Hello, everyone!
I would like for everyone to paste their essay as a comment to this post on or before Monday night, so that we will be able to discuss the essays on Tuesday.
The essay assignments are
1. Do you think that religion plays a positive or a negative role on social and/or political life in Argentina? Does it promote positive family values or does it prevent the progressive evolution of society? Does it generate or resolve more conflict? Do you think that the country should continue being officially Catholic country, or switch to a non-religious model?
OR
2. We have learned about three different phenomena of American religious life - Christian political conservatism, Islam, and Black liberation theology. Research one of these topcis further and explain why it is important in the contemporary United States.
I would like the essay to be between three and five paragraphs, which should be around two pages.
Please post your full name and your class (3A or 3B) with your essay. This will be a práctico, so I hope that you all complete it well!
You can always email me at andrew.lyubarsky@gmail.com with any questions.
Good luck!
Andrew
Milagros Aromando
ReplyDelete3º B
Essay
The social and political influence of religion in Argentina
The influence of religion in social and political life is positive since it promotes some values that help people to have a more ethical and moral life. In Argentina this influence is very important since the opinion of the church has a remarkable effect on the behaviour of the society. The impact in political life is clear and is constantly present generating different opinions.
The most important example of the influence religion has over the behaviour of our society is that it supports family in all aspects, since families are considered by religion as the society´s nucleus. In view of the fact that religion promotes marriage as one the most important entities of human life, we must consider that values supported by religion are significant in order to build a better society. Religion ideals should be accepted by men as a group of concepts to be followed in order to live in a peaceful society.
The importance of church’s opinion in political decisions is based on the concept of an officially catholic country, since church has been cooperating to build this country from the times of the Spanish conquerors. Church´s opinion about different items related to moral and ethics is always asked, since the cooperation of religion in order to resolve conflicts has been decisive in many circumstances. That is to say, religion tries to help in every occasion its opinion is required.
The importance of church’s opinion relays on the number of controversies it generates. Even though this situation, the cooperation of religion in order to resolve conflicts has been crucial in many circumstances. Religion tries to help in every occasion its opinion is required according to its faith in order to make the world a better place.
Paz, Janet
ReplyDelete3º A
How We perceive Religion?
Argentina is officially a catholic country, thus religion have always been connected with social and political life.Some Argentinians think that religion must have an important influence in the different issues, such as;education,family and law.Others concider that religion should not be part of such aspects, they do not even want to know about religion.So, we have two differents way to perceive religion, the positive and the negative role of religion in society.
On the one hand,lets us see the positive perception of religion.There is a time in life when all of us wander why things are getting worst ,for instance;poverty,starvation,divorce,suicide.Then we would say that religion must have the answers and solution for such situation.There are testimony of people who have solve their problems by looking for help in religion.Hence, they think that if all of us submit to what “the church”say and think, the situation in the country will change.For example, in the Holy Bible we read that Jesus want us to love our enemies as we love friends, and to be kind with others even when they are not; if we practice it, quarrels an crime will end.These seems to be the best way to carry over difficulties and have prosperity in the society.
On the other hand,individuals have a negative perception of religion.They would say that religion wants to have power over society;religion wants us to follow a set of rules that would not be convenient for the state but for the member of the church.As a result they do not want the opinión of the church for what is right or wrong.For instance; a month ago , Argentina´s Senate approved a law authorizing same- sex marriage,the church is strongly opposed to such permission. The archbishop of Buenos Aires,Cardinal Belgorio, claimed that it is“destructive attack on God’s plan.”There were large protests and quarrels from both side.
Summing up,personally I do believe in God and I know that He wants the best for us.God command us to love each other, to be merciful,to do justice and to be humble.But, I think that people saw God as the way they perceive religion.For me God is not religion,these wrong perception have been distort by men.
Carla C. Rodriguez
ReplyDelete3° B
The influnce of religion in Argentina.
Religion can play both a positive and a negative role on social and political life in Argentina. On the one hand, the different Catholic Organizations, like the Charity Foundations, have taken charge of help the marginal population in the last decades. On the other hand, the Church have always represented a negative factor for the politic because some decisions that are taken by the government can be criticized by this, like the law of homosexual marriage. So, we can say that it resolve conflicts and provoke also debate with the politic and the people’s opinion.
Religion also promotes positive family values because the Christian canons can help to develop a comfortable and family environment at home. For instance, it promotes mutual respect between parents and children, love for life, love for job, love for your neighbor, etc.
Many times religion has prevented the progressive evolution of society, especially the science’s evolution. For example, since Galilean’s time – it prevents the progress of astronomy- until today, when the experiments with embryos are criticized, such as clone ion or the euthanasia.
Finally, our country should continue being officially Catholic because it was founded under the Christianism’s norms. If it will not be a Catholic country we do not recognize that many of our culture’s value come from Christianism, like marriage and baptism.
Suarez Marcela
ReplyDelete3°A
Since Argentina is considered a catholic country it is reasonable that it plays an important role in social and therefore in political life. Although in current times religion has been decreasing in many aspects.
Many Argentinean families adopt the Catholicism in order to believe in something merciful, humble and powerful. Since religion promotes important family values such as marriage, the unity of family, respect for each other, and the most important to be a humble person with other members of the community, it has increased its importance for a lot of people. On the contrary, there were times that religion it was taken for bad purposes; for example to predicate in the name of god just for a matter of winning money. For example those who appear on the TV of every household advertising a number of non-religious things, such as blessed waters, crucifixes and other stuffs which are supposed to heel illnesses.
The relationship between religion and the evolution of society has always been distant because of many issues, such as technological advances the invention of the pills that prevent women from getting pregnant. Church is against these things because they claim that the most important thing is to keep the family unified and therefore the homosexual marriage and the advances go against divine rules
According to politics, Argentina has freedom of worship it is supported by the law; therefore, it is up to the people to believe in God or not. Women and men are free for choosing whether they are Catholics or not without being discriminated from society.
To sum up, religion has both positive but also negative aspects. It is up to the people to choose whether to worship God or not. But to be conscious that to believe in something divine and powerful as it is God, give you the enough strength and hope in life.
Rodríguez Valdiviezo, Pablo
ReplyDelete3º ‘B’
Essay
The Church in Argentina
Roman Catholicism is Argentina’s state religion brought to the country during the Spanish colonial era. The influence has been so strong that even after a century and a half of independence, the Roman Catholic Church still holds tremendous sway in Argentina with nearly 92% of residents subscribing to the faith.
Though Argentineans are religious by nature, this spirituality does not translate into regular mass attendance. A large number of people do not attend mass or observe the Christian mandates. However, other expressions of religious devotion can be observed on a daily basis, like the making the sign of the cross or recitation of a religious litany. The physical symbols of Christianity are omnipresent - the statues, the shrines, and the pastoral healers. However, growing hordes of foreigners are beginning to descend on the country for healing of another kind –medical tourism.
From my point of view, religion in Argentina is far from a simple affair. In addition to the Holy Trinity, a range of saints and holy people receive due veneration. In addition, numerous cults exist and occupy an important place in people’s lives. These cults are usually animist with beginnings in folklore, history, and saint veneration. Faith in Argentina is inextricably linked to legends.
One such legend centers on La Difunta Correa. Deolinda Correa, with her infant son, accompanied her husband during the Civil Wars. During the journey she died from starvation and thirst. When her body was found, her infant son was still feeding at her breast. This miracle resulted in a shrine to her memory, which now hosts 17 chapels.
Barboza Julieta
ReplyDelete3 "B"
The importance of religion in Argentina
In Argentina, religion plays an important role in our society. Through most religions, not only the official Catholicism, people learn social morality and ethics. Therefore, all them achieve the same purpose of guiding the life of human beings according to their own beliefs. For these reasons, I believe that religion could positively influence our community. In addition, religion should be included in education issues. But; it should be taught as “ethics”, not just about one religion.
To begin with, all religions encourage good behavior, or moral behavior. In this case, a person compromises with high moral principles. For instance; people must keep promises, be cooperative and avoid committing acts of violence. If society adopts these central doctrines, there will be peace and social security. In other words, the influence of any kind of religion may reduce crimes, abuses and violence among people.
Furthermore, education should teach “ethics”, instead of one specific religion. There are certain values every child should learn from a very early age. Among the main ones are: treatment of others, strength of conviction and emphasis on family values. Others may include money management and good decision making. Thus, teaching children good values will improve their moral standing in life.
In conclusion; al religions fulfill its aim of motivating people to behave well. However, the best way to do this is through teaching “ethics”. Finally, learners will become more balanced in their daily lives and will be aware of the preservation of human values.
CLAUDIA MOLINA
ReplyDelete3°B
Religion and Society
Nowadays our society is suffering a serious crisis , there is corruption in every sector of the country. There is a moral and ethic problem. For this reason, religion plays an important and positive role in political and social life in Argentina, because it has the duty to evangelize and persuade people to build a new society based on good social and moral values.
Religion gives hope and makes sense to people’s life. It has an influence on the way a person thinks, as well as how they should behave and act. Generally, religion has been the cause of conflicts between nations and also the cause of division, war and hate. However, it does also contribute to the world peace. Actual society has lost many values , family life is the most affected. The Church has the duty to promote values and to encourage people to behave in a good way, in order to stop all the problems which affect our society, defending family life and promoting new ways of thinking.
To conclude, the country should pay more attention to religion because it is very important in political and social life, we could tackle many problems with religion’s contributions,as it is capable of guiding people’s ways of thinking, based on moral and good manners.
Aguero,Maria de los A.
ReplyDelete3º"B"
RELIGION IN ARGENTINA
Apostolic Roman Catholic religion has always been known as the predominant religion in Argentina. Despite this, at the present, Argentina has a complete religion freedom. It could be possible to think that religion does not play a role on social and/or political life in Argentina. There are some issues which prove that religion is not included when political decisions are made about these issues.
One of these issues, which was known around the world, is same sex marriage. When it became law, the state left aside religion in order to make that decision and to prove that religion does not govern the country. Even though the state is leaving aside religion to prioritize civil rights, people is participating as the voice of the religious rights.
Another issue which will be treated is the legalization of abortion. If the state approves this law, it means that religion is not taken into account and it will be very difficult to be accepted for the people who believe that to conceive a child is a gift from God.
These issues are making very difficult to maintain the family values that the different kinds of religions try to promote. And it generates doubts around religion and most of all conflicts between the citizens.
To conclude, we all have our own beliefs and nobody can judge us or make decisions for us. I think that all religions are good for the people who want to belong to them. A country is built by diversity of religious people and as part of this country; we have to respect and accept each other no matter to what kind of religion we belong.
Corvalàn,Patricia
ReplyDelete3º B
Religion: Influence on Family Values.
Argentina is officially a Catholic country since the Constitution declared that “The Federal Government supports the Apostolic Roman Catholic religion”. However, the Constitution also includes religious freedom stating that all the inhabitants of the nation are entitled, among other rights, to freely profess their cult. As a result, Jews, Muslims, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, Catholics, Christians, among other groups lived together in Argentina. For this reason, religion is an important part in Argentineans lives and it does not prevent the progressive evolution of the society. Furthermore, when deterioration of family values is becoming an epidemic in today’s society, religion can promote positive family values because it teaches and acts as a guide for behaviour.
Regardless of which religion we profess, it is a guide that teaches discipline, honour, a sense of right and wrong, benevolence to the fellow human, among others important values. In addition, if parents are able to teach their children trough religion the difference between the right and wrong, their responsibility to help and accept their fellows without judgment, the way to treat animals and respect every people in the world, intolerance and hate would not exist in our society. For instance, if we are Catholics, we teach intolerance when we consider that those who believe differently are not right in their beliefs. Moreover, we are teaching our children to value and accept diversity by becoming a tolerant person.
In conclusion, religion has a significant role in a family since it can stimulate family values. Religion can positively affect children’s behaviours, if certain principles are taught such as the notion of right and wrong, be a kind-hearted child and others. The way we view religion and our acceptance of religious diversity in Argentina, will shape the children perspectives, attitudes and interactions with a religion and its followers.
Rementeria, Eliana
ReplyDelete3rd B
Religion in Argentina
Catholicism is the official religion in Argentina. Others religions, such as Evangelicals, Muslims, Jewish, Jehovah’s witnesses, Mormons, Orthodox and Buddhists, are not prohibited but they are not given the same importance and consideration. I think to have an official religion constitutes discrimination in our country.
Argentina Government not only should give support to the Catholics but to the other religions also. The official religion receives economical support from the Government whereas the others worships have to cope with their matter on their own. This affirmation is stated in The National Legislation (Laws Nº 21.950, 22.162 and 22.950). An example of an unfair situation is the fact that all citizens have to pay the taxies and a percentage of the money collected is given to the official religion without considering that not all the citizens are Catholics. In order to have an equalitarian society, the Government should take care of all religions.
Schools should teach universal values instead of religion. Students are taught Catholics beliefs and, in some cases, are obliged to take part in Catholics traditions. For instance, in Salta, students are taken to the cathedral for Señor y Virgen del Milagro’s celebration. Instead of impose a religion, educators might teach values that are common in all religions and are important for a well life together in society.
Argentina gives a negative impression taking care only of the Catholic Church. The Government should give the same importance to all worships and try to find out what they have in common and encourage it. That is why I think to have a dominant religion promotes discrimination.
Cruz,Cintia
ReplyDelete3B
Essay
Topic 1
Religion is an important factor in the life of a country. How each religion sees the world has an influence in people´s values and their way of thinking about certain topics. The role of religion in the social life in Argentina and the values that it promotes are taken into account by people when they have to give their opinions. The consideration of a non – religious model in our country should be considered by people in order to evolve to a more comprehensible community. No matter in which god, in which religion you believe in, it affects in the society´s life.
The role of religion on the social life in Argentina sometimes is positive and sometimes is negative. Some religions offer their help to the poor by giving them food or helping the homeless. Also some of them offer groups where children and teenagers can be part in order to be part of a team, for instance, football, boy scouts, choirs, or just to help people. But the way of thinking of religion affects the way how society reacts to certain issues, for example homosexual marriage.
Some of the values that religion has about family should be re thought. We are in the 21st century and the family model that we have known in the 20th century has changed. The concept of family in 2010 includes having parents that are married, or divorced, or single mothers, or homosexual parents or homosexual relatives. How religion treats these topics, what they consider right or wrong affects the evolution of society, in their acceptance or their rejection, in their inclusion or their discrimination.
The switch to a non- religious model in Argentina would be preferable in order to promote the integration comprehension and non discrimination of the different religions that exist in our country. Argentina is an officially Catholic country, bur it does not mean that is the only religion. With a non- religious model, people would understand more the other religions beyond the official one.
In Argentina, the majority of the population is Catholic that is why our country has it as the official religion. The way how Catholic Church treats some issues has an important influence on people´s thinking. That is why I think that the change to a non- religious model would be better for us in order to promote tolerance among the different religions, to respect how they see the world and what they believe in. We will become a more comprehensible and tolerant society.
Religion in society and Politics
ReplyDeleteby Fernando Montoya.
Religion is a controversial matter for a society and its politics due to its
subjectivity. Religion is meant to preserve values of goodness and spiritual welfare which plays a positive role for living in community. Although a nation can support different beliefs in some cases the political officialisation of one religion can restrict some people’s rights. Thus the religious promotion can be positive or negative when
concerning politics and society.
For most people religion is very important since it provides them with the necessary beliefs to support their way of living. Following their religious principles helps them to enrich their spirits by improving ideas and attitudes. Among all the values promoted by most religions preserve the relevance of cooperation as well as respect for the one-self, for the others and for life. In this way religion can be relevant socially and politically to preserve order and well state for living in society.
The variety of religious principles, values and ideas can be controversial if these are to be adopted in politics. Although a nation must be respectful towards all religions it should not promote support to one religious model. Officialising one religion can be considered as offensive or discriminatory for other religions as well as for atheists. The adoption of certain religious principles may restrict other people’s rights. A clear example could be seen in Argentina when treating the passing of law for homosexual marriage. Such matter was considered to be out of the Christian principles supported by the Argentinian political law. This example shows that being governed under the influence of one official religion may prevent the legal acceptance of new ideas and beliefs for some parts of one community in search of its welfare.
In conclusion, the well being of a community must be supported by a political system promoting beliefs and ideals of goodness, which in most cases derive from religious models. However, the political laws should not follow or serve specifically from one religion specially in times when human rights and diversity of thoughts are highly emphasized.
Religion in Argentina
ReplyDeleteBy Rolando Chocobar 3rd "A"
Religion has always played an important role in Argentina. Considering the social life most inhabitants belong to the Catholicism. The great majority of these followers are imposed this religion when they are born by their parents. Mostly catholics do not practise their love to God, duties as well as, ceremonies connected to their religion as it should be. Taking into account has had much influence on the political life in Argentina but now the catholic church has lost most of its power. Many people that are in government became not God fearings. Once they rise to the power they usually swear on the Holy Bible that if they do not do their duties, God and the Nation should demand them. Some of these people are involved in corrruption issues and it leads to their illicit enrichment. As we could see Catholicism plays a negative role on both social and political life in Argentina.
Catholicism has possitive family values, the problem is that many families do not care about such principles. Nowadays there is a tendency not to practice these personal values. That is why we can see how most Argentinians misbehave everywhere such as, at home, at work as well as many robberies in the streets commonly shown on television. These everyday violent scenes do not let the evolution of the society.
I think that the country should be more spiritual than a religious country. It is better for most people to start changing their minds and to behave correctly. For instance switching to a non- religious model may lead society into a complete chaos. Many people would do whatever they want and not even man’s system of law would pacify them.
In brief, religion plays an important role in Argentina. The main problem seems to be the followers’ attitudes towards God’s precepts. Most catholics do not practise such religion as The Lord of Heavens wants.
Does religion play a role on social and political life in Argentina?
ReplyDeleteNowadays it is common to associate religion with politics in Argentina. Both are believed to be the foundations of a social life in this country. However, during the current government, Christian Religion is not valued as it is supposed to be, i.e: National government are continously trying to diminishing the power that belongs to the church as an institution. For example, the traditional May 25th mass and the marriage between homosexual people, were highly important issues in which the opinion and participation of religion were not taken into account most part of the time.
The 25th of May is the national day for Argentinians and, for Christians, one of the ways to celebrate this day is attending to the traditional Tedeum celebrated in every Cathedral all over the country. This year this celebration caused a huge controversy because Cardinal Bergolio celebrated the Tedeum at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Capital Federal, while at the same time, President Fernández de Kirchner proposed another Tedeum but at the Lujan Cathedral in Lujan –both places are in Buenos Aires-. Here we can distinguish how conflictive is the relation between politics and religion in Argentina.
As regards with homosexual marriage, we were witnesses of the major discussion for a long time. Most of us participated on religious movements called: “Queremos mamá y papá”, which were against of the new law. But others did not participated of these manifestations because they were those who are in favour of an equal marriage. Once again church “lost the battle” against government, as we all already know the law was promulgated. There are those people who believe that this is not over yet, they think that church is planning a kind of revenge against the government and this law. It is a matter of time to see what will happen.
In conclusion: as the title of this essay suggest, personally I think that religion does not play a part in social life and even less in political life. It is a never-ending story of arguments and discussions between present government and church.
Anabella Lagoria Bueno
3º “A”