CULTURE BASICS Religion AP HG Mr. Hensley Today we look at religion – like language, another simple way to sort and arrange cultures.

Sociological Definition Religion is a social creation Religion is a system (or complex) of roles and norms organized around the sacred (supernatural) Religion binds people together in social groups Religion is a culture complex organized around the supernatural. It can be difficult for us, accustomed as we are to our own deeply held religious beliefs, to think of religion this way. But it is impossible to have a meaningful, rational, scientific discussion about the nature of religious belief if we constrain ourselves to only our beliefs. We must learn to think of religion as a scientist would – looking at each religion as neither “true” nor “false” but simply a collection of roles and norms centered on a particular set of beliefs regarding the supernatural.

Universal yet unique Religion is universal to all human cultures Each culture has at least one unique religion Norms vary a LOT across cultures Ex: Hindus revere the cow; Christians eat them All cultures have at least one unique religion but there is much difference and diversity amongst individual religions. The classic example – Christian eat cows while Hindus revere them.

Analyzing religious norms When do dietary restrictions make sense? How long does meat or dairy keep in a hot climate? Single-use versus long-term uses? We can get some practice looking at religion like a scientist by focusing on religious dietary restrictions. For the ancient Israelites, avoiding foods that could easily spoil in a warm climate certainly gave them advantages over rival cultures that might have tried these risky foods. For the Hindus, think about the value of a cow as a long-term source of milk versus a one-time source of meat. Religious dietary restrictions make sense and confer advantages for cultures that don’t have access to refrigeration.

Functions: Social Cohesion Cohesion means helping to hold together Functionalist: religion increases group cohesion Conflict: different religions in groups create major problems Sociologists from a functionalist perspective look at religion at note how important a shared religion is for group cohesion. Two strangers can meet and as soon as they find religious common ground, they are strangers no longer. Churches take care of their sick, tend to their flocks and overall, contribute to the strength and success of the individual church members. Sociologists from a conflict perspective acknowledge that religion can increase intragroup cohesion – but increases the possibility of intergroup conflicts (example; The Crusades).

Functions: Emotional Support Religion helps comfort those in need; it provides answers to difficult questions Conflict perspective: religion encourages people to accept current injustices and wait for payback in the afterlife Religion gives its members a ready-made belief system and a set of guidelines for navigating life. This emotional support is another advantage of religion from a functionalist perspective. From a conflict perspective, religion helps justify existing power structures and keeps those out of power content with their powerlessness. Slave owners in the Antebellum South often encouraged their slaves to adopt Christianity, in part because the Bible teaches slaves to obey their masters in this world while waiting their eternal reward in Heaven.

Functions: Social Control Religion makes the secular social order a divine commandment Religious rules provide standards of judgment Codes of law grow out of religious commandments Conflict: may stop growth

Rituals and Symbols All religions have established patterns of behavior (rituals) All religions have symbols Ex: Symbol = cross Ex: Ritual = baptism Note the difference between a ritual (an established pattern of behavior) and a symbol, which is a physical object. For Christians, the cross is a symbol and baptism is a ritual.

Organizational Structures Faiths refer to top-level hierarchies in religion – everyone shares basic expectations Denominations are large, well-established – have trained officials Sects are smaller groups that break away from larger denominations Cults are new, small groups with beliefs in direct conflict with denominations The traditional hierarchy from top to bottom is faith > denomination > sect. Some ways to distinguish the three terms – “faiths” are general and refer to a set of basic, shared beliefs and expectations. Faiths don’t have an accepted leader or a home office. Faiths contain multiple denominations. Denominations are where you find the bureaucracies and headquarters. For example, the Roman Catholic Church is a denomination in the Christian faith. The Assemblies of God is sect of the Pentecostal denomination, which is part of the Christian faith. Be careful with “cult” – it is used pejoratively. Cults tend to be led by charismatic leaders who have beliefs outside the mainstream. It’s also possible to argue that all faiths once began as cults.

Basic types: animism Animism – the belief that spirits actively influence human life Often, the spirits communicate through a special person called a shaman Ancestors are represented by totems

Basic types: Theism Theism is the belief in a god or gods Belief in one god is monotheism Belief in many gods is polytheism Big 3: Christianity, Islam and Judaism have the same god

American Religious Affiliation America is a majority Protestant country (barely). Roman Catholics are a distant second and literally thousands of other denominations and sects compete for the remaining churchgoers. Even major world religions like Islam or Buddhism have very few formal worshippers or adherents in America.

World Religious Affiliation In the wider world, Christianity only accounts for one-third of all believers with Islam right behind. A very different religious makeup when compared to the United States.

Religion and Health Religion has proven positive health outcomes (longer life, less stress) Better coping skills, less suicide Need to stress – these results hold true for any form of spirituality, not just organized religions Religion has proven health benefits that seem to be related to stress reduction. Another reason why religion is universal.

Evolution of Religion? Two primary theories We have religion because it helps group cohesion and strong groups survived while weak(er) groups perished Or…we have religion because it is the accidental consequence of human intelligence (narrative ability plus sense of self plus sense of time equals religion…)