The Wall_Spring 2023_Issue 9

Today, primarily in the western, English-speaking world, there are 1.193 billion people who lead lives seemingly disconnected from religion and aspects of faith.These are people who would describe themselves as non-religious. However, our society has been shaped by religious festivals and beliefs, and there are many discreet flavours of religion mixed into our world. Do we realise how significant a role religion has played in shaping the arts, politics and social aspects of our lives? Florence Metcalfe (she/her), LVI, depicts how culture and religion exist interdependently today. It would be wrong to write about religious influences on the world’s economy, pop culture and even our yearly calendar without mentioning Christmas.This key Christian festival was first celebrated as early as AD 336. However, it is fair to say that most people who celebrate the holiday today are not celebrating the birth of Jesus. Rather, they are celebrating what society understands as a day of giving presents, seeing family and eating turkey. Many Christians feel that Christmas has become too commercialised in the past century. Most celebrants have strayed away from traditional religious practices like Midnight Mass in favour of leaving milk and cookies out for Father Christmas. A good example of a Christian tradition that has been exploited for profit is Advent. Starting on the 30th of November, St Andrew’s day,Advent originally involved lighting candles and hanging wreaths.Today,Advent calendars are marketed worldwide as early Christmas presents, dispensing everything from chocolates and sweets to high-end jewellery and beauty products. But is it appropriate for so many non-Christians to adapt and celebrate such an important Christian holiday? The short answer is yes, as long as it’s not too commercialised, as acts of gift giving and “Christmas merriness” surrounding

Artwork: Florence Metcalfe, LVI

Christmas still align with Christian teachings of agape and charity.

The religion of Islam, dominating south-east Asia, has also played a pivotal role in the shaping of our economy, politics and arts. Many inventions, both big and small, are of Islamic descent. These include coffee, which was first brewed inYemen in the 9th century, and hospitals, created to obey Islamic teachings of caring for others when sick. Education as it is today also can thank Islam for its inventions of university and algebra. In 856, Moroccan princess Fatima Al-Fihri used her influence to create a founded by her sister Miriam. Still open today, the University of al-Qarawiyyin inspires women to seek higher education – influenced by the Al-Fihri sisters.As for algebra, built on Hindu Greek systems, “the book of reasoning and balancing” teaches the new algebraic order. First derived from Persian mathematicians, the teachings of “Kitab al-Jabr wa’l-Muqabalah” are still referenced in maths lessons today. As of today, most atheists or other non-religious people believe religion has no effect on them – sometimes even discriminating against followers of religion. Despite what you believe about certain religions, I believe it is important to recognise that they are part of our shared history, and our lives would be completely different without them. It is easy to focus on the negative effects of religion – it is obvious that our history hasn’t always been positively influenced by faith – but to me, the cultural legacy of religious tradition out weighs the negative history, bringing us together regardless of belief. degree-granting university in Fez, Morrocco, adjacent to a mosque

Another example of the influence of religion on our society is the recent rise of wellbeing and spirituality exemplified by yoga and meditation. It is estimated that 300 million people practise yoga, while meditation is now practised by between 200-500 million people world-wide.The huge popularity of yoga and meditation can be linked to their de-stressing and relaxing properties, and they are often credited with healing or medicinal effects – even collecting a following called yogis.The practice of Ahisma, meaning “nonviolence”, has been adapted by yogis to promote a type of pacifism by avoiding the desire and action of harming living things.Although they worship unique gods, there are underlying influences of Jainism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Sikhism in their practices. As the popularity of yoga suggests, ideas of inner-peace and healing have become popular in western society to alleviate stress. Such concepts also owe a debt to Hinduism. Known as “the oldest religion on earth”, Hinduism’s concept of Ayurveda is the belief that health and wellbeing is based on the overall wellness of the mind, body and spirit.Ayurvedic medicine incorporates elements of dieting, detoxing, and massages, along with meditation and yoga.These practices are influenced by the Ayurvedic belief in doshas, life forces mentioned in Hinduism that are believed to be present in a person’s body and mind.

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