Taylor, K.

1. MY RELIGIOUS/
SPIRITUAL AFFILIATION

2. GROUP DISCUSSION
• What religious/spiritual orientation do you identify with?
(If any)
• What were your earliest religious messages? If none,
what were your earliest memories of religious
awareness.
• Where did you receive these messages?
• How did these messages make you feel?

3. RELIGION & SPIRITUALITY
RELIGION
Authority directed or a religious affiliation
Organized set of beliefs & resources
Traditionally structured
Behavior oriented + outward practices
Absolute truths
Practices of worship
What practices, rites, or rituals do I follow
?
What is right and wrong
?
What is true and false?
SPIRITUALIT
Y
Self directed or self discovery
Sense of purpos
e
Personal belief or value system
Emotionally oriented + inward directe
d
Connection with higher power, nature, sou
l
Energies (i.e. Chakras
)
“Vibes
”
Where do I find meaning?
How do I feel connected to others? The world? Myself?
How should I live
We may develop our own sense of right and wrong or
true and false
Overlaps can vary by individual:
Existence| Beliefs | Impact life direction and choices| Dictate our lifestyle| Reflection | Awareness

5. RELIGIOUS OPPRESSION
refers to the systematic subordination of minority religious groups

6. CONVERSION THERAPY
EXPERIENCES
• Part 1:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7svhtV3EO0Q
• Part 2:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlloQUj6AuU

8. RELIGIOUS OPPRESSION

9. CHRISTIAN
PRIVILEGE
?
• Social and cultural advantages held
by Christians in the U.S. relative to
non-Christian
s
• In other words: Christian beliefs,
language, and practices do not
require any special effort to be
recognize
d
• Examples?

10. CHRISTIAN
HEGEMONY
• holidays keyed school &
workplace calenda
r
• political references to Bibl
e
• A weekend that supports Christian
worship (e.g. Easter weekend)
• music and TV (i.e. pop culture)
pertaining to holiday
s
• positive references to fait
h
• [In the U.S most likely to]
“freedom to worship freely, without
fear of violence or threats
”

11. U.S. CORE BELIEFS
Freedom of
Religion for All
“Separation of
Church and
State”

12. The Supreme Court upheld the use
of politically sanctioned religious
speech, rituals, and symbols derived
from Christian texts and traditions.
For example, “In God we Trust” was
added to U.S. currency in 1864.

13. RELIGION AS A WEAPON
KKK
Slavery and Jim Crow
“Slaves, obey your masters.”
“…sending out the light of Christ to the world.

14. RELIGION
AS A
WEAPON
Capitalism and
Religion

15. RELIGION AS A WEAPON
Human Rights
“It is not acceptable that people of faith be
exposed to such abuse," -Texas Attorney
General, Paxton
“Thou shall not kill. “

16. T U R B A N S ,
H I J A B S , K I P PA H S
C A N B E W O R N
U N D E R
E Q U I P M E N T F O R
R E L I G I O U S
P U R P O S E S .
A R M Y 2 0 1 7 &
N AV Y 2 0 2 0
STRIDES
TOWARDS
INCLUSIVITY

17. THANKS FOR VIEWING
Come to class on Monday prepared to discuss your thoughts and reactions!
EXTRA CREDIT OPPORTUNITY : Send me a message on Canvas stating
your favorite color before class starts on Monday (10/18 by 10:59 am) ☺