2.1

In this lesson, I learned that pop culture and religion can influence each other heavily. The influence of religion is quite apparent. For example, this lesson reminded me of the Christian rock band called “Skillet”. I remember as a kid hearing their songs, and saying the words, but not really knowing what it meant. It wasn’t until later on that I learned the meaning behind the words and who the “awaited savior” was, that was mentioned numerous times in their songs. Additionally, in the video about how Japanese religion has affected Pokemon, they mentioned “Amaterasu”, who is a Japanese Sun goddess. “Amaterasu” is also present in the Japanese animated series called “Naruto” and is an attack involving fire. Izanami and Izanagi are also part of the series as well as Japanese religion.

I also learned that pop culture influences religion just as much. For example, in the Keep it 101 podcast, it was mentioned that Mahmoody wrote a book where she criticized her Muslim husband, but extended it to all Iranians and claimed that Muslims are bad to the core, as it were. Now, it is obvious she is not impartial towards the subject and has strong feelings about her views, and this can cause apologists of other religions to use this to support their arguments and push their sentiments instead. Like all people of all races, religions, classes, and creeds… there are good people and there are bad people. That one man does not represent the religion nor does he represent all the people of the religion, however, people who are looking for “ammunition” against a people or religion, will use this as a way to portray the religion and its followers in a certain light. These are just a few demonstrations of how pop culture and religion influence each other, often times without us even paying too much attention to it.

#IntroRelUH