Please be restricted to only the instruction and materials I’m providing first I will attach the order that the professor is required for the term paper then I will discuss what are my ideas. I will attach all the material required for the essay please if you need more information just let me know try not to use outside sources.
Professor:Return to one of the communities you visited earlier in the course with our comparative categories in mind. Write a 4-5 page double spaced (12 point type) essay describing the community and reflecting the theories introduced with our comparative categories (for example, if you write about ritual, think about Gastor or Turner). A marginally acceptable paper will be entirely descriptive, a strong paper will draw on the theories we have studied to explore the comparative category.
The use to the term “Comparative,” here, refers to the the approach to the study of religion and the categories we explored in Kessler. You are not required to compare two religions, in fact you do not have time or space to do that well.
Be sure that:
a) your paper is based in a site visit and not a traditional research paper
b) it is a minimum of four full pages
c) it explores a comparative category with a theoretical model introduced in Kessler
Student: This is the community I visited:https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=4&v=luiLSTfFc5c&feature=emb_title.
The comparative categories that the professor is talking about is from the book studying religion. What I decided to do that is the best approach for the paper is used the comparative category of MYTH and the theory of Functionalism. I will attach the chapter of the book that talks about Myth and functionalism(page 72). Please follow the instructions of what she is asking, from the religious community that I provided which is the HawaiianBuddhist temple. Also, I will include a paper that I did about my ideas for the essay. If you need any more information or anything is not clear please let me know but I emphasize trying to follow her instructions as much as possible.
My post about the term paper:
For my term paper, I decided to choose my visit to a Buddhist temple and apply Kessler’s comparative study about Myth and the Functionalist theory. First, attending a Buddhist service was a peaceful and harmonious experience. Some of the events from the practice required more research for better understanding. I observed multiple segments during the Buddhist ceremony that can be interpreted as Myths. I will discuss some of the comparative Myths and then create a relation with the functionalist type theory.
One of the essential phases that I can describe from my visit is when the Buddhist monk kneels in front of a Buddha statue and meditates. I can describe this practice and traced it back at the beginning of the religion when Buddha meditated for seven weeks under the “Bodhi Tree” before obtaining enlightenment. After receiving enlightenment Buddha started spreading the word about his discoveries. This event can be described as a Creation Comparison Myth because it was the beginning of the journey and the spread of the Buddhist religion.
Also, a Hero Myth comparison can be used as Buddha is described as a model of this type of faith. As a type of typology, this Myth can be considered Etiological, as it explains the custom of meditation through the Buddhist religion.
Another event that is valuable to point out is the ringing of a bell through the Buddhist practice. This event is based on the Myth that the bell signifies wisdom and compassion, which is a path to enlightenment. It is essential to assume that by ringing their bells, Buddhists are approaching Nirvana, which is the final goal.
An Afterlife type of Myth is described through the actions that the Buddhist monks are seeking to obtain Nirvana.
We can correlate the events described above as part of the Functionalist theory. The Buddha story and the art of meditation satisfied, the psychological need of the population that a mortal can achieve a connection and understanding of the beyond. This mental achievement helps the community realize that it is not impossible to obtain enlightenment, and following rules from their doctrine might complete it.
This is an explanation of why this religion is so famous and kept in the modern days.
In my term paper, I will describe and correlate these events with the Myth/Theory explained by Kessler and add more information.
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