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Religion and Dogma
What is DOGMA?
Ism(s)
•
What is an ism? Ideology...
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Theism: there is a god, usually one god
•
Monotheism: only one god (Islam, Judaism,
Christianity)
•
Polytheism: many gods (Buddhism, Hinduism)
•
Pantheism: god is everything, the nature and
universe (Hinduism, Taoism)
•
Atheism: definitely no god
•
Agnosticism: may be a god
Religion and South Park
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In carnivalesque, Bakhtin thought that the
“sacred” was central to carnival's humor
South Park interrogates the “unquestioning
acceptance of bizarre religious tenets”
(Johnson-Woods p. 228)
South Park also explores religion vis-à-vis:
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Churches as financial corporations (tax exempt)
Churches as brainwashing institutions that use
superstitions
Churches as outdated secret societies
Images of Jesus Christ
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Depictions of Christ often reflect the ethnic
characteristics of those depicting
In South Park he is stripped of divine powers
but is a celebrity
Across the board...
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Divine leadership is not the problem; earthly
hypocrisy is the issue
South Park looks to the hypocritical and applies
logic to examine religious belief systems
“Carnival is a reminder that the pope's shit
stinks, too” (Johnson-Woods p. 240)
A challenge...
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South Park started with religious debate (“War
on Christmas”)
Challenge of religious dogma; Not an “attack on
religion”
Literal interpretation of texts as truth/word of
God
–
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“inerrancy”: Bible is perfect, historical document
South Park challenges believers NOT beliefs!!!
Misinterpretations of holy documents
Can religion encourage critical thought? What
Christianity
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2.2 billion adherents; world's largest
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Protestant, Roman Catholic, Anglicism
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Began in the mid first century
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75-80% of Americans claim to be Christian
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50% align with Protestant Christianity
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25% align with Roman Catholicism
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4-5% other religions
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15% atheist, agnostic, don't care
The Catholic Church
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A Christian denomination
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1.2 billion adherents
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Views itself as the original church
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Baptized v. faith; one god but other god-like
(i.e. Virgin Mary); Sacred Tradition v. Bible only
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Anti-contraception, homosexuality is unholy
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Sex abuse and ordaining women
The Doctrine
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Roman Catholicism uses doctrines taught by the
Roman magisterium (the Pope and bishops)
Catholic Church derives its doctrines from the
"sacred deposit" found in Scriptures and Sacred
Tradition
The Sacred Tradition is inaccessible because
only the magisterium is able to establish the
authentic meaning and the contents of Sacred
Tradition can only be known through the
magisterium
“Red Hot Catholic Love” (2002)
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Aired after the 2002 child sex abuse scandal in
U.S.
Critique of atheism and Catholic “sacred
deposit” aka “Holy Document of Vatican Law”
(Queen Spider)
Inability for religions to adapt to modern society
(change)
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Critique of fundamentalism
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Inability to think critically
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Carnivalesque? Lower body?
Stories....
2002 Catholic Church Scandal
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Began with exposing the Boston Archdiocese
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Major issue in US; opened the floodgates
globally
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Cover up of abuse; often handled by Church
not authorities
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$2B-$3B in settlements
•
3,000+ cases
The Love Boat
Pitfall
“Bloody Mary” (2005)
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Air eve of Feast of the Immaculate Conception
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Controversial episode
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Complaints to advertisers
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Role of God and humans in choice, life,
behavior
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Alcoholic Anonymous...choice v. faith
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Need to learn discipline
•
Carnival? Lower body?
Censorship
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Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights
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Anti-defamation group
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Protect First Amendment rights of
Catholics...but what about those who speak
against it?
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Opposed portrayal of Virgin Mary
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Episode did not re-air like “Trapped in the
Closet”
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Joseph A. Califano, Jr.,Viacom's Board
8, South Park & Blasphemy
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South Park is born out of blasphemy
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Blasphemy: disrespect for something sacred;
often contempt or hatred
–
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god(s), people of God like pope, priest, nun
Blasphemy as free speech?
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Protected in most countries
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In US, blasphemy law would violate
Constitution (14th Amendment)
Blasphemy can be censored by....?
• South Park: “they mock not the belief, but the
believer, and credit the believer where their lives
reflect good, ethical practice. They also point out
hypocrisy wherever possible.” (Koepsell p. 106)
• Nothing or nobody is sacred in South Park
5, Science v. God
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Science is a method of discovery of “truth”
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Not a doctrine itself, but has doctrine
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Belief in proportion to evidence
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Scientific method: routine for discovering
theory
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A theory is accepted when it's simpler, raises
fewer questions, explains more, and coheres
with what we already know
Logical Fallacy
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Since it hasn't been proven false, it's likely
true
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“appeal to ignorance”; lack of evidence is not
evidence
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No certainty in science; future discovery will
overturn current truth
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Existence, burden of proof on believer
• Religion is “ethics” and “meaning”; not how the
world works
• Scientific claims are open to scrutiny; religious
claims? (i.e Jesus)
• Religious believers are quick to critique other
believers/beliefs but not question their own (i.e.
Scientology)
8
“Go God Go” and “XII” (2006)
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Theory of evolution v. Creationism
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Satire on the debate in education
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“Retard baby”
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Science v. Religion
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Atheism as its own religion
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Atheist as extremism
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God is a spaghetti monster
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Societies will wage war without religion
Answer to the “Great Question”
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Getting rid of “isms”
Allied Atheist Alliance v. United Atheist Alliance v
Unified Atheist League
Allusion to Life of Brian: Judean People's Front/
People's Front of Judea/ Judean Popular
People's Front)
Pastafarianism
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Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster
Parody religion that opposes the teaching of
creationism and intelligent design in schools
Satires creationism
Evolution
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Banned from school curriculum until the 1960s
"Logic and reason aren't enough: You also have
to be a dick to everyone who doesn't think like
you." ~Ms. Garrison
New Atheism as New Religion?