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Instructions
Final Opinion Essay:
Description and Requirements: As you probably know, there are 10 Benedictine hallmarks. All IDS 2200s courses are supposed to focus on one. For this particular section, we concentrate on that of HOSPITALITY, or the willingness to be open to other people regardless of their culture, race, ethnicity, language, religion (or lack thereof), socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, ideology, or place of origin. More specifically, we have been learning about instances of religious tolerance and intolerance in the Iberian Peninsula from the times of the Muslim invasion (711 C.E.) to the official end of the Spanish Inquisition in the early 19th century.
For this exercise, you need to comment on some of the texts, audiovisual materials, and discussions that we have had so far. Make sure in particular to make frequent references to the parts from Fratelli Tutti and, if possible, the Rule of Saint Benedict that argue in favor of a more fraternal and just world in which persons of all backgrounds can live and work together in productive and respectful ways.
More specifically, you are being asked to express your opinions on how the religious, cultural, racial, and ethnic tolerance and intolerance in the historical examples that we have studied might provide us with guidance on how to achieve a more inclusive and open society in our times.
Additionally, try to show how the Catholic and Benedictine intellectual traditions, despite numerous historical examples of intolerant behavior that occurred in Catholic countries over the centuries, have evolved to become much more accepting and welcoming of other religious traditions and people of different family backgrounds. Whenever possible, make connections between those ideas and potential equivalents in other religious traditions.
Finally, in light of the fact that many of the most egregious instances of religious discrimination and persecution have happened in the context of theocratic regimes with no clear separation between Church and State (usually, rightly or not, as an attempt to create a more uniform, cohesive, stable, peaceful, and supposedly holy society), discuss how your understanding of the topic of freedom of religion may have been shaped or consolidated by the materials of the course. As, especially in the 20th century, religion was violently attacked and often suppressed by some nominally atheist and anticlerical authoritarian regimes (e.g., Soviet Union, Communist China, etc.), you may also include that in your discussion as well.
To be clear, your grade for this assignment will not be determined by how closely what you write appears to coincide with the views of the instructor. You are not expected either to pretend to agree with the tenets of Catholicism (and Christianity more generally), or any other religious, philosophical, or ideological points of view. That being said, make sure to communicate your ideas in as articulate, well-informed, and respectful a manner as you possibly can, and provide sufficient and accurate bibliographical references whenever you use external sources or ideas. Also, no matter how strong your subjective views on other people’s religion (or lack thereof), family background, or ideology might be, this is not the place to elaborate on them. Again, above all, be respectful. This assignment is meant to be an opportunity to engage in productive dialogue with people who might not agree with you, not an excuse to proselytize or disparage other people.
Length: The first draft should be no shorter than 5 pages (not including the bibliography) and the final one should be about eight pages in length, again not including the list of works cited. The bibliographical references (both those embedded in the text and the final bibliography) should be consistent with either the MLA or APA style guidelines.
