Week 10

In James W. Jones’s Blood That Cries Out From the Earth, the theory of “splitting” as a causal factor of religious conflict is brought up. This theory, as Jones describes, functions on two levels. On the individual level, it is the idea that “I am good, but Satan is tempting me and making me do something bad.” In conjunction with this, on a societal level it is the idea such that “Hindu’s are good, but Muslim’s are making me do something bad.” In both cases, it gives provides an individual with someone to hate, meaning they do not have to hate themselves for their imperfections or the bad things they do. This idea of projecting ones discomfort with themselves outwards on another, according to Jones, is a key psychological factor behind religious conflict.

I think this theory makes a lot of sense, however, it attaches a perpetual discomfort and dissatisfaction to religion. Rather than religion providing a positive meaning to life, it seems to suggest that religions demand such unachievable excellence from individuals that it inevitably leads them to feel failure and inadequacy. This seems particularly odd to me considering the Western view of religion and its characteristics of providing individuals with a positive purpose in life.