Through the debate of whether popular culture dilutes or reduces religion, and whether fast religion which encompasses contemporary services and quick consumption of religion is better compared to slow religion of traditional contemplative communal religion. I embrace both the fast and slow religions as mutually have important aspects and have overlapping features. In both fast and slow religions one is constantly seeking and attempting to find fulfilment within the content that is given. Furthermore, in fast and slow religions both have the opportunity to not be understood. For example, in the traditional religions one can be part of the religion and take in the beliefs but have blind faith and simply believe without questioning. This can be applied in fast religion as an individual is looking for instant gratification instead of inquiring about what they are being taught. Furthermore, fast and slow religions are both relevant in the modern world. The fast religion encompasses a contemporary approach that makes use of social media and the issues we are presently dealing with. Slow religion is not outdated as the ethical basis of the religion still applies today. For example, the Ten Commandments are a set of ethics that are important today, ‘thou shall not kill,’ is not an outdated concept. In addition, traditional religions have included modern ways of accessing the traditional content, with services being televised and the Bible study chat groups being available online. In closing, religion, even the traditional form, shifts to fulfil the needs of the present world and one needs to constantly challenge and evoke discussion about their religion to help with the understanding of ones respective religion. Tuesday, 3 April 2012
Week 6: Fast or Slow Religion?
Through the debate of whether popular culture dilutes or reduces religion, and whether fast religion which encompasses contemporary services and quick consumption of religion is better compared to slow religion of traditional contemplative communal religion. I embrace both the fast and slow religions as mutually have important aspects and have overlapping features. In both fast and slow religions one is constantly seeking and attempting to find fulfilment within the content that is given. Furthermore, in fast and slow religions both have the opportunity to not be understood. For example, in the traditional religions one can be part of the religion and take in the beliefs but have blind faith and simply believe without questioning. This can be applied in fast religion as an individual is looking for instant gratification instead of inquiring about what they are being taught. Furthermore, fast and slow religions are both relevant in the modern world. The fast religion encompasses a contemporary approach that makes use of social media and the issues we are presently dealing with. Slow religion is not outdated as the ethical basis of the religion still applies today. For example, the Ten Commandments are a set of ethics that are important today, ‘thou shall not kill,’ is not an outdated concept. In addition, traditional religions have included modern ways of accessing the traditional content, with services being televised and the Bible study chat groups being available online. In closing, religion, even the traditional form, shifts to fulfil the needs of the present world and one needs to constantly challenge and evoke discussion about their religion to help with the understanding of ones respective religion. 
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I agree with your comments, Alexis. I think that religions need to constantly evolve with society, yet at the same time the traditional "slow" side of religion gives comfort to people and reminds them that in this fast-changing world, some things are still constant. So, if all religion was "fast" I don't think that would work so well. And if all religion was "slow" it wouldn't work so well either as it would not be able to keep pace with today's society. To reach the maximum number of people (if that was a religion's aim), but fast and slow elements are needed.
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