Spiritual News 4.21

• In viral speech Michigan senator calls out the “performative nonsense” of Christians who use faith as a weapon (Newsweek)
• A Pennsylvania school board denies an after-school Satanist Club after recently allowing a Christian club to operate during school hours (USA Today)
• Tennessee city refuses atheist group's demand that crosses on city property be removed (Christian Post)
• Buddhism making inroads in the Latino community in Southern California (Guardian)
• Marvel's Moon Knight resurrects Egypt's ancient gods (WinterIsComing) 
  

Reflection 4: Picking and Choosing—On Cafeteria Spiritualism

In the 21st century, a person might find comfort in Buddhist incantations, be inspired by the environmental reverence of Wicca, and admire the Quaker emphasis on self-reliance only to combine them all into a unique, personalized belief system. This is the contemporary phenomenon of so-called "cafeteria spiritualism" (sometimes called "salad bar spiritualism"). It is the practice of individuals customizing faiths, or parts of them, to fit their individual needs. In earlier times, followers of a devout faith generally accepted all aspects of that religion on the basis that true believers wholeheartedly embraced every related tenants. Not so today. In the 21st century, Americans routinely pick and choose the aspects of a faith, or faiths, that best fit their needs. Thus, Gen Z Americans are less likely to prescribe to a specific religion, opting instead to identify themselves as the ubiquitous "spiritual, but not religious." What do you think of cafeteria spiritualism? Does it make more sense in a pluralistic society, such as ours? Or should we return to the old days, when a Catholic was a Catholic and a Jew was a Jew, etc? Finally, have you, or anyone you know, partaken in this style of faith?

Include at least two of the following in your discussion:

• "Most Americans Pick and Choose Religious Beliefs" (Christian Post)
• "Salad-Bar Christianity" (Christianity Today)
• "Deliver Us From Salad Bar Religion" (Reformed Theology)
• "Gen Z is Keeping the Faith. Just Don’t Expect to See Them at Worship." (Religion News)
• "Is Spirituality Replacing Religion?" (Deseret News)

Required: 

• 1.5 pages
• MLA Style, plus works cited page
  

Submission Window: Thu 4.28 - Tue 5.3 (via Canvas)

Week 13: Tue 4.19/Thu 4.21 – Wicca

Wicca draws on the pre-Christian, nature-based traditions of northern and western Europe.

Week 13: Tue 4.19/Thu 4.21 – Wicca*
Class: Multimedia presentations, Guest speaker—TBA

*It is advised you be up to slide 4 in your Research Project this week.

Upcoming:

Week 14: Tue 4.26/Thu 4.28 – Evangelicalism*
Class: Multimedia presentations; Lecture—“The Self-Reflection Essay and ePortfolio: A How-To”
Due: REFLECTION 4

*It is advised you be up to slide 8 in your Research Project this week.

Week 15: Tue 5.3/Thu 5.5 – Scientology*
Class: Multimedia presentations
Due: ROGERIAN ARGUMENT; ARISTOTELIAN ANALYSIS (EXTRA CREDIT)

*It is advised you be up to slide 12 in your Research Project this week.

Week 16: Tue 5.10/Thu 5.12 – Rosicrucianism*
Class: Class wrap-up
Due: RESEARCH PROJECT

*Last regular class meeting of the semester.

Week 18 (Final Exams):

Sec. 25: Final Exam: Mon 5.23 from 12:15 – 1:15 a.m. (Details TBD)
Due: SELF-REFLECTION ESSAY AND ePORTFOLIO (SUBMIT VIA CANVAS BY 8 P.M.)

Sec. 8: Final Exam: Tue 5.24 from 9:45 – 10:45 a.m. (Details TBD)
Due: SELF-REFLECTION ESSAY AND ePORTFOLIO (SUBMIT VIA CANVAS BY 8 P.M.)