A question that has been on my mind: how can Christians (or
religious people in general) deal with the idea of religion as an ISA?
Obviously, there are a lot of elements of organized religion
that put people into boxes—that “interpellate” them, as it were. My Christian faith teaches me ways to view
myself and ways to view the world. It
gives me a social structure within which to operate. It gives me perspectives on other people’s
truth claims and acts as a filter for my own experiences. Most significantly, it teaches me who I should
submit to (God). Is religion an
oppressive structure?
I suppose that, in one respect, the answer has to be
Yes. If we look at individuals as the
most important basic element of the world, than any structure that restricts or
even directs them is oppressive to a degree.
But perhaps that is where I can differ from the structuralists who imply
that all structure is oppressive. Seen
from a religious point of view, the most important thing in the world is not me
as an individual, but God. Within that
mindset, seeing the world through a set of religious structures is not
oppression; it is liberation to act within reality rather than within whatever misconstrued
visions of reality I as an individual might otherwise hold.
I’m curious how this strikes you all. Does it sound brain-washed? Is it an adequate response to the question of
ISAs and religion? Do you have other suggestions
for how the two relate?
I struggle with this question too, which has resulted in a general distancing from the church (as a place, not Church as a group of believers). Maybe that distinction— church and Church— can help in our discussion of religion as an ISA. It would be difficult to deny that church is an ISA; we give our money to ensure its continuation, it supports values that help our society function (think: "opiate of the masses"), etc. But what you have pointed out is helpful to fortify Christianity against marxist criticisms— how can a transcendent institution (Church) be oppressed by structure?
ReplyDeleteGood questions. I don't have answers. But, I think that these are important issues that the church should be talking about and addressing.
I think the answer is to be aware of its function as an ISA and to limit its effectiveness as an ISA. I think Xians should be subversives within the church.
ReplyDeleteFor me the church's oppressiveness is at its worst when it is seen as an ally of either government or big business or any other structures and encourages people not to think critically about them. I don't know. That's obviously not a super in depth answer, but it seems important for the church to not obscure the effects of structures on people.
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