Thelenberg 2017 18
Aus RMG-Wiki
Homework
Look at this cartoon and describe + analyse it!
- Newt [Gingrich] in picture 2 of the cartoon is a Republican politician.
- Write out the topic sentence!
- The rest of the description and analysis can be done as notes!
- Work with the concept of Irony
Recent Homework
Work through the worksheet on TV Evangelism and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_right#Views.
- Cover these aspects:
- How do TV evangelists and the Christian Right influence US politics?
- Who are the Christian conservative voters according to these texts?
- How many people can TV evangelists and the Christian right mobilize?
- What aims do the Christian conservatives have? What do you think will happen in the USA and in US politics if they prevail?
Watch from 0:00 bis 10:10.
Watch twice! Take notes!
- What is criticized about the churches/televangelists/message they preach?
- What is the prosperity gospel?
- Describe and analyse this cartoon!
- Follow the instructions given here!
- These phrases may be useful
- Describe and analyse them using the phrases and the 3 steps decribed here!
Basic Skills & Information
- Information on homework and oral grades
- Reading and Marking technique - SQ3R Method A useful method to read, mark and annotate texts.
- Working with Cartoons
.
Muslims in Britain
Texts and Summaries
- A problem of perception: Muslims are well-integrated in Britain – but no one seems to believe it
- Problematic issues between British Muslims and the "Christian" majority:
| fast-growing, disadvantaged part of population |
|
Situation:
Attitude:
|
Attitude:
|
Statistics
Statistics on muslims' education and emplyment!
- If you are not sure how to work with statistics, see here!
- What effects does this have on the muslims' situation, attitudes and integration?
Concepts of Intergration and Assimilation
Multiculturalism - positive ethnic diversity
- descriptive approach: assessment of fact of cultural diversity
- normative approach: ideologies or policies that embrace and promote this diversity - multiculturalism as a society “at ease with the rich tapestry of human life and the desire amongst people to express their own identity in the manner they see fit.”
- focus on interaction and communication between different cultures
- focus on diversity and cultural uniqueness
- common aspect : no specific ethnic, religious, or cultural community values presented as central.
Cultural assimilation
Process by which a person or a group's language or culture come to resemble those of another group.
- Full assimilation: new members of a society become indistinguishable from members of the other group.
- quick or gradual change?
- desirable for an immigrant group?
- Immigrant assimilation:
- complex process in which immigrants fully integrate themselves into a new country.
- four primary benchmarks for immigrant assimilation:
- socioeconomic status (education, occupation, income)
- geographic distribution
- second language attainment
- intermarriage
Why do young muslims turn extremists?
- Read from beginning to "And it's a very powerful grip on one's mind. And in my case it took years to shed that influence." (third box)
Reasons for Extremism:
- crucial event: death of thousands of European muslims in war in Bosnia in 90s! West just watches and doesn't help the muslims there. (Parallels to wars in Iraq .... muslims are being killed and no-one cares)
- Islam is cleverly presented as way of looking at history: like in Marxism it is always a struggle, them against us, bad against good, everybody against the muslims (idea of Western/Jewish conspiracy against Islam/muslims)
- at school/in university young muslims become part of an active, organized, outspoken movement ⇒ proud to be an active muslim, feeling of power, feeling of belonging to group and of changing the world.
Two Generations of British Muslims
Cartoon
Cartoon women's rights in Islamic countries
Who/what/where:
- two women who accidentally meet on the street
- both turn around, after the have have met and look at the other …
- contrast
| left: | right: |
* clothes, shoes => shows …
|
* garment
|
| Who ==> modern, western woman: …. | ==> conservatively dressed muslima: …. |
.
Religion in the USA: The Christian Right, Megachurches and TV-Preachers
Vocabulary
.
Facts on Religion and Politics in the US
Special Religious Groups and Institutions
- (Evangelical) Mega-Churches
- church should not play the role of the state, but have clear positions
- against stem cell research
- against gay marriage
- against abortion
- some are liberal in enforcing their views
- some churches are big: up to 8,500 seats in church and about 11,000 congregants (Megachurches even bigger)
Trends
- 72% of the Americans want their president to be clearly religious
- half of the Americans think churches should express views on political matters
- 41% of the Americans want more religion in politics
- Americans vote for candidates who aren't afraid to express their religious views
- Americans are comfortable with showing their faith in public
- about 25% are white evangelical christians and vote republican
BUT:
- majority says churches should not endorse candidates
- only about 30% of Americans refuse gay marriage in 2003 - as compared to 41% in 1996
- many Americans believe that religion should not have any direct influence on US politics but believe in religion being a privately exercised, individual matter
- many American Christians are not evangelicals and clearly want a more liberal, open-minded idea of Christianity and belief in God
Typical aspects/facts concerning religion in the USA
- US constitution strictly separates church and state
BUT:
- US politicians - unlike their counterparts in Europe - often mention God in their speeches (God bless you, God bless America ...)
Megachurches
Download Summary of facts about Osteen's megachurch
TV-Evangelism
Comedy can be so informative ...
Watch 0:00 to 10:10
- What is criticized about the churches/televangelists/message they preach?
- What is the prosperity gospel?
churches exploit peoples´ faith for money
- people send huge amounts of money
- vulnerable and sick people are the main target, esp. poor or severly ill, desperate persons (e.g. donate money instead of getting cancer treatment)
Churches/TV evangelists:
- claim they can heal in the name of Jesus ( even cancer )through prayer
- really use money for privat airplanes , big houses (instead of church-work)
- braggg with wealth
- preach prosperity gospel:
- wealth shows you that god likes you and that you believe enough
- donations help to get god's favour
- seed faith : donated money is a seed and it can be harvested, it multiplies through god's favour
- god even wipes out your credit card debts if you use the card to donate
All this is legal, as long as creed of the church is nothing illegal!
- churches don't pay taxes for donations and big houses,and for the TV channels, because they are exempted as churches
.
TV-Preachers
How do TV evangelists and the Christian Right influence US politics?
- have their own TV show
- social media to influence voters
- direct mailing lists
- massive book sells
- try to get the right president elected
- donate money to a presidential campain
Who are the Christian conservative voters according to these texts?
- female and over fifty
- people who want to believe something
- people are more religious
How many people can TV evangelists and the Christian right mobilize?
- 17 thousand members in one mega church
- audience of 20 million viewers/voters
- 20 to 25 percent of the electorate
What aims do the Christian conservatives have? What will happen in the USA and in US politics if they prevail?
- they save America
- influence in politics
- raise money and recruit new followers ==> want to form a disciplined army
- against gay marriage
- against abortion
- against divorce
- no sex before marriage
- against contraception
- against sex education in schools
- religious education into school
- they want creationism to be taught in schools
