Religion: What Is It?

Experiences Odin Experiences Zeus Shiva Ecstasy Gods Gods YahwehTranquility Allah Ishtar Sanctified Ahura Mazda What is Religion? Atonement Beliefs Ablution Beliefs PrayerImmortality Practices (rituals) Practices (rituals) Transubstantiation MeditationHungry GhostsSpirits Demons Ancestors

COMPLEX!!! Lots of Ins and Outs and What-Have-Yous Religion is COMPLEX!!! Lots of Ins and Outs and What-Have-Yous Religion is neither a single phenomenon, nor a “thing”; rather, it is a messy and dynamic collection of institutions, practices, and beliefs.

Attempts at a Definition Edward Tylor Edward Tylor “The belief in spiritual beings.” Clifford Geertz Clifford Geertz “A religion is a system of symbols which acts to establish powerful, pervasive, religion is a and long-lasting moods and motivations in men by formulating conceptions of a general order of existence and clothing these conceptions with such an aura of factuality that the moods and motivations seem uniquely realistic.” Emile Durkheim Emile Durkheim “A religion is a unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things, that is to say, things set apart and forbidden—beliefs and practices which unite into one single moral community called a Church, all those who adhere to them.”

Attempts at a Definition Melford Spiro Melford Spiro “Religion is an institution consisting of culturally patterned interaction with culturally postulated superhuman beings.” Peter Berger Peter Berger “Religion is the human attitude towards a sacred order that includes within it all being—human or otherwise—i.e., belief in a cosmos, the meaning of which both includes and transcends man.” Max Weber Max Weber Refused to attempt a definition of religion. [Smart Man!]

Theories of Religion …from Pascal Boyer’s Religion Explained (2001) Religion provides explanations Religion provides explanations People created religion to explain puzzling natural phenomena Religion explains puzzling experiences: dreams, prescience, etc. Religion explains the origins of things Religion explains why there is evil and suffering

Theories of Religion Religion provides comfort Religion provides comfort Religious explanations make mortality less unbearable Religion allays anxiety and makes for a comfortable world

Theories of Religion Religion provides social order Religion provides social order Religion holds society together Religion perpetuates a particular social order Religion supports morality

Theories of Religion Religion is a cognitive illusion Religion is a cognitive illusion People are superstitious; they will believe anything Religious concepts are irrefutable Refutation is more difficult than belief

Functionalism: Religion as explanation and comfort Social institutions are collective means to fill individual biological needs Why does religion do? What does it do that makes it especially functional? Examples?

Structural-Functionalism: Religion aids social order Agreement (consensus) between members of a society on morals maintains social order Moral consensus creates equilibrium, which is the normal state of society When things disrupt equilibrium religion is often the method of setting things right again…outside personal interest, sometimes sole institution for arbitration

The Social Functions of Religion Religion articulates a culture’s “beliefs” and conception of “the beyond.” Durkheim saw religion as worship of society, not as worship of a deity: “…rites are a means through which a group reaffirms itself.” Religious rites strengthen commonly-held attitudes.

Function №1: Providing Emotional Support and Security for Believers Religion provides meaning in a natural world in which humans have little or no control over certain phenomena. Humans use religion to deal with: Dependence Powerlessness Scarcity

Religion offers a transcendental relationship with “the beyond,” which provides people with New security A firmer identity in this world (believers and priests) and the next

Function №2: Religion Provides Social Control As Durkheim implied, religion sacralizes the norms and values of established society, maintaining the dominance of group goals over individual wishes: Religion is a means of social control.

Function №3: Religion Provides Mechanisms for Social Change. Religion has served a “prophetic” function in which absolute standards take precedence over “earthly” ones. Religious belief is thus used as justification for social protests, social movements, political revolutions, etc.

Function №4: Religion Contributes to Individuals’ Identities Religion is an aspect of heritage, like ethnicity. Religion furnishes part of individuals’ understanding of who and what they are: eg, “I am Catholic” or “I am Muslim.”

Function №5: Religion is a Factor in directing the Individual’s Lifecourse Religion contributes to the developing identity of the individual: This is the maturation function of religion. Religions prescribe rites, privileges and responsibilities that are associated with life stages, as with the identity of “elder,” ceremonies for entry into “adulthood,” marriage, etc.

Any of these “functions” might also be seen as “dysfunctional.” For example, religion might recommend quietism, not social protest; religion might instill immaturity, not personal development.

Religion and Secular Society Generally, religion concerns the “sacred,” and secular society comprises the “profane.” However, there are important and enduring relationships between these two separate spheres. The religion-society link is expressed differently in different religious organizations.

Religions as Organizations A church is a formal organization that shares features with all formal organizations: it is bureaucratic in nature and integrated into the larger society. A sect is a form of religious organization that is non-bureaucratic and clearly distinct from the larger society. A cult is distinct not only from the larger society but from other religions as well- it does not emerge from pre-existing religious forms; it is completely new.

Religion