Post 4: Comparing Perceptions of Religion Online and Offline
Kirsten Jacobson
kirsten.jacosbon123@gmail.com
So far throughout my research there does seem to be a reoccurring message through the religious stock figure of Buddha praying, the message of peaceful and solitary prayer being the true value all practicing Buddhist live by. This clearly supports the understanding of the rituals within the religious community and their belief in finding inner peace away from the main stream world, secluded, peaceful, and quietly self exploring their faith.
The article I read this week was extremely interesting in that it actually brought rise to opposition to the constant portrayal of Buddhist being alone and peaceful. Not to say that they aren't, but the article proposed a very interesting idea by comparing practicing Buddhists to practicing Islamic people today and how they are perceived differently by the outside world because of they way they are presented in the media and then perceived by the American public.
As stated in an article written by Thomas A. Tweed, "influence of Buddhism in the United Stated [has] 'increased considerably' during the last decades of the 20th century and its reception has been mostly postie. The article goes on to explain further that a strong correlation between Americans and a positive view towards Buddhism is the way "Buddhism has been able to loosen its association with public violence in ways that Islam has not" (Tweed). For example, as shown in the memes I have gathered so far, Buddhist are often times shown as peacefully praying by themselves, taking away the image of group think even though in the past there have been people from the Buddhist community to commit acts of violence, it was towards themselves such as setting themselves on fire, where as when Islam is presented to the American people it is usually images of groups, angry groups, associated with the large media coverage of the Iranian hostage situation and the attack on the Twin Towers as two examples.
Overall the stereotypes of this religious group that are being promoted through the memes I have found thus far support the idea that all practicing Buddhist are peaceful, quiet, solitary, and holy. While it is not an offensive stereotype per say, it does hyper-generalize the entire community into a small box that limits what society believes they are capable of which is obviously a large problem that comes with stereotyping.
Lastly, I think that by constantly having a faith portrayed in positive light, it gives them a lot of power over people and different religions because they have a false sense of perfection around them.
Well done here. I would like you to expand on the following point you made in this post, "it does hyper-generalize the entire community into a small box that limits what society believes they are capable of which is obviously a large problem that comes with stereotyping. " How might this image of Buddhist as quite and peace be problematic. Also consider what the memes above have to say about public perceptions of Buddhist and Buddhism?
ReplyDelete