Project 1
Tentative Title: Stereotypes and Cultures of Different Religions
Purpose:
The overall theme of my groups project is the various set of stereotypes that four different religions have. My theme is this the religion Latter-day Saints, more commonly known as Mormons and this times into the theme because it isn’t major religion but they still are stereotyped in what their ways are.I chose this topic because of my personal connection to mormonism. My mother and I were baptized in 2015, my grandparents followed suit about a year awards. It was a real mind opener seeing my grandfather get baptized because he was never into religion.I think it fits into Pratt’s “Living in the Contact Zone” in the way that Mormonism is a controversial topic because many people don’t know enough information about the religion and its ways.
Problems to be Investigated:
The main issues I wanting to focus on are the cultural stigmas that come from the association of Mormonism.
Methods of Research:
I am plan on using Galileo for the use of scholarly journals for my research.
Field Research Portion:
I am working in group where we will collaborate on our findings in the different religions that we are researching, as well as, helping each other with corrections and fine-tuning our projects.
Annotated Bibliography Portion:
Kimmons, Royce, et al. “Religious Identity, Expression, and Civility in Social Media: Results of Data Mining Latter‐Day Saint Twitter Accounts.” Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, vol. 56, no. 3, Sept. 2017, pp. 637–657.
Summary: This text speaks about being able to express your religious views of Latter-day Saints through social media, more specifically Twitter, without scrutiny. Royce Kimmons states that, “LDS are encouraged to use social media to clarify misconceptions about themselves and their faith” (Kimmons 638). The text also goes into detail about how social media can be problem if not used appropriately. This goes hand in hand with how a user portrays themselves on- and off- line, for credibility. Kimmons suggests that there is not large market for LDS online because of the fear of rejection. The negativity that social media emits is another key part of this article, because of the anxiety that draws from not being liked. In short, this piece focuses on the connection between Latter-day Saints and Twitter.
Assess: This article shows promise for my project. The detail about the connectivity of social media and religion is good for my problem to be investigated question about the cultural differences for a modern society. This source is an excerpt of the “Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion,” so it is reliable.
Reflect: I will be using this text for more research on my topic. The author makes great points on the social media ground and how it is an issue and also a tool for LDS members. This piece fits really well into my project because of the points of interest for my specific theme. I have not had any changes in my view of my topic, this article has not strengthened nor diminished any thoughts I have on Mormonism.
Bradshaw, William S., et al. “A Longitudinal Study of Attitudes toward Evolution among Undergraduates Who Are Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.” PLoS ONE, vol. 13, no. 11, Nov. 2018, pp. 1–29.
Summary: This article concentrates on how LDS members have evolved over the years despite the many efforts of any anti-evolution members. It then focuses on the student life at Brigham Young University in Utah, and how they have more support from their parents about the evolution of Mormonism. Later going on to talk about a “faith-friendly atmosphere,” and its importance in religious schooling (Bradshaw 1). This piece closes by hoping that the findings for this article will help push other conservative religions to evolve as well.
Assess: This source is useful because its content that falls right in line with two of my main problems to be investigated questions. I am unsure whether is study is biased or not, the author does have previous affiliations with Church, and it is hard to decipher if they are pro evolution or not.
Reflect: I will more than likely use this source for my project being as I said before it flows with my problem questions. I believe I can receive beneficial information for my research. This text has slightly changed my views on the Church of Jesu Christ of LDS, because i do believe that there should be some evolution to match modern society but not to stray too far from original beliefs and practice.
Knoll, Benjamin, and Jana Riess. “‘Infected with Doubt’: An Empirical Overview of Belief and Non-Belief in Contemporary American Mormonism.” Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, vol. 50, no. 3, Fall 2017, pp. 1–38.
Summary: This empirical article is centralized on the importance of the doubt that comes from Mormonism. This piece goes into detail about the research study that was conducted for the article after questioning 1,156 self-identified LDS members. Close there after going on about the characteristics of those who are doubters in belief. Later doing a comparison between those who are strong believers and the doubters. The author concludes that, “[These] findings confirm some common stereotypes about Mormon Doubters but challenge some others” (Knoll 32).
Assess: This source is very useful for my project. It is a reliable source, through the “A Journal of Mormon Thoughts.” This article is not biased nor is it objective.
Reflect: I will being using this article for my research because of the numerical data that it includes from the study that supports the claim of common stereotypes about the people who doubt the religion that is made. This study has changed my view of my topic because it does include numerical data, that can be trusted.
Cannell, Fenella. “Mormonism and Anthropology: On Ways of Knowing.” Mormon Studies Review, vol. 4, Jan. 2017, pp. 1–15
Summary: This article focuses on the comparison of Mormonism and other religions, more specifically how the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is not a branch of Christianity. Then, going into the relationships between LDS and other religions like Catholicism. Fenella Cannell uses previous studies from the prolific writer, Douglas Davies as well as their own hands on study in Utah.
Assess: I believe this source to be beneficial to my work for this project. It was written by a credible author on the “Mormon Studies Review.” I can not determine whether it is biased or objective.
Reflect: I am sure that I will use this source when continuing with my research because it uses the comparison between different Christian denominations. This source was extremely helpful, but it has not wavered my view in either direction of this topic