select two of the Suras from the primary texts page and explain what you think the themes are. Be specific in your analysis and give examples from the text. Your explanation should take into account the lectures and textbook discussion of the Quran as well as evidence from within the Sura itself. The goal of this post is to engage this important text and to begin to familiarize you with Islamic scriptures. If you use any other sources, be sure to cite them.
THE QURAN, VERSES 1, 53, AND 81-87
The Quran is the central scripture for Muslims. This document contains English translations of nine suras or chapters from the Quran. Read all nine suras. The first Sura, The Opening, or the Fatiha, is the most recited chapter of the Quran. When reading it, ask yourself how this brief prayer describes God and how it guides the faithful. When reading Sura 53, think about how the text portrays Muhammad as a recipient of divine revelation. Similarly, pay attention to the metaphors for God used and how do they present God. Finally, the Suras 81 though 87 contain a variety of themes. For instance, in Sura 81, how is revelation represented? Or the representaiton of justice and judgment in Suras 82 and 86, or the call to be pious Sura 87. Be sure to recognize how each of these Suras touches on themes found in the other Abrahamic traditions.
Document 2
The religion in everyday life assignment asks you to turn on your ethnographic gaze by spotting and photographing religion everywhere you find it. You will be surprised to learn that pop culture is imbued with religion in many ways. Fashion, music, TV, art, and food are just some of the mediums though which religion is articulated. Take a picture of a religious symbol, artifact, person, etc. Anything religious that catches your attention. In addition to the picture your will need to write a short paragraph, no less than 250 words briefly explaining how religion is present and relevant in your discovery. On the description tell us where your photograph took place, when did you take it and why do you think it is a religious symbol. Also tell us why this caught your attention.
In order to receive full credit for this assignment you MUST submit both a picture and written discussion on your picture. The picture must also be one that you took. This means either a photograph you took with a camera or a screen capture of a program you are watching. DO NOT submit pictures you found on the internet, this defeats the whole purpose of you doing your own ethnographic work.
Document 3
, write a post indicating:
1. What is the sociological imagination?
2. How is the sociological imagination being applied to understand obesity and anti-fatness in the videos. Include timestamps from both videos to indicate where the information/examples can be found.
3. Choose a social problem that interests you. Describe how the sociological imagination can be used to understand this issue. Provide at least 3 specific examples.
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sura 1: The Opening (Al-Fatiha)
This foundational sura provides insights into Islamic beliefs and practices. It addresses God directly, invoking His praise, seeking His guidance, and acknowledging His power. The sura emphasizes the importance of the Day of Judgment and the need to follow the straight path.
- God’s Attributes: The Fatiha describes God as the Lord of the Worlds, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. These attributes highlight God’s power, compassion, and benevolence.
Sura 1: The Opening (Al-Fatiha)
This foundational sura provides insights into Islamic beliefs and practices. It addresses God directly, invoking His praise, seeking His guidance, and acknowledging His power. The sura emphasizes the importance of the Day of Judgment and the need to follow the straight path.
- God’s Attributes: The Fatiha describes God as the Lord of the Worlds, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. These attributes highlight God’s power, compassion, and benevolence.
- Guidance and Protection: The sura seeks God’s guidance and protection from the path of those who have incurred His wrath. This reflects the belief that God is the ultimate source of guidance and salvation.
Sura 53: The Star
This sura focuses on the Prophet Muhammad’s reception of divine revelation. It emphasizes the miraculous nature of the Quran and its superiority over other forms of literature.
- Muhammad as a Messenger: The sura portrays Muhammad as a trustworthy messenger of God, chosen to convey the divine message.
- Divine Revelation: The Quran is presented as a revelation from God, a miracle that surpasses human ability.
- Metaphors for God: The sura uses metaphors to describe God, such as “the Lord of the Throne.” These metaphors convey God’s majesty, power, and transcendence.
Suras 81-87: Themes
- Sura 81: The Reckoning: This sura emphasizes the Day of Judgment and the accountability of individuals for their actions.
- Sura 82: The Resurrection: This sura focuses on the resurrection of the dead and the final judgment.
- Sura 86: The Fount: This sura highlights the importance of charity and giving to those in need.
- Sura 87: The Most High: This sura extols the greatness and power of God.
Common Themes in Abrahamic Traditions:
- Monotheism: All three Abrahamic religions, including Islam, emphasize the belief in one God.
- Prophets and Messengers: Each religion recognizes a lineage of prophets and messengers who have conveyed God’s message to humanity.
- Day of Judgment: The concept of a final judgment and accountability for one’s actions is a common theme in all three religions.
- Moral and Ethical Teachings: All three religions provide moral and ethical guidance for believers.
Document 2: Ethnographic Observation
Photograph: A photo of a Christian cross hanging on a wall in a classroom.
Description: This photograph was taken in a local elementary school. The cross is a prominent symbol of Christianity and is displayed in a public space. The presence of the cross in a classroom indicates the influence of religion on education and the cultural context of the community. It also suggests that religion plays a role in shaping the values and beliefs of students.
Document 3: Sociological Imagination
Sociological Imagination: The sociological imagination is the ability to see the connection between personal experiences and broader social forces. It involves understanding how individual problems are shaped by larger social structures and historical processes.
Obesity and Anti-Fatness: The videos on obesity and anti-fatness demonstrate how the sociological imagination can be applied to understand these issues. For example, the videos discuss how cultural norms and stereotypes about body image can contribute to obesity and discrimination against overweight individuals.
Social Problem: Poverty
The sociological imagination can be used to understand poverty by examining how broader social factors, such as economic inequality, lack of education, and discrimination, contribute to poverty. Here are three specific examples:
- Structural inequality: The unequal distribution of resources and opportunities can perpetuate poverty. For example, systemic racism and discrimination can limit access to education, employment, and housing for marginalized groups.
- Cultural factors: Cultural beliefs and values can influence individuals’ attitudes towards work, education, and financial management. These factors can contribute to poverty or hinder efforts to escape it.
- Historical context: Understanding the historical context of poverty can help to identify the root causes and develop effective solutions. For example, the legacy of colonialism and slavery continues to impact poverty rates in many countries.
