On any given Sunday morning, a variety of religious broadcast can be found on the television airwaves, espousing the “Christian” teachings of the “Jesus Christ.” The sizes of these religious organizations vary greatly. They include mega churches, upwards of 500,000 members and regular attendees, and the smallest of ministries, 20-30 members or less. Everybody is eager to spread the gospel. Although the Roman Catholic Church has very few authorized television broadcasts, media coverage of the pope and this institution provides its followers with extensive coverage and updates on church and papal activities. What is seldom heard or seen are the glaring contradictions of Christian doctrine and how it influences politics, social change and
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This is just one of society’s ills. If Christ’s teachings are true and the resources are available, why does hunger still exist? If there is not enough consensus among members to unite the church towards the eradication of just one inequitable human evil, then what is the real purpose of religion, particularly Christianity, if not social equality and justice for all, as Jesus taught? It would seem that the least available and least sought after benefit gained from the church, under the presumption that Christians are following Christ’s teachings, would be prestige and increased social standing as a result of membership. Exploring the historical role of organized religion and those in control of the church, and by extension society, may provide a beginning to answering how and why the church’s action directly contradict its teachings. The United States was founded as a religious refuge by men and women of deep religious convictions who, in the founding years of the country, crossed the Atlantic Ocean to practice their beliefs freely and without sovereign mandate. The religious passion for freedom among the original settlers faded, to some extent, over time. New immigrants brought with them their own religious beliefs and practices and this religious revival fueled new energy into American religion and consequently, …show more content…
While the initial intentions of the early settlers may have solely been religious freedom, the past and current day motivation of ruling class Americans today seems to be greed, dominance, control and suppression of others, particularly those with differing beliefs. This is the same religious divide that pitted North against South, slaveholders against non-slave holders, blacks against white and haves against have-nots. In chapter 8 of Social Inequality in a Global Age, Sernau cites Max Weber, “Elites may have multiple bases of power, but they have a common desire to bring social closure and to monopolize political power” (2010). What has proven to be one of the most effective bases of power in the United States has been religion. This is evidenced by the prevalence of religious themes and support of particular candidates during
This is just one of society’s ills. If Christ’s teachings are true and the resources are available, why does hunger still exist? If there is not enough consensus among members to unite the church towards the eradication of just one inequitable human evil, then what is the real purpose of religion, particularly Christianity, if not social equality and justice for all, as Jesus taught? It would seem that the least available and least sought after benefit gained from the church, under the presumption that Christians are following Christ’s teachings, would be prestige and increased social standing as a result of membership. Exploring the historical role of organized religion and those in control of the church, and by extension society, may provide a beginning to answering how and why the church’s action directly contradict its teachings. The United States was founded as a religious refuge by men and women of deep religious convictions who, in the founding years of the country, crossed the Atlantic Ocean to practice their beliefs freely and without sovereign mandate. The religious passion for freedom among the original settlers faded, to some extent, over time. New immigrants brought with them their own religious beliefs and practices and this religious revival fueled new energy into American religion and consequently, …show more content…
While the initial intentions of the early settlers may have solely been religious freedom, the past and current day motivation of ruling class Americans today seems to be greed, dominance, control and suppression of others, particularly those with differing beliefs. This is the same religious divide that pitted North against South, slaveholders against non-slave holders, blacks against white and haves against have-nots. In chapter 8 of Social Inequality in a Global Age, Sernau cites Max Weber, “Elites may have multiple bases of power, but they have a common desire to bring social closure and to monopolize political power” (2010). What has proven to be one of the most effective bases of power in the United States has been religion. This is evidenced by the prevalence of religious themes and support of particular candidates during