Week 5

BLOG PROMPT FOR WEEK 5
This week we looked at the way religious beliefs and actions can be seen to make a legitimate claim upon life in law, martyrdom and war. Compare the ways different religious traditions/communities do that EITHER in law (making references to Cover and/or Girard) OR in war (referencing Juergensmeyer's piece). How are lives put on the line? What is 'religious' about it? What does it tell us about identity and community? About free will and the need for voluntary action? Why is it perceived as necessary? (While no set number of traditions need to be discussed, you should address similarities and differences in at least 2.)

In his book Terror in The Mind of God, UCSB Professor Mark Juergensmeyer discusses the concept of "cosmic wars." Cosmic wars are the portrayal of mythical battles onto current ones. For example, Juergensmeyer mentions the "catastrophic attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon" on September 11, 2001. Some may call what happened on that Tuesday morning an act of terrorism. To be fair, what does terrorism mean? Terrorism are acts in a war, a performance violence, if you will. It is a reenactment of selected symbolic traditions, making the mythical 'real.'

Moreover, Juergensmeyer says that there are three characteristics of cosmic war: (1) the struggle is perceived as defense of basic identity and dignity, (2) losing the struggle would be unthinkable, and (3) the struggle is blocked and cannot be won in real terms. When Juergensmeyer claims that the struggle is a defense, he suggests that the struggle itself has great significance. Next, when Juergensmeyer points out that losing the struggle is unthinkable, he suggests that losing the struggle is as if losing all meaning, and thus, no chance for compromise. Lastly, when Juergensmeyer says that the struggle is blocked and cannot be won in real terms, it means that humans have become hopeless.

Even the presumably 'mellow' Buddhism justifies violence if such actions were to preserve and protect the religion. When even one of the most peaceful religions have had its believers engage in violent acts, we then question ourselves: is religion really a separate part of life? If so, why are there connections -- similarities and differences -- between the basic daily functions of life and what 'religious' people do at Church? If not, how much influence does (or should) religion have on non-spiritual people?