Introduction
The interpretations of Guy Fawkes Day influenced by cultural changes
Timothy Jenks provides the history of Guy Fawkes Day making the references to James Sharpe’s book under the same title. The author starts by saying that Guy Fawks and Gunpowder plot is associated with Bonfire Night in our days as the reminder of the past events of the Fifth of November. It is the mystery hoe the Fawkes became the hero of the Gunpowder Plot. The author states that the meaning of past events changes with the cultural changes. Firstly, the date of the fifth November was connected with anti-Catholic celebration of the glory. During the Victorian era, the meaning of this date became more religious tolerant as the recourse of oppressed Catholics. By the nineteenth century it was clear that Bonfire Night was a sort of rebellion of plebeians against their reduction in favor of the public order. By the twentieth century the celebration of this day became the ritual in the name of domesticity. The primary meanings have merged because of the age of globalization. It becomes quite difficult nowadays to find roots of this celebration and who Guy Fawkes was really. It has become a generally-recognized fact that our traditions have been changed and even distorted in the course of time.
The notion of pietism opposed to deism
The author casts light upon the notion of discipleship which means the desire to follow Christ and make him the Lord of our Lives. He points out that discipleship presupposes a certain way of life which is according Christ’s commandments. More than that, the author makes the references to William Stringfellow’s book Free in Obedience where he calls modern Christian religions “Moralistic Therapeutic Deism” which is based on the beliefs in God who created and ordered the world and expects from His creations to follow His laws. Deism is opposed nowadays to pietism which is based on the personal morality as the guidance of our life. If people see pietism as the core of discipleship they became preoccupied with sin, the understanding of community becomes distorted and they lose their center. The author does not connect pietism with discipleship as far as it is not necessary to be the moralist or Biblicist to be the faithful disciple. Nevertheless, the notion of discipleship cannot be uncoupled from the notion of deism as the belief in God as the transcendent creator and ruler of the universe whose existence is indefeasible.
Modern religious beliefs which need to be rationally explained
The author presents the use of rationalism in modern religions nowadays. She provides the example of Hinduism where instead of the rejecting scientific ideas, Hindus try to use them in their religion. Angela Saini points out that such rationalistic tendencies namely to explain the religion with the help of science started hundred years ago when the religion, philosophy and mathematics did not have strict boundaries and were closely intermingled. During recent years religion strives for not only satisfaction of the modern demands but for making religious beliefs more scientific providing their rational explanation. It is pointed out that modern people are accustomed to believe only those facts which are scientifically proved. There is no wonder that modern religions have to adopt their beliefs to the scientific knowledge.
References
Jenks, Timothy. 2006. “Remember, Remember: A Cultural History of Guy Fawkes Day”. Canadian Journal of History, winter. Web.
McAnulty, David. 2012. “Discipleship &Pietism”. Web.
Saini, Angela. 2011. “The God Confusion”. New Humanist, №126. Web.