Religion is a controversial topic. Over the years multiple religions have emerged around the world. I also began to look at how much religion has influenced society of the years. In class we talked about the boundary lines that are created by religion. In every religion their are certain guidelines on how to live your life, and explanations for things that you probably can't understand. In our current society we constantly preach the ideal that religion and government separate. I personally believe that religion and government should be separate. I think that fact that people have so many different religious beliefs and morals that it would basically create chaos if one group tries to govern. I think that in many aspects religion and government do overlap. One of many controversial topics today is gay marriage/ same-sex marriage. According to certain religions marriage defined as a union between a male and a female. Also that homosexuality is frowned upon. On the other hand people raise the argument that according to the law everyone deserves equal rights, dispute their sexual orientation. So the overarching question that arises is:

How separate is religion and government?
Where exactly do we draw the line between religion and government when they do overlap?

Augustine's Ideals

In Book Two Augustine’s focuses on the connection between signs and symbols. In a way he defines these forms as a type of language. As a society we usually associate signs with different interpretations. For example every religion has a form of symbol that signifies what it stands for. Augustine also focuses on the concept of translation. He talks about the important of understanding the particular language in which you are translating. When translating you must pay attention to the words and also the meaning of the sentence that is being conveyed. In terms of interpreting the Psalms I think that Augustine would be furious with our interpretations. Everyone has different interpretations based on their identity, culture, and environment and so on. Augustine has this ideal that the Psalms has a pure interpretation, which is being conveyed. I think Augustine’s ideals about the connection between signs and symbols interesting. It actually ties back into our definition of religion defined by Clifford Geertz. I personally think that sometimes a lot can be lost in translation. However I think the Psalms is a universal scripture, which will have multiple interpretations considering that it is for a wide range of audiences.

Psalms 18- God, a Fighter?

Psalms 18 is about praising a victorious God. I don’t think this would be considered problematic. I think that religions overlap sometime and this can just one of the times when it does. I think that in our society it would not be problematic because even though we tend to separate things into different categories; every religion has a God that is helpful, protective and victorious. I think that in all religions some elements of God are in fact repeated and cross referenced. I am unsure if this image of God is victorious. In one way it shows that God is in fact the person that is available to protect everyone. I also think that in some aspects he losses that humble characteristic that is often praised.

It states “Serve the lord with reverence, rejoice in him with fear.” The God is Psalms 2 is to be feared. It projects the idea that if you don’t follow these particular guidelines, then there will be consequences. The verse states “Aske thou of me, and will give.” It represents a form of answer and request. It also sets up a hierarchal relationship between God and humans. In the translation by Alter, God is presented as a generous person. Part of the verse references God giving his son or estate.

In Psalms 44 the tone of the verse is stern. The beginning of the Psalm you have a first person narrative speaking for an entire group. For example line 2 states “God, with our own ears have heard, our fathers recounted to us a deed that you did their days, in days of yore” (154) The verse continues to the speaker begins to question God ideals. For example lines 9 through 11 states “God we praise all day long, and Your name we acclaim for all time. / Yet You neglected us and disgraced us/and did not sally forth in our ranks./ You turned us back from the foe,/and our enemies took their plunder.” In class we talked about how in religion has set up this form of reward. In the first two lines the person is expecting God to protect them, because they have been praising God and doing what is right. This since of neglect is continued through line 12-17, however the verse shifts in terms of meaning. At this point the person realizes that even though this evil is occurring, they still believe in him. Line 23 states “For your sake we are killed all day long…” (157) This line suggest a form of sacrifice that has to be paid.

Work Cited : Alter, Robert. The Book of Psalms . 1st. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2007. Print.

Reflection

During class we came up with possible reasons why Native Americans will build mounds. We determined reasons such as burial, boundaries, and ritual purposes. In chapter six of “Indian Mounds of Wisconsin” by Robert A. Birmingham and Leslie E. Eisenberg they addressed the ideals of different cultures at that time. The mounds were basically a starting point for a pile of information that would be discovered along the way. I found it interesting how they were able to identify cultural aspects just by the placement of the mounds. Another aspect that interests me the most is how these early civilizations disappeared, which is not determined at this point. While reading the “Indian Mounds” I was fascinated by the dedication that went into working on the Indian Mounds. As a society we were able to gain so much information just by examining the placement and environment surrounding the mounds.

Here are a few websites:
http://whyfiles.org/135salv_arch/index.html
http://www.wcwcw.com/feature70.htm

Effigy Mounds

Effigy mounds represent a symbol of Native American spirituality. The Effigy mounds are a way for Native Americans to display their culture. The effigy mounds are also considered a way for Native Americans to make their territory. The mounds are the symbols that are described in Geertz’s definition of religion. Geertz’s definition is a perfect representation of the mounds. His definition does mention a higher being of any sort. He focuses more the physical aspect of religion. These mounds are the physical representation of how Native American viewed a part of the world. The fact that there were certain artifacts buried with the individuals shows that they may have believed in an afterlife. These mounds are an important aspect in our society, it allows for us to get an insight into the culture of Native Americans.

Religion over the years

It is interesting the amount of religions that has evolved over the years. In many earlier cultures the word religion didn’t even exist. I found this fascinating, because it gives us an idea of beliefs in the past. Everyone seemed to have central ideas that they all believed in. It seems as though a lot of the controvesary that has evolved over the years is due to competiveness. As religion developed it seemed to become more of a competition and an actually set of beliefs that individuals had. Religion in our society today is valued so highly. In some religions there is a social hierarchy that evolved, for example the Catholic religion.

"Paleolithic Art and Religion" and The Cave of Lascaux

While reading the chapter on “Paleolithic Art and Religion” I was fascinated by the different civilizations. Even though information was able to be determined about the past, nothing can be deemed as a fact. Just by looking at one particular piece of evidence, there is alot possible information that can be interpreted. The fascinating aspect was the way in with art played a role in their society. The drawings on the cave walls allowed for anthropologists and archeologists to get an insight into that civilization. The virtual tour of the Cave of Lascaux, was an amazing visual. The cravings in the cave were so detailed and precise. The drawings were detailed I certain aspects. The visual of the depth of the cave was also very detailed.
After reading I had so many questions particularly about their lifestyle and about the art in that cave.
I wanted to learn about their daily life, what it would be like to live in that society.
I wanted to find out whether or not the art was done by random people in their civilization or people of a high status?

The primary element for religion of the need to learn about the world around, the need to explain why things are occurring. Early civilizations for example believed in Gods of the Earth in terms of explaining why the earth did certain things.