religion and sociology
TRANSCRIPT
-
7/28/2019 Religion and Sociology
1/26
Religion
A social institution involving beliefs and practicesbased on recognizing the sacred (488)
-
7/28/2019 Religion and Sociology
2/26
Sociology and Religion
generally the disputes of which religion isthe theme turn about the question
whether it can conciliate itself withscience or not, that is to say, whether or not there is a place beside our scientificknowledge for another form of thought
which would be specifically religious Emile Durkheim, Elementary Forms of Religious Life
-
7/28/2019 Religion and Sociology
3/26
Sociology and the Study of
Religion Sociology is the systematic study of
human society.
Religion is a social institution involvingbeliefs and practices based onrecognizing the sacred.
Sociologists generally refrain from making
normative judgments about whether anyparticular religion is right or wrong. Because religion is a matter of faith, it is impossible
to prove or disprove religious doctrine.
-
7/28/2019 Religion and Sociology
4/26
Sociology and the Study of
Religion But as Durkheim notes, The formation of the ideal
world isnot an irreducible fact which escapesscience; it depends upon conditions whichobservation can touch; it is a natural product ofsocial life. Here ideal world refers to religion Religion reflects the collective ideal of society
Sociologists study religion by trying to understandthe role religion plays in society. They ask: Why does religion vary from one society to the next? How does religious activity affect society?
How is religion tied to other social institutions? What types of people tend to be religious? Why?
-
7/28/2019 Religion and Sociology
5/26
Some Terms
Religion A social institution involving beliefs and
practices based on recognizing the sacred(488)
Faith Belief based on conviction rather than on
scientific evidence (489)
Monotheism Belief in a single divine power (497)
Polytheism Belief in many gods (497)
-
7/28/2019 Religion and Sociology
6/26
-
7/28/2019 Religion and Sociology
7/26
Churches According to Troeltsch (1931), a church is
a type of religious organization that is wellintegrated into the larger society.
Churches Have well-established rules Persist Have formally trained leaders
State Church: a church formally alliedwith the state
Denomination: a church, independent of
the state, that recognizes religiousluralism
-
7/28/2019 Religion and Sociology
8/26
Sect Sect: a type of religious organization that
stands apart from the larger society. Sects
Form exclusive groups Have rigid religious convictions Are less formal that churches Are less likely to have formally trained leaders
(Charisma is often important) Sects often splinter off of churches. Sects proselytize, actively recruit
members. Sects appeal to disadvantaged people
-
7/28/2019 Religion and Sociology
9/26
Cults
A cult is a religious organization that islargely outside a societys culturaltradition.
Cults generally form around highlycharismatic leaders.
They promote a new and very different
way of life. Questions What are some examples? How do we stereotypically think about cults?
Why might this be problematic?
-
7/28/2019 Religion and Sociology
10/26
Variations in Religion by
Time and Place Pre-industrial Societies
Hunters and gathers practiced animism, the beliefthat elements of the natural world are consciouslife forms that affect humanity.
Pastoral societies began to practice monotheism Agrarian societies saw the rise of a specialized
priesthood to oversee religious rituals.
Industrial Societies Science became more important. More and morepeople turned to scientific knowledge to solvetheir problems.
Still, religion persists, as science cant answer
questions of ultimate meaning.
-
7/28/2019 Religion and Sociology
11/26
The Theoretical Analysis ofReligion
-
7/28/2019 Religion and Sociology
12/26
Emile Durkheim thought that religion wasan inevitable aspect of society and thatreligion divided the world into the sacredand the profane. Profane: an ordinary element of everyday life
(488) Sacred: aspects of society that are set apart
as extraordinary, inspiring awe and reverence(488)
Formal ceremonial behaviors or rituals identify thesacred.
What are some examples of the profane? Thesacred?
Structural-Functional
Analysis
-
7/28/2019 Religion and Sociology
13/26
Structural-Functional
Analysis Durkheim argues that [t]here can be no society which does not feel the need
of upholding and reaffirming at regular intervals thecollective sentiments and the collective ideas whichmake its unity (Elementary Forms of Religious Life)
Totems: objects in the natural world that we define assacred
Three major functions of religion: Social Cohesion
Religion unites people through shared symbolism, values, andnorms
Social Control God acts as a judge
Providing meaning and purpose Religion helps us justify our beliefs as having a higher purpose
-
7/28/2019 Religion and Sociology
14/26
Symbolic-Interaction
Analysis This perspective argues that religion
is socially constructed. Rituals allow people to distinguish
between the sacred and theprofane.
Religion infuses special meaning intohuman behavior.
-
7/28/2019 Religion and Sociology
15/26
Social-Conflict Analysis As a materialist (one who believes that how a
society produces material goods defines the allsocial system), Marx thought that we could
understand religion by understanding relationshipsto the means of production. Marx argued that religion serves those who rule by
legitimizing the status quo. Thus, religion is thesigh of the oppressed creature, the sentiment of aheartless worldIt is the opiate of the people.
Religion prevents revolutionary change.
SocialInst.
Economy
superstructure
infrastructure
-
7/28/2019 Religion and Sociology
16/26
Social-Conflict Analysis
Religion and social inequality alsolinked through gender Virtually all the worlds major religions
are patriarchal Most religions now have women in
leadership roles
-
7/28/2019 Religion and Sociology
17/26
Social-Conflict Approach
Weber had a slightly different view onreligion and social conflict.
Weber thought that ideas mattered andreligious ideas could reshape a society. Remember the Protestant Ethic and the Spirit
of Capitalism? Liberation Theology
The combining of Christian principles withpolitical activism, often Marxist in character.
Social oppression runs counter to Christianmorality.
-
7/28/2019 Religion and Sociology
18/26
Religion in the United States
-
7/28/2019 Religion and Sociology
19/26
Who is Religious?
Religiosity- the importance of religion in apersons life. How do we measure this?
Factors Age Sex Race Intelligence Religious Affiliation Social Ties
Why Atheists and Liberals are MoreIntelligent by Kanazawa
-
7/28/2019 Religion and Sociology
20/26
National Map 13.1Religious Membership across the United States
Society: The Basics, 9 th Edition by John MacionisCopyright 2007 Prentice Hall, a division of Pearson Education. All rights reserved.
-
7/28/2019 Religion and Sociology
21/26
Religious Diversity across the United StatesIn most counties, at least 25 percent of people who report having an affiliation are members of the same religiousorganization. Thus, although the U.S. is religiously diverse at the national level, most people live in communitieswhere one denomination predominates. What historical facts might account for this pattern?Source : Glenmary Research Center (2002).
Society: The Basics, 9 th Edition by John MacionisCopyright 2007 Prentice Hall, a division of Pearson Education. All rights reserved.
-
7/28/2019 Religion and Sociology
22/26
Religion and Social Life
Number of social patterns linked tostrong religious beliefs Low rates of delinquency Low rates of divorce Helps unite children, parents, and local
communities Enhances educational achievement of
young people
-
7/28/2019 Religion and Sociology
23/26
Religion in a ChangingSociety
-
7/28/2019 Religion and Sociology
24/26
Secularization
Secularization- the historical decline in theimportance of the supernatural and thesacred
Although religious patterns are changing,there is little evidence to support thesecularization hypothesis. In fact, the share of people with religious
affiliations today is higher than it was in 1850.
-
7/28/2019 Religion and Sociology
25/26
Fundamentalism Fundamentalism- a conservative religious doctrine
that opposes intellectualism and worldlyaccommodation in favor of restoring traditional,otherworldly religion.
Fundamentalism is distinct in 5 ways: Fundamentalists take the words of sacred texts literally Fundamentalists reject religious pluralism Fundamentalists pursue the personal experience of Gods
presence Fundamentalists oppose secular humanism Many Fundamentalists endorse conservative political
goals.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fq4wZ_lQjc&feature=
related
-
7/28/2019 Religion and Sociology
26/26
New Age More and more people have been
seeking spiritual development outside ofestablished religious organizations.
5 core values Seekers believe in a higher power Seekers believe were all connected Seekers believe in a spirit world Seekers want to experience the spirit world Seekers pursue transcendence