There have been many explanations formed to render a clearer picture as to why the current global recession occurred after the burst of the housing bubble: ‘interest rates were too low, regulation failed, rising real-estate prices induced a sort of temporary insanity in America’s middle class.’ However, social analysts have found a more profound explanation in terms of ‘a lasting and fundamental shift in American culture—a shift in the American conception of divine Providence and its relationship to wealth.’

Some critics have noted that Christianity caused the financial crash. In a bid to grasp all possible explanation behind the global economic downturn, social analysts have turned to blaming religion. They have their solid reasons. ‘Over the past generation, a different strain of Christian faith has proliferated—one that promises to make believers rich in the here and now. Known as the prosperity gospel, and claiming tens of millions of adherents, it fosters risk-taking and intense material optimism. It pumped air into the housing bubble. And one year into the worst downturn since the Depression, it’s still going strong.’

According to Kate Bowler, a doctoral candidate at Duke University and an expert in the gospel, ‘among mainstream, nondenominational megachurches, where much of American religious life takes place, “prosperity is proliferating” rapidly.’ Bowler analyzed their sermons and teachings.

As Jackson Lears observes in his book Something for Nothing, there are ‘two starkly different manifestations of the American dream, each intertwined with religious faith. The traditional Protestant hero is a self-made man. He is disciplined and hardworking, and believes that his “success comes through careful cultivation of (implicitly Protestant) virtues in cooperation with a Providential plan.” The hero of the second American narrative is a kind of gambling man—a “speculative confidence man” who prefers “risky ventures in real estate,” and a more “fluid, mobile democracy.” The self-made man imagines a coherent universe where earthly rewards match merits. The confidence man lives in a culture of chance, with “grace as a kind of spiritual luck, a free gift from God”.’

Thus, the glut of self-confidence, self-righteousness, and tons of hope evoked by the prosperity gospel echoed in churches across the US, might have played a part in the economic collapse as its touted virtues may have well induced material ambition which is the precipice by which one can fall into the abyss of material greed.

Via The Atlantic

Recently was launched the DVD of Religulous (religion + ridiculous), a documentary / comedy of Bill Maher.

Bill Maher is the host of “Real Time” on HBO, comedian that since early in his career has mock the behavior and beliefs of evangelicals.

Bill Maher is the son of a Jewish mother and a Catholic father, and tin the film he interviews his mother and shows some family pictures.

In the movie, Bill Maher interviews ordinary people and reveals the sad American political scene where some politicians still do not believe in the Darwin’s Theory of Evolution, and even senators who believe in the talking snake. He interview Jews, Muslims, priests, scientists and even an “ex-gay”.

The funny part of the movie are the answers of the evangelicals and their extreme faith in their religions. Besides the problem of the large movement of money from evangelical churches is also questioned.

Bill Maher visited various places, considered sacred, from temples and churches in the United States and mosques and synagogues in Israel. Often he was kicked out of places, such as the temple of the Mormons.

This movie is special in its way of presenting religion as something totally ridiculous, but is not that type of documentary that makes you think for hours, it is “light”, without revelations about secret informations or conspiracies theories, Religulous presents a kind of series of interviews with most varied various people with different beliefs.

Via: IMDB

Dost Tariq, a Muslim police officer in England, is suing the police of the West Midland and the police authorities becase of racial and religious discrimination.

Dost, from Small Heath, Birmingham, was working as a recruitment officer for the force when his boss said that Dost looks like Osama Bin Laden – Dost has a long beard. Healso accuses his manager, Darren Yates, that he has done many discriminatory comments based on their origin, creed and religion.

He also said that Yates referred to Muslim prayers as ’shouting and wailing’ when Dost asked to go to a mosque during working hours.

Dost complained to his superiors about the incident and Yates was found guilty of making inappropriate and offensive comments. It was given a written warning for his conduct.

Dost also had disciplinary proceedings brought against Yates because he made comments on the sexual performance of Dost. Yates denied the accusations and said they were “absurd”.

The Muslim police said was treated differently from his boss during the internal investigation because it was not “white” or “Christian”.

Dost also claimed that was displaced from its position in 2008 as a result of an investigation, while Yates was restored to his original position with all the previous responsibilities.

Via: Daily Mail.

It was French President Sarkozy’s first historic appearance before the Parliament and in his first direct address to the lawmakers and policy makers present in the Parliament Sarkozy chose to slam veil of muslim women ‘burqa’ while speaking about his vision about France. He thus supported a proposed parliamentary commission by 60 legislatures to review burqa.

Treading cautiously on secular lines Sarkozy said that Muslim religion must be respected like other religions but added traditional veil of Muslim women was a sign of subjugation and was not welcome in France a country which believed in maintaining the dignity of women.

France has courted controversy before by passing a legislation prohibiting head scarves and other religious symbols in public schools. Keeping religion away from public life may be a good move to curb growing religious fundamentalism.

It remains to be seen if France which has some 5 million Muslim population does manage to bring in a ban on burqa. It would liberate scores of Muslim women from wearing a garb of anonymity. When religious reforms don’t happen within religion it has to be imposed by legislation. But once again religion is a dangerous ground to tread.

Via The New York Times

For French-British anthropologist Maurice Bloch of the London School of Economics, religion is a product of imagination. Moreover, the reason why humans possess the concept of religion and practice it is because ‘they’re the only creatures to have evolved imagination.’ This capacity for imagination which began to develop 40-50,000 years ago, or during the final stage of the Stone Age, came about as man developed the necessary ‘brain architecture to imagine things and beings that don’t exist physically.’

According to Bloch, man’s imagination makes him grasp a way to bond with ‘non-existent or distant people or value-systems.’ These include the mysterious, invisible, dead, ancestors, and gods. However, religion is just one expression of this bond.

Bloch adds that religion is a mechanism of adaptation for man, most especially in his capacity to ‘imagine other worlds.’ He says, “Religious-like phenomena in general are an inseparable part of a key adaptation unique to modern humans, and this is the capacity to imagine other worlds, an adaptation that I argue is the very foundation of the sociality of modern human society.”

The ability to grasp the imaginary in everyday lives is what makes religion clearer and more accessible to man. True enough, religion thrives on the concept that it gets stronger with faith. Faith, as everyone who has it knows, rests primarily in the realm of imagination.

Via The Daily Galaxy

Some common practices are sacred elements in Hinduism. These are meant to pursue awareness of the Supreme Being through divinity, even in everyday life. Hindus can perform worship or veneration in either their home or temple. It is not mandatory to visit temples. Mantras are chanted invocations to God and the deities that are actually prayers or praises. In the epic Mahabharata, the ritualistic chanting called Japa is described as the greatest duty in the Kali Yuga or what Hindus believe to be the current age, thus many Hindus make Japa their primary spiritual practice. Yatra (pilgrimage) is not required in Hinduism. Still, many Hindus attend holy pilgrimages such as that of Kumbh Mela and Shakti Peethas.

Hindu religious traditions take on cultural significance and meaning. For starters, Hinduism has been a cultural unifier for a very long time. It serves to unify at least 1.3 billion adherents to it. Hindus are a massive population. It takes an influential religion to give a certain unifying cultural philosophy to keep the people together. It has managed to preserve ancient religious tradition through the ages, making its followers pure in its offered spirituality. Hinduism has been able to preserve its ancient practices, festivals, pilgrimages, and rituals. The religion, though tracing its roots to ancient times, is a showcase of cultural preservation in the face of rapid modernization and globalization. It is a triumph of cultural identity that has remained intact through the eons.

Hinduism is a positive concept and principle. It is highly tolerant of other religions. In a time when religious belief is a source and cause of wars and strife, Hinduism stands as a perfect example of what a religion should be as a peaceful component of society. Hinduism espouses respect, even worship, of practically everything in nature. Its reverential regards to trees, plants, animals, and nature make Hindu religious followers respectful of nature. In a time when environmental conservation is direly needed, Hinduism can be a cultural philosophy that can help address the environmental cause.

Hinduism is a dynamic philosophy that makes man change for the better all the time. There is no spiritual stagnation in Hinduism. The religion believes in the concept of reincarnation and perfection of the soul. These make the religion a process of self-betterment. It is one religion where the followers do not backtrack and stagnate in hatred and anger. Because there is no concept of getting something in return in Hinduism, the process of self-improvement is a freer one devoid of any attachment whatsoever. It takes a religion that needs the dynamic process of change towards ultimate goodness to actually put people on the road to progress and development.

These significant cultural implications of Hinduism have elevated the religion beyond the point of mere religious belief. In reality, Hinduism is both a social philosophy and a way of life. It is culture or the sum total of everything learned.

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Via Nirmukta

There has been a report that more and more youngsters and youths claim to be non religious. According to a survey done by the Institute for Study of Secularism at Trinity College, a majority of the individuals who fell in this non believer category was from 18-34 years of age.

Marketing experts are of believe that marketing as a whole has been a factor to this rising number of non believers. Marketing has provided the consumers a wide range of products and services, and with a complete freedom to choose according to their needs and requirements. This consumerist society has in many ways contributed to the people to respond to the same way they would to a brand. In other words, either be brand loyal to one religion, or brand switchers switching religion or not a brand loyal any religion at all.

There are of course other factors too that are to be blamed in the diminishing number of religious people. However, marketing of religions itself can reverse this trend and be the only source to save the dying religions of the world. Like for example, the United Methodist Church has invested a total sum of $ 20 million to advertise to the younger generation the progressive attitude of the church and its benefits. Social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter, aggressive campaigns on television and radio jingles etc are also a part and parcel of the marketing techniques used to survive this trend of non believers.

Via:Adage

It was UNESCO that took the initiative after the Second World War to organize ‘the world conferences against racism.’ The first two rounds were held in Geneva, with a particular emphasis on ‘apartheid’ in South Africa, and the first conference was held in Durban in 2001. The recently held UN Conference on Racism, dubbed Durban II, was supposed to be a review of what have so far been accomplished since Durban I. As was widely publicized, many countries such as the United States boycotted the conference, Iran’s president went on a rant and tirade against Israel, and many country representatives walked out because of his hate-filled speech.

The controversy raged once again simply because some people confuse religion with race. The conference against racism has become the occasion for radicalized expression of issues that have never been uniformly understood by all. Racism has remained to be a blur to most, no matter how much has been spoken or written about it. If Durban I was a fiasco, Durban II was a charade. These UN conferences on racism were just venues for the age-old issues of religion and race that are seemingly irresolvable.

The organizers should have smelled the things to come even before Durban II commenced. When one gets Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as the most eager participant to attend an anti-racism conference, one already gets more than an inkling of what is to come. With Ahmadinejad as the virtual poster boy of an anti-racism conference, one can see boycotts and walk-outs a mile ahead. The Holocaust, indeed, casts a long, long shadow.

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Via Montreal Gazette

Discrimination in the workplace is operationally defined as the unfavorable or unfair treatment that an employee suffers from due to his or her race, religion, nationality, disability, or any other legally protected characteristic and human right. Official discrimination may also be experienced by those who question authorities and report them, or those who oppose workplace discrimination themselves. In these cases, discrimination comes in the form of reprisal for their oppositive stance.

Discrimination can occur in any stage of the employment process. It can happen and apply in recruitment, hiring, job evaluations, promotion policies, training, compensation, and disciplinary action. Employees are protected from discriminatory acts against them by certain well-placed laws that prohibit discrimination at the workplace.

One very important note: unfair treatment is not necessarily synonymous with unlawful discrimination. When an employer treats a person differently from others, he violates Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) laws, especially when the treatment is based on arbitrary and personal reasons, and not on work performance. That is why discrimination claims are not always cut-and-dried and can be highly subjective, in most cases.

The anti-discrimination law requires that the employer proffers the exact same employment opportunities and enforces the exact same policies across the board to all employees in the company.

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Via workplace fairness

The aggressive secularism of Britain could end up marginalizing Christianity, warns former UK Prime Minister and Catholic convert Tony Blair. Blair agrees with Church leaders when they complain that religion could end up being considered a “personal eccentricity” rather than a major influence on society. “I think people should be proud of their Christian faith and to express it as they wish,” said the former prime minister.

During his official term as head of the country, Blair tried to avoid references to religion. He admitted that he merely avoided being considered crazy if he spoke publicly about his personal convictions.

After his conversion to Catholicism, the former prime minister created the foundation that bears his name to promote “respect and understanding among the world’s major religions.” Blair’s wife Cherie, also a staunch Catholic, has publicly expressed her disappointment over the general weakening of propagation of the Catholic faith, calling it ‘terminal decline’ of Christianity.

Part of the mission statement of the Tony Blair Faith Foundation is to “show how faith is a powerful force for good in the modern world.” The group wants to “use the full power of modern communications to support and step up efforts at every level to educate, inform and develop understanding about the different faiths and between them.”

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Via Telegraph.co.uk