RELIGION

Definition An institution consisting of beliefs, pratices, and values pertaining to the distinction between the empirical and the super-empirical.

MAJOR FUNCTIONS World Construction and Maintenance Theodicy—dealing with suffering and evil Instrumental—health, wealth, happiness, etc.

THEORIES OF RELIGION Functional Analysis –Durkheim: The Sacred and the Profane –People celebrate the power of their society –Religion performs three major functions Social Cohesion Social Control Meaning and Purpose –Criticism

Symbolic Interaction (Peter Berger) –Religion provides a cosmic frame of reference, a “Sacred Canopy.” –Criticism Conflict Theory (Marx) –Alliance between religion and political- economic power –“The opium of the people” –Religion and Patriarchy –Colonialism, Slavery, Segregation –Criticism

CHRISTIANITY 1.9 billion followers. c. 1/3 of humanity. Most in Europe or Americas. Began as cult, incorporating much from Judaism. Trinity, Jesus as Son of God, Resurrection 312, became official religion of Holy Roman Empire

ISLAM 1.1 billion (c. 19% of humanity) Muslims 6 million in U.S. (disputed) Muhammad (born c. 570), Mecca, Medina. Qur’an, Hijra—Flight to Medina. 622 B.C.E. A.H.1 Sunni, Shi’a (c. 10%)

Five Pillars of Faith –The Profession: One God, Allah, Muhammad his Prophet –Prayer –Alms –Fasting during Ramadan –Hajj—pilgrimage to Mecca at least once Dualism: Heaven and Hell

JUDAISM 14 million world wide, most in U.S. and Israel Moses, Exodus, 13th cty. B.C.E. (Passover) Monotheism Denominations: –Orthodox –Reform –Conservative Sects: e.g. Chabad/Lubavitcher

HINDUSIM Oldest (At least 4,500 years ago) 775 million—14% of humanity. 1.3 million in U.S. India (also Pakistan, Southern Africa, Indonesia) No single person is key. Sacred writings, but not seen in same light as Bible and Qur’an Deities: Brahma, Shiva, Vishnu— Brahman-Atman. (Others)

Karma/Samsara (Reincarnation) Moral order in every element of nature Rituals

BUDDHISM 330 million (6%). Mostly Asia. Myanmar (Burma) Thailand, Cambodia, Japan, India, PRC, Vietnam Origin in India. Siddartha Gautama. Asoka (3rd cty B.C.E.). Life involves suffering, pleasures transitory. Goal of spiritual transformation. Acts have consequences. Reincarnation.

CONFUCIANISM From c. 200 B.C.E. till 1900, the official religion of China. Suppressed after 1949 revolution. Still influential. Mostly in China, but also in North America. Confucius c B.C.E. Strict code of moral conduct. No clear sense of sacred, supernatural.

SECULARIZATION KEY TERMS –Secularism –Secularization The Secularization Hypothesis Evidence?

Survey Data on Religion

Believe in God?

Church Membership Record-keeping varies among denominations Long Range: 6% in 1800; 35% in 1900; 77% in Decline started in 1960s. Mostly among liberal churches. Slide stabilized in About 60% claim membership (86% claim a preference (NORC 1999)

Personal Salience Religiosity: “very important” or “important” Bible study, book sales, New Age Spirituality. 35 million at laest somewhat interested

SECULARIZATION (?) Perceived Influence of Religion Evidence for Secularity –Moral relativism –Bias against religion in media, education –Lack of regard for religious factors in diplomatic circles.

Conclusions Data do not support general secularization Problems of measuring religiosity Problems of time frame Evidence tricky Secularization is segmental. Occurs simultaneously with revival.

Religion and the Election 2004

Catholics 23% eligible voters (27% actual voters) Mainline Protestant c. 22% White Evangelicals 25% eligible (22% actual) Remainder c. 30% Black = 8% Jews = 2% Non-Jud-Xn = 4% Secular = 10

Why Evangelicals Love Bush They feel persecuted, marginalized. He makes them feel better. Bush was transformed, born again. He was “called” to his role. Moral Clarity

CAUSES OF SECULARIZATION RATIONALIZATION (Weber) STRUCTURAL DIFFERENTIATION –Division of Labor –Education –Secular State –Religious foundations of morality give way to legal technicalities –Critics of differentiation, specialization

Causes (cont.) Spread of Capitalism—the great solvent Growth of Science Disenchantment, demystification Pluralism—no world view holds a monopoly. Post-modernism Privatization, Individualism

Stark and Bainbridge Theory Secularization is Self-Limiting –Stimulates revival and innovation –Sources of religion vary; amount remains about the same. –Sects arise where religion strong; cults where it is weak.

Critique –Losses not obviously offset by gains. E.g., Great Britain. –Secularization continues as a major trend, following rationalization. Affects segments of society differentially. –Groups differ in openness to religious appeals. CONCLUSIONS