Salvation at the Expense of Others
During the history of Jerusalem, religion has played an influential role in how the city formed. In the present day, religion is still playing a hugely influential role. However, many people are noting that the influence of religion in Jerusalem today is halting its progress forward. Religion in Jerusalem today is complicating the conversation over who should have political control leading to major political tension and violence. The question is, can this be changed, and could it be changed?
The tensions and violence in Jerusalem are largely religiously motivated. We see this in how these tensions in Jerusalem are discussed. Religious News Services explains how the move of the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem could impede peace by delegitimizing Palestinian claims to Jerusalem. The Atlantic reported on violence from Palestinian protests as the embassy opened (The Atlantic 2018). However, Christians and Orthodox Jews celebrate it as a fulfillment of their religious beliefs (Religious News Service 2018). Roger Friedland and Richard D. Hecht analyze the politics of Jerusalem and propose that most of the recent political acts in Jerusalem were for religious control of sacred spaces (Friedland and Hecht, 39). With this much religious pull behind the political turmoil in Jerusalem, it must be asked, what is the solution to the violence in Jerusalem?
One of the proposed solutions is from Marc Ellis, who proposes prioritizing secular ideas above religious ideas in the realm of politics in Jerusalem. However, the idea of prioritizing secularism is not popular among religious communities. The problem that Ellis brings up is that "the demilitarization and secularization of the political realm may lead to a demessianization in the religious realm" (Ellis, 79). In other words, the secularization of politics undermines the culture of religion. For some, as Friedland and Hecht point out, allowing their religion to influence the laws of Jerusalem is seen as a civil right (Friedland and Hecht 46). With religion being such an influential part of a culture, any undermining of religion is a threat to an entire culture and way of life.
While reconciling religion through secularism may be the quickest way to peace, it requires undermining the way of life for many people. Even if their way of life is intricately tied to violence against other groups, it is also tied to their guiding beliefs. This makes the solution proposed by Ellis possibly too difficult to put into practice.
The tensions and violence in Jerusalem are largely religiously motivated. We see this in how these tensions in Jerusalem are discussed. Religious News Services explains how the move of the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem could impede peace by delegitimizing Palestinian claims to Jerusalem. The Atlantic reported on violence from Palestinian protests as the embassy opened (The Atlantic 2018). However, Christians and Orthodox Jews celebrate it as a fulfillment of their religious beliefs (Religious News Service 2018). Roger Friedland and Richard D. Hecht analyze the politics of Jerusalem and propose that most of the recent political acts in Jerusalem were for religious control of sacred spaces (Friedland and Hecht, 39). With this much religious pull behind the political turmoil in Jerusalem, it must be asked, what is the solution to the violence in Jerusalem?
One of the proposed solutions is from Marc Ellis, who proposes prioritizing secular ideas above religious ideas in the realm of politics in Jerusalem. However, the idea of prioritizing secularism is not popular among religious communities. The problem that Ellis brings up is that "the demilitarization and secularization of the political realm may lead to a demessianization in the religious realm" (Ellis, 79). In other words, the secularization of politics undermines the culture of religion. For some, as Friedland and Hecht point out, allowing their religion to influence the laws of Jerusalem is seen as a civil right (Friedland and Hecht 46). With religion being such an influential part of a culture, any undermining of religion is a threat to an entire culture and way of life.
While reconciling religion through secularism may be the quickest way to peace, it requires undermining the way of life for many people. Even if their way of life is intricately tied to violence against other groups, it is also tied to their guiding beliefs. This makes the solution proposed by Ellis possibly too difficult to put into practice.
Comments
Post a Comment