Slow religion vs. Fast religion

Douglas Kellner argues, "in submissively consuming spectacles, one is estranged from actively producing one's life," (2003). This statement throws into question the growing emphasis on mediatisation of religion and incorporating epic spectacles as part of the transcendence ritual. Alongside this, New Age religion has developed in the mid-late 20th Century as a pick & mix style of religion to suit the individual, rather than the individual to suit the religion (Rindflesh 2005).

This has resulted in participants in a state of constant seeking, which the media and various religions can exploit to sell faith. Commodification within religion isn't necessarily a new idea: wealthy Catholics used to donate money to the Church in order to ensure entrance into heaven and prayers for their soul after death.

In class we debated slow religion (traditional religion) and fast religion (new age, mediated, spectacle driven) and what resulted is that many faiths incorporate both. As technology evolves with the internet, and people are more in touch with media, older, traditional faiths need to modernise in order to survive.

Personally, I argue that it is possible to have a religion that fits your life, but a commitment needs to be made and a true understanding of what it means to you must be achieved. Otherwise you may indeed end up in that spiral of constantly seeking without fulfilment.

Works Cited:

Kellner, Douglas. 2003. “Media Culture and the Triumph of the Spectacle.” Philosophy of Education Chair, UCLA. http://pages.gseis.ucla.edu/faculty/kellner/essays/mediaculturetriumphspectacle.pdf (accessed April 3, 2012).

Rindflesh, Jennifer. “Consuming the Self: New Age Spirituality as “Social Product” in Consumer Society.” Consumption Markets and Culture, 8 (4), 2005: 343-360.

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