READINGRESPONSE
Havingbeen brought by parents who are firm believers in a Catholicreligion, I initially perceived that religion is a small sensualaspect. In my view, all that matters is to have faith in whateverteachings that a believer receives. However, Plates’ reading haspropelled me to think deeply about the numerous Passover ceremoniesthat I have attended in our local church. Bread,
whichwe used in performing this ritual, is one of the objects that Plateconsiders to create spiritual satisfaction in humans. It extends myunderstanding of religion that it is not a matter of acquiringgeneral beliefs but rather obtaining physical fulfillment throughextending materiality in faith. In his definition of religion, Platespecifies that it cannot exist in the absence of both physical andspiritual ingredients.1Based on the subject matter of the reading, the rationale for
selectingspecific objects for religious rituals in preference to othersremains unclear.
Humanbeings are sensuous in that they need physical gratification. As aresult, objects are of the essence in ensuring that believers do havenot only faith in religious teachings but also
feelit.1Over the past centuries, various religious traditions have utilizeddifferent objects for various purposes. For instance, Both Hindus andMuslims use incense during celebrations while Christians use stonesand crosses to symbolize memory.1Therefore, these objects are important in enhancing religiouspractices. According to religious practitioners, those objects thatretain their consecration even after having been integrated from oneplace of worship to another are known as sacredwhile non-sacred objects are referred to as profane.1What makes an object to be considered sacred if it has been sanctified for a duration more than a century. Humanbeings are subjectto sacred objects,and they have turned them to what they are. Culturalobjects are those, which symbolize social customs and religious ideashence bringing people together while naturalobjects are intuitive assumptions that create both social andreligious relations.1
Footnotes
Brent, Plate. A History of Religion in 5 ½ Objects: Bringing the Spiritual to Its Senses.
(Boston:Beacon Press, 2014), 137-214.
Bibliography
Brent,Plate. AHistory of Religion in 5 ½ Objects: Bringing the Spiritual to ItsSenses. (Boston: Beacon Press, 2014), 137-214.
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