Religion and popular culture is an article that looks at the significance of religion and pop culture that has taken a toll on the society. Religion is no longer, what it used to be in the Jewish tradition where it has its foundations. The changes that are happening in the filed of technology and affecting the secular society has also had an impact on religion. The manner in which matters of religion are being handled has been the center of debate between the conservative and liberal religious believers. The most alarming issue is the fact that religion has become digital and hence not having the impact it was meant for. We realize that religion is not just about having the literal contact but also about physical relationships with people and practicing what is being preached. It has been claimed that pop culture has had much influence in religion that it has become quite difficult to distinguish between the spiritual and the secular.
The article also tries to distinguish between religion and pop culture in line of the current society. It is rather unfortunate that many scholars and even religious leaders despise religions that have incorporated technology into their teachings claiming that they have adopted secularism. This has been the assumption forgetting the fact that change is inevitable and in as much as religious teachings remains to be the same over the years, generations change and hence using different means to acquire the teachings. Conforming to technology cannot be equated to conforming to the standards of the world. It would be unpractical to use the ancient means of communication to convey religious messages to a generation that is not acquainted to them. It hence only makes sense if religion adopts current changes to convey the message in the most appropriate way (Santana 93).
Pop culture has been rated in terms of music with faster beats, the use of online literature to influence the masses, fancy dressing and the use of television to gain popularity. These are just some of the issues that have been associated with pop culture which are also synonymous with religion. The largest percentage of the productive is composed of the youth who seem to be swayed by pop culture. It is for this reason that religion attempts to use some of the elements to attract the youth and transform them into morally upright individuals. The fact that the same youths are involved in religious ministry also explains why modern culture has been evident in religious practices. Since religion is more about the walk rather than the physical appearance, religion in the modern world has allowed the youth to express themselves as they wish especially in music and dressing (Santana 132).
In discussing issues of popular culture and religion, the issue of drugs, sex, smoking and alcohol abuse, which are synonymous with popular culture but not religion, has been neglected. We realize that despite the fact that gospel and secular music has adopted similar beats, there is a clear distinction between the lifestyle that the secular pop culture has adopted which is contrary to what modern religion lives. When it comes to such issues, religion has a clear demarcation on them. This does not however imply that people with such secular features are locked out of the church. Religion is a place of love and restoration, by welcome such characters that may appear evil in the eyes of the world, religion only plays its role of helping the society and encouraging godly lifestyles among the youth.
Despite the defensive side that religion has taken against pop culture, it cannot be denied that there is a lot of compromise especially in the church. Some of the youth have taken advantage of the fact that they can easily be accepted in church irrespective of what they display to corrupt the morals of others. This is done especially through awkward dressing, which paints a church as a different entity from what it was meant to be. The fact that certain form of dressing is associated with secular groups makes it inappropriate for the youth to use them. It has been considered that dressing habits such as body piercings, tattoos, and certain hairstyles, wearing ornaments especially by men and clothes that expose body parts that are considered private are some of the challenges that the church has had to contend with. It has become quite a challenge to distinguish between judging a person by their physical appearance and character, which are mostly used, by the church or the youth to defend themselves.
The young people in the church have become a nuisance to some of the elder members who feel that their dressing should reflect their inner character. They youth are however opposed to the same with the reason that they have to dress and present themselves as their age requires them to. Bridging this generation gap is what has lead to the splitting of the church. We hence realize that there are certain religious gatherings that are preferred by the youth while others preferred by the older members of the society (Santana 76). This is also reflected on church congregations where by religious leaders that do not define how the youth should dress or look like in the church will attract such people. The conservative religions on the other hand attract the older members of the society.
Controversy of religion and pop culture also arise on the televangelism preachers who have gained a lot of popularity across the world. They are also condemned of being overly conscious about material wealth, which is considered contrary to religious teachings. According to the Jewish definition of religion, humility is an important factor, which has for long been related to poverty and conservativeness. However, most of the popular teaching in print, internet and television is all about prosperity. Religion is all about winning souls and shaping good morals in the society. Such a topic is not common, as it is not appreciated by the congregation. Religious leaders are hence obliged to preach that which is acceptable to gain popularity and hence a bigger congregation (Santana 59).
After all has been said and done, all that will matter is the state of the heart. Religion is not a public matter as though by many but rather the relationship that one has with the Maker. No matter what we may display ourselves to be in public, our actions will always speak out. The church hence needs to concentrate in building the morals of the society by giving proper teachings to the youth. It is the message preached to them that will ultimately create a conviction within their hearts and hence transforming their outward appearance. Religion losses its taste when they engage in condemning the physical being before mentoring their souls.
Works cited
Santana, Richard. Religion and popular culture: rescripting the sacred. University of Michigan: McFarland, 2008.
