Of Michael Scott, the Chanukah Song, Christmas and the Dude
By Kiran Laxman JGSM '11
Issue date: 2/12/10 Section: Perspectives
Michael Scott: Kelly, you're Hindu so you believe in Buddha.
Kelly: That's Buddhists.
Michael Scott: Are you sure?
Kelly: No.
To the handful of you that are still wondering, this is one of the many innocuous references to religion made in The Office. We laugh at Kelly's ignorance here but seldom realize that these superficial references to religion and the associated stereotypes seem to be our only source of insights into religious traditions. It would be fair to say that if Kelly is our only teacher of Hinduism and Fox Network our only reference on conservative Christianity, we will not be sufficiently prepared to face the complex religious interactions of daily life.
According to Stephen Prothero, author of Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know and Doesn't (2008), religious literacy is "the ability to understand and use in one's day-to-day life the basic building blocks of religious traditions - their key terms, symbols, doctrines, practices, sayings, characters, metaphors, and narratives." Unfortunately, Prothero also asserts that the current cultural climate is one of religious illiteracy. Issues of homosexual marriage, separation of church and state, and international relations are all religiously loaded subjects. As future leaders in various capacities, it should be every student's prerogative to become religious literates by developing a perspective and effectively engage in these controversies.
An ideal solution would be to include mandatory classes (preferably non-graded) in the curriculum on religion, philosophy and political history to help form the foundation for a personal narrative. But we do not live in an ideal world, and I am positive that anything mandatory would definitely be an infringement on the first amendment. More importantly, God only knows how this will affect the omnipotent Businessweek rankings.
A more plausible option would definitely have to include food (preferably free) and a song and dance routine. Think Diwali, celebrated in the Johnson School on November 21st whereas the rest of the world celebrated it way back in October. Here is a religious festival (celebrated first to mark Lord Rama's homecoming after defeating the demon king Ravana) being made accessible to a much wider audience through popular culture and being accepted without any reservations.
Kelly: That's Buddhists.
Michael Scott: Are you sure?
Kelly: No.
To the handful of you that are still wondering, this is one of the many innocuous references to religion made in The Office. We laugh at Kelly's ignorance here but seldom realize that these superficial references to religion and the associated stereotypes seem to be our only source of insights into religious traditions. It would be fair to say that if Kelly is our only teacher of Hinduism and Fox Network our only reference on conservative Christianity, we will not be sufficiently prepared to face the complex religious interactions of daily life.
According to Stephen Prothero, author of Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know and Doesn't (2008), religious literacy is "the ability to understand and use in one's day-to-day life the basic building blocks of religious traditions - their key terms, symbols, doctrines, practices, sayings, characters, metaphors, and narratives." Unfortunately, Prothero also asserts that the current cultural climate is one of religious illiteracy. Issues of homosexual marriage, separation of church and state, and international relations are all religiously loaded subjects. As future leaders in various capacities, it should be every student's prerogative to become religious literates by developing a perspective and effectively engage in these controversies.
An ideal solution would be to include mandatory classes (preferably non-graded) in the curriculum on religion, philosophy and political history to help form the foundation for a personal narrative. But we do not live in an ideal world, and I am positive that anything mandatory would definitely be an infringement on the first amendment. More importantly, God only knows how this will affect the omnipotent Businessweek rankings.
A more plausible option would definitely have to include food (preferably free) and a song and dance routine. Think Diwali, celebrated in the Johnson School on November 21st whereas the rest of the world celebrated it way back in October. Here is a religious festival (celebrated first to mark Lord Rama's homecoming after defeating the demon king Ravana) being made accessible to a much wider audience through popular culture and being accepted without any reservations.
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