I identify as an atheist, but after listening to Kwame Anthony Appiah’s thought-provoking work, “Mistaken Identities,” I find myself intrigued by the concept that “religion is not equal to a matter of beliefs” This notion became particularly apparent when discussing religion with my friend, who, despite having a Muslim mother, does not actively engage in Islamic rituals. However, she strictly adheres to a no-pork policy. When I asked her why, she replied, “I simply couldn’t.” This made me reflect on my own choices regarding food. Personally, I have never consumed rabbits and never will, not because of any religious scripture, but because it is illegal in Hong Kong. A societal regulation has engraved a doctrine in my mind that I feel compelled to follow.
As Tariq Modood suggested in Religion in Britain: Challenges for Higher Education, atheism often borrows practices from religion, but without faith in a god. However, Appiah defines religion as a combination of practice, fellowship, and a body of beliefs. My parents and grandparents believe in Buddhism and Daoism. I celebrate Christmas and Buddha’s birthdays. Why not? They are bank holidays! If I have a religious family (fellowship) and religion-related habits from my upbringing (practice), but I don’t believe in God, am I actually a bit religious?
As humans, we have a natural inclination to label and categorize things to enhance our understanding. However, this understanding is often influenced by our preconceived cultural notions. For instance, if someone refrains from consuming beef, they could be classified as a Hindu, a vegetarian, a practitioner of Chinese medicine, an environmentalist, or simply someone who dislikes beef. To overcome these biases, we must challenge our inherent recognition systems and embrace the vast array of possibilities and answers. I think this could be our first step of self-liberation as suggested by Tiffany Webster in Social Justice/ Buddhism/ Queerness.
Perhaps everyone possesses a degree of religiosity, or maybe no one does. “Race is the ultimate delusion in that it both does and does not exist in reality.” (Williams, 2016) So is religion. The question then arises: What defines religion? If religion encompasses practice, fellowship, and a body of beliefs, then my personal “god” might very well be my cat. This contemplation leads me to question whether I am truly an atheist after all.
4 responses to “I believe”
Your reflections on religion are interesting, questioning refraining from certain foods mainly meats. As your friend, I too come from a Muslim upbringing, and pork was something to fear from an early age, I tried it at a barbecue and it was no big deal for me. I am now a vegetarian/pescatarian. Old scriptures warn us of bad meat hygiene and deadly disease that can kill, a question can be asked why didn’t other religions ban pork if it was so deadly?
I think traditions and cultures can be born out of conditions of a place and time, so they are consequential or by chance they become part of the belief system. May be to unravel them in contemporary life is a natural process.
The other part of your blog was that you celebrate multiple religious days, and take part in communal religious events, doe that make you religious?
it is an interesting question. If I look at my own experience, I take part in Christmas, especially the festive aspect of it, I think the majority celebrate the festive and not the religious aspect. It is about the community and taking part that stands out. My heritage is Muslim, so to be a Muslim one can see lots of rituals and practices you must each day, weekly and annually to be considered a practising Muslim although it varies for each Muslim in my opinion. Whereas other religions may have fewer commitments to be considered practising.
Thanks very much for your thought on pork, Asuf! When I was travelling around the Mediterranean sea, most countries are Muslim countries. I was really curious about the no pork ritual, why pork, and why pork only? Part of the answer as you said, bad hygiene, another part that I found is that Muslim begins from desert where resources are limited and pig doesn’t have other functions besides being food. That’s why people wouldn’t want to waste more food on raising pigs. It actually makes a lot of sense. Please correct me if I’m wrong:) So I agree that “traditions and cultures can be born out of conditions of a place and time, so they are consequential or by chance they become part of the belief system”. It’s kind of like the egg first, chicken first question. Rituals first? Or belief first? For a religion.
This is a really interesting discussion Joanne and Asuf. I love (sort of) the idea that the practice and the fellowship can make you a little bit religious. It’s so interesting to me since I also picked that bit out, but weirdly didn’t think about it in relation to my own practices. I celebrate Christmas and Easter and ineffectually try to tell my children what they are actually about (not presents and chocolate as they believe), but I’d never thought this made me a bit religious!
Also the no pork thing. I think I’ve been a bit afraid to ask about the roots of some of these things, or to ask people I know, in case they feel I’m making a judgement or challenging them, or just being ignorant. It’s funny because I’m a vegetarian and when people ask me about it it feels quite clear if they are genuinely wanting to know about my reasons, or if they are itching to get on their soapbox or see if I’m one of the ‘annoying ones’, whoever they are. I’ve never thought about how I can distinguish this before, but maybe I will.
I would have enjoyed having some of these conversations on this course and I think it would have opened something up for me.
I love the bit of humor you injected in your reflection at the end Joanne. Religion is such a sensitive and big topic. It’s evident that who we are today, some of the behaviors we have and beliefs we have are a direct product of upbringing. I grew up with Muslim friends and my best friend sister used to eat ham at some point in her life. I never questioned why she did when I knew it was forbidden. As a Christian, I drink wine and rose occasionally but the rest of my siblings don’t. Does that make me less of a Christian? This is interesting and opens up so many questions related to religion. Is religion just a set of rules and practices? What if you do not believe in those rules? We usually avoid questioning, especially when it comes to religion but I think it’s healthy and helps in finding your own answers.