Religion Project 1 -Is Body Modification a religion
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University of Mississippi *
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101
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Religion
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Apr 3, 2024
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docx
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Is Body Modification a religion?
Religion as defined by Ninian Smart is a complex compilation of emotional and idealized
exchanges of stories and practices, with no set beginning. It is a space and experience that allows
people to share their beliefs and values together by using their experiences in an organized fashion. A religion includes Smart’s categorization of dimensions by participating in either some form of emotional experience, storytelling, togetherness and/or creates structure and guidance to its members. A large part of religion is highlighting how religion could affect its members vs how its members affect their religion. Using the definition and examples provided by Smart, the Church of Body Modifications is factually a religion as it participates in ritual, experimental, doctrinal, ethical, and institutional dimensions.
The CofBM asserts in its mission statement that it strives to “inspire, and to help lead our members along a path of spiritual body modification.” One of the ways they include ritual dimensions is through the use of various forms of body manipulation and modification such as piercing, scarification, and corsetry. Another form of religious practice included in their teaching is using experimental dimensions which is another one of the seven dimensions posited by Smart
to represent religion. The CofBM claims to openly and honestly share their experiences and to share positive messages to act as role models. Smart writes that doctrinal dimensions are “the way that religions tend to formalize ideas about the world and create logical systems of meaning.” This definition future proves that the church is a religion because they spiritually explore the world through the use of body modification in order to unify their mind, soul, and body. The Church of Body Modification also uses ethical dimensions, that is defined by Smart as
providing harmony and guidance in one’s life in the pursuit of further happiness. An example of this is that the church claims to help its members grow as individuals through the use of body
modification to teach them what they can do and who they are. They last of Smart’s dimensions used by the Church of Body Modification is institutional dimensions which discusses the formation of groups or a hierarchy, and example of this used by CofBM is the inclusion of minister as well as a board of advisors who evaluate ideas and opportunities in the church community.
Although a church based on spiritual body modification might not sound like the typical religion based on the seven-dimension given by Smart it is factually a religion. Even though the church does not use Mythological dimensions, material dimensions, or interdimensional travel in
its practices still defines it as a religion. Religion cannot be defined by simplistic terms or by its similarities to more well know religions like Christianity. As a result of its inclusion of hierarchy,
guidance, and emotional experiences the Church of Body Modification does fall under Smarts seven dimensions of religion.
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