Quakerism and Social Change

Within the article "The Meeting for Worship" I found a lot of connections to religion and social change. The article was about the Light Within. During this time Quakers sit in a circle silently to reflect on God's presence. They speak only if they have a revelation.
The goal of Quakerism is to experience fundamental truths during their quiet time. Once the truths have been contemplated they return to the outside world and apply the truths accordingly. This reminds me of Plato's Allegory of the Cave. In Allegory three men are fettered against a cave wall. One man is given the chance to escape the darkness of the cave and experience the light from the outside world. Once he has experienced all the truths, etc from the outside world he has to make a decision if he would like to stay in the light or if he should go back in the cave to tell the truths to his fellow cavedwellers.
This is the same task that Quaker's undertake. To them the outside world is considered to be the cave but during their quiet time they are allowed to seek the light and fundamental truths. Once they have received a revelation it is their choice whether they would like to apply these truths to the outside world. The truths represent religion and the outside world represents social change/our modern world. The Quakers call this process withdrawl and return.
There are two sides to this process. The negative side is that it takes one back to the sourcs of meaning and value. I see this as a person being stuck in the past. The positive side is that one can put meaning and value in the routine of life, which I took as applying religion to social change.
Basically, one can either be stuck in religion and take the Bible literally and thus being passive towards social change. Or one can go back and really understand the religion and take that meaning and return to modern society and apply the basic meaning of life that religion has in mind. For example, the article states that "without a deep awareness of the divine Spirit by which the world is united from within, social reformers can only prescribe external remedies" (68). This is similar to prescribing a depressed person medicine without ever counseling them. Quakers want to go to the root of the problem...find the remedy and then apply that to the overarching problem. The Quaker religion takes and active role in social change, they want to combine the two world...so the "two gradually merge until the lives of those who are most advanced the two become one" (63).

The Relationship between Religion and Social Change

I really do not think that the base of the relationship between religion and social change. Instead, I think it has more to do with how church responds to social change. I think that people or religious institutions can or cannot make religion coincide with social change. For example, the Catholic Church is still anti-contraceptives but our era almost requires it, especially the high rate of teenage pregnancy and AIDS (in reference to condoms only). Yet there are other churches that support the use of contraceptives. This is a good example: both religions use the Bible as a source for their information yet they take different points with social change.

In my opinion, religion is meant to respond to social change. The basic point of religion is to provide comfort, support, and advice for people. This will not work if people approach religion with a 19^th century viewpoint. I think that each generation and each religious institution can approach the basic tenets of a religion but extract a whole new meaning that coincides with their lifestyle and the modern world around them. This is the same method that Margaret Fell used when establishing the Quaker religion. She looked as the basics of the Bible, only approached it with a different viewpoint. Instead of reading passages in a way that demeaned women, she interpreted them in a way that emphasized the importance of women.

Finding Rastafarian values in Bob Marley's album Exodus

Bob Marley's music is more than just a popular sound for people of all races, religions, and ages. His music conveys a Rastafarian attitude in four ways: (1) his lyrics connect Rastas directly with their faith since music is an integral part in Rastafaria, (2) his music pays tribute to important influences in religion, (3) his lyrics use Rasta terminology which makes it feel like the music is a Rasta's music, (4) the messages in the songs are directed towards Rastas; hen Rastas ilsten to it they are reminded of Rastafari's values.

Evidence pertaining to point #2:
In "So Much Things to Say" Marley sings that people (most probably Christians or anyone who is against the Rastafari faith) stole Marcus Garvey rights, turned their backs on Paul Boyle. Rastas consider Garvey to be a prophet. This serves to pay tribute to Garvey who is an importatn figure in the history of Rastafari. It also keeps him alive in a song so everytime a Rasta hears it, he will not forget his faith's past. This is much like the stories in the Qur'an of sinners not trusting the prophets but who turned their back to believe in another religion although Rastas would not call anyone of another faith as sinners.

Point #3:
In many of Bob Marley's songs Rasta terminology is used.
Downpressors- pressure is applied from a position of power to put down a victim. This word is used in the song "Guiltiness": woe to the downpressors, they'll eat the bread of sorrows.
It is also found in "Exodus": Jah come to break downpression, rule equality, wipe away transgression, set the captives [slaves] free.

In "Exodus" the phrase open your eyes and look within is used. This refers to the Rastafari approach to see life from the inside looking out. An individual must find truth within himself and then view reality from the eyes of this truth.

I and I- Iyaric," Divine within the individual. "Jamming" states that 'I and I will see you through.' This is the encouragement that Jah is with believers. This provides comfort and reassurance to Rastas.

~Rasta terminology is used in the lyrics to make the music feel like it is directed towards Rastas (much like hymns or Christian rock is for Christians), it is also meant to convey Rastafari messages to Rastas.

Point #4:
Many Rastafari messages are within each Bob Marley song:
"Exodus"-leave Babylon
"So Much Things to Say"-individuality
"Guiltiness"-no materialism
"Three Little Birds"-nature/pure/irie
"Punk Reggae Party"-no alcohol
"One Love"-obviously, one love

To bring the four points of Bob Marley's Exodus album together, his music in particular serves a similar purpose that the Bible/hymns do for Christians and that the Qur'an does for Muslims (since the Qur'an is more effective when it is recited rather than read). Marley's music is meant to be more than heard. Although it is true that the instruments and pure music mean as much as the lyrics (because an integral part in Rastafari is the music itself) Marley's lyrics are meant to evoke and sustain the Rastafari spirit in everyone...to either keep their Rastafari faith strong or to call them to the faith/practice.

Evidence of Rastafari-My Experience in Jamaica

One important thing to keep in mind while reading the Wikipedia entry on the Rastafari movement is allegory. In order to understand Rastafari one must understand it from a Rasta's point of view. If one does not, one will not fully comprehen the concepts. For example without an allegorical frame of mind it is hard to accept that Rastas believe that smoking pot results in Enlightenment.

Relating my experience to the article...
"Rastafari developed among an oppressed people who felt society had nothing to offer them except more sufferign"
Wikipedia states that the Rastafari movement emerged among the working class and peasant black people. It also states that there were confrontations between poor black Rastas and middle-class police. Jamaica society is set up much differently that America's. I was amazed to see the poorest of shacks at ground level yet right above the shacks on a hill would be grand mansions. Since they live so close, it would be hard for poor Jamaicans to share the same religion as the upper class since the division of life is so prominent. The Rastafari message encourages Rastas to be content with who they are and their lifestyle. It encourages them to not be envious of the rich. This message would appeal to the poor since would be so easy for them to envy the rich because they can see their lifestyle everyday from their own shack. Rastafari gives people a way to deal with their reality and a purpose to live each day, even if it is in poverty.

Smoking cannabis
An important place to visit for any Rasta is the Bob Marley Museum, which was a Marley's former residency since 1975 in Kingston, Jamaica. The Museum is engulfed in lush vegetation, an important part of the Rasta faith. On one side of the museum is Rita Marley's organic garden. It is still as healthy as it was when she lived there with Bob. It is said to be the healthiest garden in all of Jamaica. This relates to the Rasta view of the importance of natural earth. On the other side of the house is the oak tree, which was Bob Marley's favorite place to smoke. His cannabis plant is still in the yard and is still extremely healthy.
In my tour group were three men, one was from Jamaica and the other two were from other Caribbean islands. When we were standing by the oak tree they started to smoke their joints ni rememberance of Bob Marley. The tour guide told them that it was illegal to smoke but they could not understand...they stated that Bob Marley would have wanted them to smoke there. And this is probably true...this relates to the part of the article where Rastas smoke to gain Enlightment and to be at one with the earth and to exert their consciousness.
Going to Jamaica helped me to better understand Rastafari in two ways: it allowed me to see the purpose the religion serves for the lower class. Since they live next door (literally) to the rich it would be easy for them to be envious but Rastafari encourages them to love the earth which does not require any wealth, to not be obsessed with materialism, and to just love who they are. Secondly, by visiting the Bob Marley Museum and my interaction with the three Rastas, it is obvious that Rastas never forget their past and the founders of their religion; they have deep respect for them.

Response to Imtiaz's Post on "Metropolis"

I agree with Imtiaz's post on Metropolis, posted on April 26. Imtiaz stated that he viewed Metropolis completely in a religious context. He also noticed the director's attempt to reach to specifically to the wealthy class and warn them of the suppression of the lower class and what dangers the future holds.
I really thought it interesting what Imtiaz noted about the symbolism of the Eternal Garden. He thought the Garden represented Heaven (Upper World) and the factory/Lower Class as Hell (Lower World). I immediately took the Eternal Garden to mean Eden, but I like Imtiaz's interpretation better.
It's also very interesting that Imtiaz compared Jon Fredersen to God. My immediate reaction was that of course he couldn't be God because he was evil. Yet, as I thought about it more I realize that this comparison is relevant. For example, in the Bible God is seen as all merciful, etc. etc. But in the Qur'an God is noted in two starkly different ways: he is seen as merciful but more frequently seen as a wrathful God, much more like Jon Fredersen. In order to be fully convinced in the comparison of Jon Fredersen to God, I would have to see a more merciful side to Jon Fredersen.

Ethiopia as the Next Zion

While reading the Kebra Negast I found it interesting that the Ethiopians consider Ethiopia rather than Israel to be the Zion. This makes me think of the Mormons and how they consider a city in Ohio to be the Zion. This brought up two thoughts in my mind. First I think that Zion serves the purpose of making a generic, worldwide religion accessible to groups of people. It allows them to feel close to God, thinking that they were called upon him to establish Christianity in their region. It's hard to feel close to a religion when the Zion is miles away. Secondly, I really do not think there has to be one Zion. Historically, yes, Israel is known as the Zion but I think in our modern age Zion as changed to be a state of mind. Zion can be anywhere for people as long as a place is named Zion for a religious purpose only.

I also found it interesting that in the Kebra Negast Queen Sheba's character is the focus on many pages. In the Qur'an it is mentioned that Queen Sheba rules but I do not think it goes so in depth with her story like the Kebra Negast. I think this reflects the society and the role of the female. It's interesting that you can have historical, religious texts that are very similar in message (Bible, Qur'an, Kebra Negast) yet different parts are tweaked to fit the structure of society at that time and they persist that way throughout history...no one tries to rewrite them to fit the modern society.

The Religion Found in Metropolis

What I noticed about Metropolis was how similar the society seemed to the drug society in "A Brave New World." In both societies people seem to be living in accordance with rules imposed upon one ruler of the community. They go about their daily life with no emotions as drugs, or in this case a machine, takes control of their lives. They are made not to think but to just go through the motions. To me, this symbolizes a lack of religion in society. It seems as if society is based solely on science and not on emotions. I think this may be what the director had in mind when filming Metropolis.

I do not agree with what was mentioned in Monday's film discussion that the director made the film without a specific purpose in mind. I believe that he saw something wrong in early Twentieth Century society that he wanted to bring to people's attention; the best way to do this during the time period was through film, the most popular form of entertainment. I believe that he may have seen a problem arising between science and religion. Now, the boundaries here may not be strictly science and religion but could also mean having a life run by convenience and machines versus a simplistic life where the heart rules (for example, a country life versus a life in urban Chicago). As a comparision with the film, "A Brave New World" is run by the feelings evoked by machine-made drugs. As soon as the lead character starts having romantic feelings for a woman, he is chastized. Metropolis is set up in the same fashion.

When the film starts out the society is so bland as workers drag themselves to work. Yet the film lightens up when Maria enters the picture, acting as a prophet similar to John the Baptist. She gives the workers hope of a better, more purposeful life. This is what religion does to most societies; it allows people to think both with their heads and their hearts and allows them to feel.

Overall I think Metropolis was written and filmed with a specific purpose in mind to show what society was like, what its faults were, and what would happen if the faults escalated without correction. I also think the religious themes were intentional to compare science and religion and the necessity for both in any society, just as each person needs both the head and heart to survive.