Write an argumentative academic essay in response to one of the prompts stated below. In your analysis, you are required to engage with a minimum of two authoritative peer-reviewed secondary scholarly sources, one of which may be from the mandatory readings in the syllabus (you may also use the suggested further readings as your secondary sources). You can search for secondary sources on the website of ASU library.
Your final paper should be no shorter than 5-6 double-spaced pages (1500 words max), with a 12 pt. Times New Roman script, and an MLA-formatted in-text citation and bibliography appended on an extra page. You can find the guidelines for the MLA format here: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_formatting_and_style_guide.html Links to an external site.
For your outline, please submit your thesis statement, followed by 3-4 supporting statements that will head the subsections in the body of your essay (each of these headers must in turn be followed by examples and evidence you plan to consider). Please note that all sentences in the outline must be full sentences (not shortened bullet points). The MLA-formatted bibliography is required for the outline.
Prompt 1:
On utilizing Benedict Anderson’s “Imagined Communities” as a theoretical framework for religious studies, Robert Campany writes: “We should think of the coherence of such imagined communities as something repeatedly claimed, constructed, portrayed, or posited in texts, rituals, and other artifacts and activities, rather than as simply given” (“On the Very Idea of Religions” 317). If we conceptualize the early Celestial Master community as an example of Anderson’s “imagined community,” explain how merging pneumas, the sex rite, worked as point of coherence of this community (e.g. What are the gender roles indicated in the community, what are the goal(s) of the sex rite, how does the rite sustain the coherence of the community, and so on.) Find your examples from the Xiang’er Commentary. Do these concerns still hold relevance and significance in the context of Shangqing spiritual union? Why and why not? Compare the concerns and elements of the sex rite seen in the Celestial Master community with those present in the spiritual union of the Shangqing tradition.
please make it follow this outline:
Thesis Statement:
The Celestial Master community and the Shangqing tradition serve as compelling examples of Benedict Anderson’s theoretical construct of “imagined communities.” Within these religious communities, the intricate rituals, particularly the sex rite, and the entrenched gender roles, present a shared narrative and a collective understanding that binds individuals together. However, the relevance and continuity of these traditions in a contemporary society underscore the fluidity and transformation of these “imagined communities,” providing a rich tapestry of sociocultural evolution.
I. Deciphering “Imagined Communities” within the Celestial Master and Shangqing Traditions
Comprehending the philosophical foundation of Benedict Anderson’s concept of “imagined communities” provides a lens through which we can examine religious communities.
Analysis and contextualization of the Celestial Master community and the Shangqing tradition within the framework of “imagined communities,” highlighting the community-building effects of shared beliefs, rituals, and societal norms.
Examining unique examples such as the merging pneumas and the sex rite within the Celestial Master community, highlighting how such rites foster a sense of communal identity.
Exploring the multifaceted roles of gender within these religious communities, underlining their influence on ritual participation and community dynamics.
II. Rituals and Gender Roles as Pillars of Community Coherence
A detailed examination of the core rituals and gender roles within these traditions, evaluating their influence on community coherence.
Elucidating the deep-seated goals and significance of the sex rite within the Celestial Master community, showcasing the power of shared practices in maintaining communal bonds.
Probing into the role of rituals in sustaining the sense of community, exploring their part in reinforcing shared beliefs and collective identities.
III. Contemporary Relevance and Evolution of Traditional Practices
Investigating the enduring relevance of these ancient practices in today’s societal context.
Drawing parallels and contrasts between the sex rite in the Celestial Master community and the spiritual union in the Shangqing tradition, demonstrating the shifts in religious practices over time and across communities.
Reflecting on how societal changes, including evolving views on gender and sexuality, have influenced the interpretation and practice of these rituals, prompting us to reconsider the dynamics of these “imagined communities” in a modern context.
Sources:
Anderson, Benedict. Imagined Communities: Reflections on the Origin and Spread of Nationalism. Verso, 2016.
Camany, Rober. On the Very Idea of Religions. Vol. 42, The University of Chicago Press. 2003