Diana Eck and Karen Armstrong

Diana Eck and Bill Moyers/Karen Armstrong

I have noticed in these readings a common theme, which seem to draw the same conclusion, that is many of the religious acts of intolerance come from fear. Not only that but some religions themselves are motivated by fear and promoted through fear. Eck refers to several instances in the chapter “Afraid of Ourselves” of religious intolerance and violence. Acts which range from various hate crimes enacted to try and scare and force either conversion or removal of peoples of religions other than Christianity in America or letters written to newspapers telling these people they should go back to their home countries and that they cannot really be American. After stating a quote from President Clinton about both the value of diversity and the demons which dwell within the human spirit Eck says “The haunting demons surely include the fear of the foreign and the denigration of the different, whether we speak of race, ethnicity, or religion.”(Eck, 295) What she is addressing here is the fact that so much of the hatred, prejudice, and violence that we see here in America and throughout the world stems from religious and racial intolerance. Even with tolerance there is no understanding and without understanding acts of fear and hatred are permitted.
This reading tied in nicely with the interview performed by Bill Moyers with former nun Karen Armstrong who talked about the ways in which religion has been corrupted and how it is affecting members of society. When asked about compassion and fear she said “Very often when I talk to religious people, and mention how important it is that compassion is the key, that it's the sine-qua-non of religion, people look kind of balked, and stubborn sometimes, as much to say, what's the point of having religion if you can't disapprove of other people? And sometimes we use religion just to back up these unworthy hatreds, because we're frightened too” and furthermore “There's great fear. We fear that if we're not in control, other people will cut us down to size, and so we hit out first.” This method of thinking, strike before you’re struck has been told as Taker rhetoric told throughout Taker history. People are taught to act of out fear, fear of losing, fear of dying, fear of being hurt, which teachers nothing more than to protect yourself and who cares who gets hurt? Reading Armstrong’s words was very profound and in many ways opened new ways of thinking for me. Hearing these words not from a priest, religious leader, or someone who would gain from my conversion was way more informational and helped to map out the way religion has began to function in society.
Being a former nun and admitting her own discrepancies with religion helped me to see things on a personal level and made what she was saying much more real than dense reading from a book. It seems to me that part of the problem is not only that there is a lack of understanding between groups, but that there is a lack of desire to understand each other. I realize too that I am as much a part of this as anyone else. The reason I took this class to begin with is because I felt like I didn’t know much outside my own world. I had no one pushing me to learn more or question, which meant I didn’t go outside my comfort zone. I think this is where people get stuck. They want nothing more than what they can understand, fathom, or relate too. This however creates a problem because people are so diverse and you simply cannot begin to understand others until you hear their stories and try to relate to their point of view. Both Eck and Armstrong mention ways in which religion has been corrupted, but that is the problem. Once people are involved there will always be misreadings and misunderstandings. Eck’s talk of the hate crimes that have persisted and increased in America and Armstrong’s telling of the religious persecution, acts of terrorism, and general lack of understanding of each other both hint (blatantly) at a much larger problem. The reasons these crimes and acts keep persisting is because people are taught to be so afraid of what they don’t understand. Technology keeps advancing and yet our way of thinking does not. Though the formula has changed people still rely on their gut instinct, which tells them to protect themselves and fear the unknown.

Diana Eck

Diana Eck’s book, A New Religious America, has raised many questions and comments for me. She brings to light religions I have both never heard of and know nothing about, which is interesting, but also a little troubling. Troubling because of how little either school or life experience had taught me about the diversity of religion. When I was little and first beginning to even grasp the concept of religion and what it meant I knew only that it was a way of thinking that influences how a person chooses to live their life. As I got older I started to understand that there were multiple religions practiced within the United States, but the only ones I knew of or ever heard anything about were Christianity, Judaism, and Catholicism. Now that I am older it is apparent to me that there is a reason that this is the case. Eck’s book highlights the multitude of religions present within the United States, which not only go unnoticed, but have historically been said to be a “threat” to America. Although America boasts religious freedom, it is also said to be a Christian nation, which until recently had banned the teachings of Evolution and has historically had problems separating church and state.
Though this country has been said to be founded on the ideas of freedom and equality, its history has proven it to be something far from that (unless of course you were a moderately wealthy white Christian male.) Religious and racial intolerance have been cornerstones in the founding of this country. However Eck’s book enlightens its readers to the fact that the American religious landscape, as well as its racial landscape, has changed drastically from its beginnings. Because of this Americans have been forced, though through much pain and suffering to be tolerant and aware of different perspectives and beliefs about our positions in the world.
Some of the questions which she poses in her book are “How many customs and languages can we accommodate? How much diversity is simply too much? And for whom?”(Eck, 2) All which are so simple and yet conversely such profound and thought-provoking questions. These questions were present at the beginning of American history (for that matter world history) and are still present today. Based on the various religious wars that have spanned the known history of the planet and my first response to them would be to say “few”. Though it may seem easy and sensible to tolerate another person’s point of view and beliefs, the planet has seen countless battles fought in the name of God and religion. Evident as it may be that there are numerous religions in America, countless efforts have been made to convert, indoctrinate, and force people to all believe in and follow the same line of thinking. I realize that Eck’s book and research actually show the change in religion in America and the rise of religions other than Christianity as dominant, but the question still remains “what does this mean?” Yes the religious landscape has changed dramatically from what it once was, but has this changed American ideals, morals, beliefs, or practices? Even with the changed landscape, the message is still being sent to other countries that America is a Christian nation and furthermore in this sense “Christian” has come to mean good, clean, virtuous, and pure, while other religions have been seen as a contrast to this, being impure and often times evil.
Eck makes inarguable the fact that because of this changing landscape Americans need to learn how to become not only tolerant, but embrace the religious freedom that the country was said to be founded on. Because our religious landscape is now so diverse brutish tactics, discrimination, and bullying that once took place no longer have any place in this society. The idea of pluralism (which the country was allegedly founded on) has already been introduced to America in the form of multiculturalism and now in having a multireligious society as well. If the idea of pluralism is really accepted in American society than embracing this multitude of religions only makes sense. Whether or not people choose to accept it, the world is an extremely diverse and constantly changing place and because of this learning to respect and appreciate (as cliche as it may sound) is necessary for not only for Americans, but the survival of the planet.