‘To be loyal to your god you need not revile the gods of others’ Philo of Alexandria
Mistaken Identities is a series of lectures based on four central bases of identity by the philosopher and novelist Kwame Anthony Appiah, commissioned by the BBC as part the Reith Lectures series.
The theme of identity is explored in four categories each discussed in a different city.
- Creed (religion) London
- Country (nationality) Glasgow
- Colour (race) Accra
- Culture (anthropology) New York
Orthopraxy- the belief that right action is as important as religious faith.
Appiah says we have been taught to think of religion as a matter of beliefs but that in addition to a body of beliefs we also need to consider practice– what you do and community/fellowship-who you do it with.
A body of belief or scripture require interpretation- religion is about more than reading understanding and believing text, in addition, we require ‘a relationship to traditions of practice, conventions of interpretation and communities of worship.’
Appiah discusses intersectionality in faith giving examples of the intersectionality of religion, gender, race and sexuality and how religious doctrines can be interpreted to either celebrate individual identities or disadvantage and oppress them.
I think there are many parallels to be drawn between Appiah’s lecture on identity and faith and the experiences of students in university education. What I understand from the lecture is that Appiah feels that studying or reading doctrine alone is not enough, that to be fully involved in a faith-based identity you also need a practice and community or fellowship to practice with. I think during lock down we all realised the benefits of on-line learning and independent study, but students also reported feeling isolated and lonely. Community and fellowship are something that I know students recognise as important during their studies on the programme I work on. The sense of friendship and trust that develops in the workshop when students spend long periods of time together is something they often cite as important. Working in a shared practice in a community of peers is certainly something that I encourage but of course this only works if all students feel included and welcome and this is where intersectionality comes in again. Concentrating on what we have in common rather than what our differences are and creating a welcoming environment for all.
To many, religion is an important way for them to understand their place in the world. Religious traditions have a huge impact on how people see the world. However, interpretations are multiple and varies due to the intersection of one’s personal and social background. Appiah pointed out that “religious identities have survived in large measure, precisely because text have been reinterpreted and understood to be reinterpreted by many of the most enduring and flexible tradition, …” As you mentioned, community and fellowship are recongized important during students’ studies. Communal places like university should provide space where people can feel comfortable to exchange and contribute. After all, It is the differences among us that make every individual unique.