But is it Really Religion?
Fabricating Authenticity - Jason W.M. Ellsworth
Savannah H. Finver [+]
Ohio State University
Savannah H. Finver is a doctoral student at Ohio State University where she is pursuing a degree in Comparative Studies. Her interests lie in discourses on religion as they appear in U.S. law and politics, especially as they pertain to the assignment of civil rights and legal privileges.
Description
Furthering Martin’s analysis, Finver explores the effects of legal classifications of religion with regard to the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. Finver considers the question of “parody” vs. “real” religion to highlight the socio-political interests driving that distinction and argues that instead of participating in these authenticity debates, scholars should consider which groups are unquestioningly granted the classification of “religion” to understand what legal rights and protections come from such a designation.