Religion and Education

Chapter OutlineClassical Approaches in the Sociology of Religion

The Rise, Decline, and Partial Revival of Religion

The Structure of Religion in the worldReligiosityEducationMacrosociological ProcessesMicrosociological Processes

Durkheim’s Functionalist Approach to ReligionAccording to Durkheim, when people live

together, they share common sentiments and values.

These form a collective conscience that is larger than any individual.

When we experience the collective conscience directly, we can distinguish the profane from the sacred.

Durkheim’s Theoryof ReligionWe designate certain objects as symbolizing

the sacred, these are totems.

We invent public practices to connect us with the sacred, these are called rituals.

The function of rituals and of religion as a whole is to reinforce social solidarity.

Durkheim’s Theory and the Super BowlDurkheim would consider the Super Bowl

trophy and the team logo to be totems.The game itself is a public ritual.The game is a sacred event in Durkheim’s

terms because it increases social solidarity and cements society.

Conflict and Feminist Critiques of Durkheim1. Overemphasizes religion’s role in

maintaining social cohesion, when religion often incites social conflict.

2. Ignores the fact that when religion increases social cohesion, it often reinforces social inequality.

The World’s Predominant Religions

Weber: Routinization of CharismaWeber’s term for the transformation of the

unique gift of divine enlightenment into a permanent feature of everyday life.

It involves turning religious inspiration into a stable social institution with defined roles (interpreters of the divine message, teachers, dues-paying laypeople, etc.).

Civil ReligionA set of beliefs and practices that bind a

population together and justify its way of life.

Weber: A Symbolic Interactionist InterpretationFor Weber, a combination of factors

prompted capitalist development in non-Catholic Europe and North America:favorable economic conditions the spread of certain moral values by the

Protestant reformers of the 16th century and their followers.

Weber and the Protestant EthicWeber wrote that followers of Protestant

theologian Calvin stressed the need to display industry, punctuality, and frugality.

People could assure a state of grace by working diligently and living simply.

In contrast, Buddhism and Confucianism hindered worldly success in competition and capital accumulation.

Secularization Thesis of ReligionReligious institutions, actions, and

consciousness are on the decline. Critics:

There has been a religious revival in the U.S. over the past 30 years.

Survey evidence shows religion in the U.S. is resilient.

FundamentalistsInterpret scriptures literally.Seek to establish a direct, personal

relationship with the higher being(s) they worship.

Are relatively intolerant of nonfundamentalists.

Often support conservative social issues.

Revised Secularization ThesisHolds that worldly institutions break off from

the institution of religion over time.As a result, religion governs an ever smaller

part of most people’s lives and becomes largely a matter of personal choice.

Perceived Adequacy of the ChurchINSERT FIGURE 11.2 HERE (PG. 264)

Market Model of ReligionReligious organizations are suppliers of

services (e.g., counseling, pastoral care, youth activities) and people who desire religions activities demand such services

Religious denominations are similar to product brands offering different “flavors” of religious experiences

Percent Who Think Religion Is Very Important, 44 Countries

Revised Secularization and Market Theories of ReligionINSERT CONCEPT SUMMARY 11.1 HERE

(PG. 265)

Polling Question Do you believe that the Bible is the

actual word of God, to be taken literally word for word?

a. Yesb. No

Types of Religious OrganizationChurch: bureaucratic religious organization

that has accommodated itself to mainstream society and cultureEcclesia: state-supported churchesDenominations: various streams of belief and

practice that can coexist under overarching authority

Types of Religious Organizations, cont.Sects: form by breaking away from churches

as a result of disagreement about church doctrine

Cults: small groups of people deeply committed to a religious vision that rejects mainstream culture and society

Religion Affiliation, U.S. 2007INSERT FIGURE 11.4 HERE (PG. 266)

Polling Question What is your current religious affiliation?

a. Protestantb. Catholicc. Jewishd. Nonee. Other

Religious Affiliation by Annual IncomeINSERT FIGURE 11.5 HERE (PG. 267)

ReligiosityRefers to how important religion is to

peoplePeople over age 69 attend much more

frequently More time and more need for religion

African Americans attend much more frequently Political and cultural role church played in

helping African Americans cope and combat slavery

Religiosity, cont.More likely to attend when mothers and

fathers attended religious services Religiosity is a learned behavior

Factors Influencing How Often Americans Attend Religious ServicesINSERT TABLE 11.1 HERE (PG. 268)

EducationInstead of religion, education is the dominant

institution of socialization outside of the family

A central determinant of opportunities for upward mobility

Advocates of Affirmative Action:Compensates for historical injustices such as

slavery and expulsion. Helps create a level playing field for all races

and ethnic groups. Encourages diversity on college campuses. Creates a middle-class leadership group in

minority communities.

Opponents of Affirmative Action:We should not have to pay for wrongs

committed 300 years ago. Note that colleges apply affirmative action

criteria to rich and poor members of selected minority groups.

MeritocracyA stratification system in which equality of

opportunity allows people to rise or fall to a position that matches their talent and effort.

Functional Theory of EducationManifest (intended) functions of schools:

Sorting students based on talent and effortTrain and socialize students.Create social cohesion.Transmit culture from generation to

generation.Sort students, presumably by merit.

Functional Theory of Education, cont.

Latent (unintended) functions of schools:Create a youth culture and a marriage

market. Create a custodial and surveillance system

for children.Maintain wage levels by keeping students

out of the job market.Occasionally becoming a “school of dissent”

that opposes authorities.

Polling Question How far do you intend to go in school?

a. Two years of collegeb. Four years of collegec. Master's degreed. Professional degree (law, medicine, dentistry)e. Ph.D.

Conflict Theories of EducationEffects of Economic Inequality on Education:

Schools of widely differing quality.Families with varying access to resources for

the support of children.Children enter school with differing levels of

preparation and eagerness to learn.

Standardized TestsStandardized tests help reproduce the

existing system of social stratification. Schools use tracking to sort students into

high-ability, middle-ability, and low-ability classes based on the results of intelligence-quotient (IQ) and other tests.

How Social Backgroundand IQ Influence Inequality

Gender and Education: Feminist ContributionIn some ways, women are doing better than

men in the American education systemYet, still see disadvantages for women when

we examine: field of study (high-paying vs. low-paying fields) and level of degree (Ph.D.s for men)

Symbolic Interactionist Theory of EducationStereotype Threat: Refers to the harmful

impact of negative stereotypes on the school performance of disadvantaged groups.

Polling Question What is the highest level of education

completed by your father?a. Below high schoolb. High school graduatec. Some college or postsecondary trainingd. College degreee. Graduate or professional degreef. Don't know

Major Reforms Proposed for American SchoolsMentoringRedistributing and increasing school

budgets.Substantially improving the social

environment of young, disadvantaged children before and outside school.

1. The sacred refers to:a. sentiments and values people shareb. the secular, everyday worldc. the religious, transcendent worldd. public practices designed to connect people

to the transcendent world

Answer: cThe sacred refers to the religious,

transcendent world.

2. Which of the following is a criticism frequently lodged against Durkheim's theory of religion?a. Religion often heightens the sense of

belonging to certain groups.b. Religion often incites social conflict.c. Religion often reinforces social inequality.d. Religion often incites social conflict, and

religion often reinforces social inequality

Answer: dThe ideas that religion often incites social

conflict, and religion often reinforces social inequality are criticisms frequently lodged against Durkheim's theory of religion.

3. A civil religion is:a. a religion that encourages its members to

participate actively in the political arenab. a religion that does not discriminate on

the basis of race, class, gender, or sexual orientation

c. a religion that contributes to social change

d. a set of quasi-religious beliefs and practices that binds the population and justifies its way of life

Answer: d A civil religion is a set of quasi-religious

beliefs and practices that binds the population and justifies its way of life.

4. Weber recognized:a. importance of the economic factor in

explaining of capitalismb. one-sidedness of any exclusively economic

interpretation of the rise of capitalismc. role of certain Protestant moral values in

stimulating the rise of capitalism in Western Europe and North America

d. b. and c.

Answer: dWeber recognized the one-sidedness of any

exclusively economic interpretation of the rise of capitalism and the role of certain Protestant moral values in stimulating the rise of capitalism in Western Europe and North America.

5. According to the secularization thesis:a. religious institutions, actions, and

conscious are on the decline worldwideb. religious institutions will disappear in the

near futurec. religiosity is negatively correlated with

level of economic developmentd. Communist governments, which promoted

atheism, lowered the level of religiosity in their countries0

Answer : a According to the secularization thesis:

religious institutions, actions, and conscious are on the decline worldwide.

6. Which of the following is not a characteristic of a cult?a. Cults are groups of people committed to a

religious vision that rejects mainstream culture and society.

b. Cults are generally led by charismatic individuals.

c. Cults tend to recruit members from all segments of the stratification system.

d. Cults tend to disappear after a relatively short period of time.

Answer: c The following is not a characteristic of a

cult: Cults tend to recruit members from all

segments of the stratification system.

7. The routinization of charisma is Weber's term for the transformation of divine enlightenment into a permanent feature of everyday life.

a. Trueb. False

Answer: aThe routinization of charisma is Weber's

term for the transformation of divine enlightenment into a permanent feature of everyday life.

8. Revised secularization thesis focuses on:a. “re-enchantment” of the worldb. restriction of religion to just the spiritual

part of people’s livesc. the way religion has become a personal

matter rather than one imposed by institutions

d. all of these choices

Answer: bThe revised secularization thesis focuses on

the restriction of religion to just the spiritual part of people’s lives.

9. Affirmative action in college admissions refers to the practice of:

a. offering of financial support to students from poor backgrounds

b. giving preference to students who have a parent who graduated from the college to which they are applying

c. giving preference to applicants from minority groups

d. all of these choices

Answer : c Affirmative action in college admissions

refers to the practice of giving preference to applicants from minority groups.

10. Advocates of affirmative action say:a. it compensates for historical injustices such

as slavery and expulsionb. it enriches college campuses by encouraging

racial and ethnic diversityc. it creates a middle-class leadership group in

minority communitiesd. all of these choices

Answer: dAdvocates of affirmative action say: it

compensates for historical injustices such as slavery and expulsion, it enriches college campuses by encouraging racial and ethnic diversity and it creates a middle-class leadership group in minority communities.

11. Which of the following is a latent function that schools accomplish unintentionally?

a. serving as a "marriage market" by bringing potential mates together

b. keeping children under surveillance and freeing parents to work

c. both of these choices

Answer : c Serving as a "marriage market" by

bringing potential mates together and keeping children under surveillance and freeing parents to work are latent functions that schools accomplish unintentionally.

12. IQ tests measure:a. underlying social stratificationb. genetic endowmentc. credential inflationd. a. and b. only

Answer: dIQ tests measure underlying social

stratification and genetic endowment.

13. Self-fulfilling prophecies in the educational system:

a. reinforce background factorsb. reduce background factorsc. reproduce existing patterns of inequalityd. none of these choicese. reinforce the effects of background factors,

and help reproduce existing patterns of inequality

Answer: e Self-fulfilling prophecies in the educational

system reinforce the effects of background factors, and help reproduce existing patterns of inequality.