Syncretism and Compartmentalism - Essay Example

Midterm Paper 2 According to Brook (13), Syncretism is an act that results when fundamentals of individual religions are fused into one world view. In order to discuss and understand the issue of Syncretism, my arguments will be based on the facts that syncretism should not be allowed to dominate the mixings that are among individual religions in a religiously multiple community. Therefore, it would rather be necessary to consider syncretism on what it is not supposed to be. First, according to Brook (14), syncretism is not ecumenicism which means that facts and genuineness is universal. Unique religious, universal views are accepted as certain customs not necessarily by different views of the facts and genuineness, but by their external characters and elements, such as ritual undertakings and modes of dissertation. Under these separate views and rites, there lie the same truth and the common quest of truth. Brook (14), ecumenical view is not obviously syncretism, in as much as it can be practiced without merging individual customs. This can result to logical attempts to synthesize teachings and bring the differences together; however, the obvious conviction of the common element of truth will be an adequate skeleton for ecumenicists to reason out those differences without having to advance to syncretism. In a general understanding, of this issue; therefore, each and every custom and religion being merged should be given the rights to do what they believe is their own truth without any feel of the other religion that they are being suppressed or intimidated. Second, according to Brook (14), it should be noted that syncretism is not inclusivism meaning that ideas and forms of one religion’s traditions are best put forward if they are explained in terms of another one. By so doing, the contents and rules of one religion are reduced into the content of another one. Bringing one religion within the ideational system being practiced by another religion will see the previous religion being regarded accordingly as a low-grade, imperfect, or "failed" representation of truth and custom. Viewing this idea from the side of the dominant religion, this will probably seem like a syncretism combination, yet in particular, nothing has been added or incorporated that might significantly disorient the religion and customs into which the new elements and ideas have been included or excluded. This can; therefore, be an appropriate method of merging two distinct religions without necessarily interfering with the belief of any religion. It is a common knowledge to understand that nobody will ever want to be dominated by the views of another person and so, with this type, everyone seems certified though with the indirect superiority of one religion. Third, according to Brook (15), syncretism is not compartmentalism. Compartmentalism recognizes and accepts the fact that various teachings elaborate and explain different areas of reality and views on various truth aspects. Based on this view, every religious tradition is practically and functionally specialized; thus, each religion can join others without being termed as inferior and reduced to any of them. The individual religion addresses unique realities of issues and concerns without colliding with others. Brook (15), each religion occupies a dissimilar place in the realm of thought, being parallel to others at those certain places where its own understanding and explanations become insufficient and reinforcing others when their explanations correspond and agree. Compartmentalism has been common in explaining the coexistence of Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism in China. Flourishing of all the three, the strengths of a common one will be regarded as complementing the inadequacies of the other. Brook (15), when one becomes dominant of the Chinese religious view; it is seen as abnormally appropriate to that era of history. Furthermore, compartmentalization can be practiced on the basis of development, judging each tradition as exceptionally appropriate to a certain level of a persons spiritual development through life. Although the differences between the traditions are treated as being non-conflicting, they are; however, not reconciled through efforts at syncretic integration. Lastly, according to Brook (15), syncretism is not eclecticism. This is the acceptance by one religion of whatever concepts and elements of another religion that it regards as of value. Eclecticism is a regular response to pluralism of the religion since most people, except the intellectuals or seriously dedicated followers of a specific religious, universal views, are more concerned with the availability and the worth for encountering the demands enacted by the stresses and possibilities of every day’s life than with the cleanliness and coherence of the customs and traditions available to them. Other sections of customs and traditions may be brought into the individuals religious life without real blending of the separate customs. Furthermore, eclecticism sets up habits of interface among religious customs and traditions that give the way for syncretic reunion. Therefore, for proper syncretism, there must be at least some acceptable values and elements in one religion that can attract another religion to accept these norms and hence adopt them. Although an extremely hard decision and one that needs a lot of sacrifice, it is a convenient way of seeing two religious groups each with its own traditions and customs merge due to the acceptance of one into another, which will not feel as if its rights are being violated since it will have accepted their values without any force (Brook 24). The welcoming religion (the owner) should; however, not take advantage to intimidate the quest religion and consider it inferior in any manner, an attempt which might only lead to separation and conflicts. Thus, the religious leaders should be able to make it clear to their followers that the two religious groups have freely merged and that no form of any intimidation or provoke from either side will be of order. In summary, the process of syncretism is achievable depending on the methods employed, the people involved and the region in which it is applied. Not each method of syncretism favors every tradition and customs of people, but rather different traditions tend to adopt a certain method that they seem contented. It might appear unusually impracticable to achieve syncretism entirely in the world as doing so will undermine the traditions of other regions, and make them immensely inferior in the eyes of the mergers who will believe that they are superior. This will only trigger endless disputes in the world and maybe another world war. The process can only work within a small locality where there are few contradicting communities with almost similar traditions and customs. Work Cited Brook, Timothy. Rethinking syncretism: the unity of the three teachings and their joint worship in late imperial china. Journal of Chinese Religions. Vol. 1, pp. 13-35. 1988. Print. Read More