Rhetoric & Religion (3/90)

Returning to the church my parents have attended since we moved to Texas, almost 20 years ago, is an interesting experience. The congregation has changed since I was last involved four years ago. The people I know have grown older, their lives have changed. So many of the families there I don't know, strangers. Today, the church 'honored the graduates'. So I put a picture on a table and stood on the stage while everyone clapped. Nice, but I feel extremely guilty, because some of the cards left on my table are from people I don't know.

Sitting through the services always make me wonder about religion as an institution and how it operates. I know that they believe that rhetoric has the power to influence people. You hear it when they discuss politics, violent tv, or the outside culture in general. However, scratch similar examinations of the sermon, I somehow felt disloyal. 

When we were discussing gender and the issues that complicate it last semester, Dr. P explicitly stated that she was not questioning the student's belief systems. However, there were certain assumptions behind each belief and she felt it was important (as do I) to acknowledge those assumptions and understand how they operate to reinforce our beliefs. 

This morning I was stretching this awareness. Not only are there assumptions behind a belief but holding a belief produces certain actions. My thoughts about the specifics need a little more work before the make it here, but I'll work on that and post them soon.