defined as "an historically transmitted pattern of meanings
embodied in symbols," which are used by humans to "communicate, perpetuate and
develop their attitudes toward life (p. 89)." Religion is then defined as a special system of
symbols that does four different things. Religion:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Establishes powerful "moods and motivations (p. 90)" in people
Formulates a "general order of existence"
Makes these conceptions appear as fact
Makes these moods and motivations seem "uniquely realistic"
Geertz then explains some of the terms within his definitions before delving into an
exposition of their origins. In order to explain why humans create these religious
symbols, Geertz looks at the kinds of problems that religion solves for people - namely
"the problem of meaning." Geertz also makes sure to differentiate the religious
perspective from other human perspectives that deal with the same problems namely
common-sensical, scientific and aesthetic.
Finally Geertz discusses how these religious beliefs and symbols gain their authority and
seeming facticity using an anecdote about a Balinese practice to show that religious
beliefs are grounded in actuality by ritual. Geertz concludes by framing his overall
theory, asserting that culture is the basis from which social and psychological processes
can be understood, but also raises culture above them by asserting that culture also shapes
them (although it is not clear if he believes that they shape culture as well). Through a
combination of cultural, social and psychological analysis, Geertz believes that the
anthropological study of religion can advance.
Upon reflection I believe that Geertz' definition of religion is attempting to draw a line
around what is religious and what is not. If you can apply Geertz' definition to "nonreligious phenomena" it may only be because Geertz would define that phenomena as
religious. When I think of modern things that are non-religious but that often fit into a
religious definition, I often think of science or capitalism/ consumerism. Geertz spends a
long time separating science from religion so I will see if there are any good reasons to
think of Geertz' definition of religion, as capable of applying to non-religious
phenomena.
There are plenty of things that do the 4 things that Geertz claims are essential
characteristics of religious phenomena. Nationalism for example adheres to all of the
standards that Geertz has laid out.