Chapter 11: Religion

What to Expect in This Chapter... Defining Religion Elements of Religion Religion vs. Magic Major Types of Religions Functionalist and Conflict Perspectives Types of Religious Organization Aspects of American Religion Major Religions in the United States Social Correlates of Religious Affiliation

Journal Given Morocco’s Islamic cultural heritage and unique relationship with the West, which elements of its culture will adapt and which will remain constant?

Defining Religion Religion is “...the system of beliefs, practices and ...values shared by a group of people...” Durkheim claimed that all religions divide the universe into two categories: Sacred—those things that are set apart, holy; and knowable only through extraordinary experience Profane—that which is ordinary; knowable through normal empirical observation For information about the science of studying religion, visit the website of the Society for Scientific Study of Religion

Elements of Religion Ritual Prayer Emotion Belief Organization

Religion vs. Magic Religion Magic Worships the supernatural Attempts to control supernatural forces Object of worship is a god or gods Does not worship a god or gods Religious experience an end in itself Ritual is a means to an end Group oriented; experience designed to unify group Individually oriented; experience designed to help individual user

Major Types of Religion: Supernaturalism and Animism Supernaturalism postulates the existence of non-personalized supernatural forces that influence human events These non-personalized forces are called mana, which exist in certain objects Other objects have a religious taboo against touching or even looking upon Animism postulates personalized spirits which inhabit people, animals or things

Major Types of Religion: Theism Theism is a system of beliefs that establish divine beings that shape human affairs Polytheism is the belief in a number of gods, each with their own sphere of influence Monotheism is the belief in a single supreme God. Only 3 religions are monotheistic: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam

Journal- Social Change After reading pages 541-546 How will modernization affect Moroccan society Family (1 parent or 2 working, moving away from extended family) Growing and declining economic sectors Growing and declining occupations

Functionalist Perspective on Religion Functionalists argue that because religion is universal, there are functions that it fulfills for society. Sociologists identify 4 broad functions of religion: Satisfying Individual Needs Social Cohesion Establishing Worldviews Social Adaptation

Group Work 5 Groups- Discuss the concept you are assigned. Give definition of concept, general examples & Moroccan examples Satisfying individual needs Providing social cohesion Establishing worldviews Adaptation and stabilization of society Conflict theory perspectives

Conflict Perspective on Religion Marx understood religion as a tool that the ruling class manipulated to control and dominate the working class By focusing on religion and the afterlife, working classes are distracted from their oppression by the ruling class Marx said, “Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the soul of soulless conditions; it is the opiate of the people”

Religious Organizations: Relationship to Society Millenarian Movements The Sect The Denomination The Ecclesia The Universal Church

Group Work 5 Groups- Give definition of concept, examples of where the type of relationship between religious organizations and society can be seen in general and in Islam. The Universal Church The Ecclesia The Denomination The Sect Millenarian movements

The Universal Church The universal church is a type of religious organization that is almost indistinguishable from society An individual belongs to the universal church by virgue of being a member of society The universal church typically reinforces existing social arrangements. An example of the universal church is the Hindu religion in India

The Ecclesia The ecclesia (like the universal church) shares the same ethical system as the larger society The ecclesia represents the interests of the ruling class, and hence loses its influence over the lower classes Consequently, there may be sectarian groups that emerge Examples of the ecclesia include the Catholic church in medieval Europe, the Anglican church in England and Islam in several Near East societies

The Denomination The denomination is one of many religious groups in a particular society Tends to attract a particular social class and/or ethnic group Membership is typically voluntary and based upon common beliefs and values Examples include the various Protestant denominations and Catholicism Participate actively in society and cooperate with other religious groups

The Sect The sect is usually a smaller religious body that adheres to unconventional beliefs or forms of worship that differ from mainstream religious practice Sects generally reject some values of secular society (materialism, entertainment, fashion) Sects are less likely to be tolerant of other religious groups

Millenarian Movements Are like sects in that they are usually in tension with the larger society Defined by their tendency to prophecy the end of the world Millenarian movements tend to emerge during times of stress Examples include the People’s Temple and Heaven’s Gate—both groups which committed mass suicide in response to their beliefs about the end of the world

Aspects of American Religion Widespread Belief Almost all Americans believe in God and 90% express a religious preference Secularism People and society are less influenced by religion than ever before Ecumenism Mainline religious groups work together to project unity and common direction

Causes of the Trends: Some Opinions Widespread belief- need for traditional worldview even in the midst of social and technological change. Secularism- the inability to integrate religious values with economic and social values resulting in compartmentalizing. Ecumenism- Declining religious influence in public sphere causing groups to unify rather than compete.

Trends in Morocco Which of the following can be seen in Morocco in the present or near future? Widespread belief Secularism (relationship between religion and economic or political issues) Ecuminism (focus on unity or uniqueness with other Islamic countries or groups) Other trends

Major Religions in the United States Catholicism Protestantism Judaism Islam

Protestantism About 56% of Americans identify as Protestants Protestantism is an extremely fragmented category, made up of dozens of specific denominations Protestant denominations generally fall into categories of liberal, moderate and conservative Conservative Protestants tend to identify as either evangelical or fundamentalist

Catholicism About 28% of Americans identify as Catholics Catholics tend to be younger, on average, than Protestants Catholicism is strongly embraced by immigrant populations 20% of Catholics are ethnic minorities Catholics have traditionally been poorer and less educated than Protestants. Since the 1960’s they have been the equal of Protestants About 75% of Catholics live in urban areas

Judaism Jews comprise about 2% of the American population, and getting smaller Judaism is comprised of three broad groups: Orthodox Jews—observe Jewish tradition very closely Reform Jews—most liberal of Jewish groups; allow for major reinterpretation of religious practice and custom Conservative Jews—less traditional than Orthodox Jews, but not willing to make major modification in religious observance Jews are generally highly educated, though Reform Jews are most inclined toward secular education

Islam Estimates of the number of Muslims in the U.S. is between 700,000 and 4 million—probably about 1% of the population. About 25% of these are African American There are an estimated 1 billion Muslims throughout the world and growing rapidly

Source: Gallup Poll Monthly, March, 1997

Social Correlates of Religious Affiliation Religious affiliation seems to be closely linked with many important facets of people’s lives, including: Economic Standing Social Values Education Political Affiliation