Religion and Sociology

7/28/2019 Religion and Sociology

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Religion

A social institution involving beliefs and practicesbased on recognizing the sacred (488)


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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


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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.


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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?


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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)


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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


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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


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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?


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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.


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The Theoretical Analysis ofReligion


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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


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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


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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.


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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


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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


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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.


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Religion in the United States


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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


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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.


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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.


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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


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Religion in a ChangingSociety


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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.


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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


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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

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Religion and Sociology