Chapter 16 Religion

Chapter Outline Classical Approaches in the Sociology of Religion Classical Approaches in the Sociology of Religion The Rise, Decline, and Partial Revival of Religion The Rise, Decline, and Partial Revival of Religion The Structure of Religion in the world The Structure of Religion in the world World Religions World Religions Religiosity Religiosity The Future of Religion The Future of Religion

Durkheim’s Theory of Religion According to Durkheim, when people live together, they come to share common sentiments and values. According to Durkheim, when people live together, they come to share common sentiments and values. These form a collective conscience that is larger than any individual. These form a collective conscience that is larger than any individual. When we experience the collective conscience directly, we can distinguish the daily world of the profane from the transcendent world of the sacred. When we experience the collective conscience directly, we can distinguish the daily world of the profane from the transcendent world of the sacred.

Durkheim’s Theory of Religion Totems - certain objects as symbolizing the sacred. Totems - certain objects as symbolizing the sacred. Rituals - public practices we invent to connect us with the sacred. Rituals - public practices we invent to connect us with the sacred. The function of rituals and of religion as a whole is to reinforce social solidarity. The function of rituals and of religion as a whole is to reinforce social solidarity.

Durkheim’s Theory and the Super Bowl Durkheim would consider the Super Bowl trophy and the team logo to be totems. Durkheim would consider the Super Bowl trophy and the team logo to be totems. The game itself is a public ritual. The game itself is a public ritual. The game is a sacred event in Durkheim’s terms because it increases social solidarity and cements society. The game is a sacred event in Durkheim’s terms because it increases social solidarity and cements society.

Criticisms of Durkheim Conflict and feminist theorists have two criticisms against Durkheim: Conflict and feminist theorists have two criticisms against Durkheim: 1.Overemphasizes religion’s role in maintaining social cohesion, when religion often incites social conflict. 2.Ignores the fact that when religion increases social cohesion, it often reinforces social inequality.

Question The sacred refers to: The sacred refers to: a.common sentiments and values that people share as a result of living in the same society b.the secular, everyday world c.the religious, transcendent world d.public practices designed to connect people to the transcendent world

Answer: c The sacred refers to the religious, transcendent world. The sacred refers to the religious, transcendent world.

Civil Religion A set of beliefs and practices that bind a population together and justify its way of life. A set of beliefs and practices that bind a population together and justify its way of life.

Weber: A Symbolic Interactionist Interpretation Max Weber stressed the way religion can contribute to social change. Max Weber stressed the way religion can contribute to social change. Weber captured the core of his argument in an image: Weber captured the core of his argument in an image: –If history is like a train, pushed along its tracks by economic and political interests, then religious ideas are like railroad switches, determining exactly which tracks the train will follow.

Weber: A Symbolic Interactionist Interpretation For Weber, a combination of factors prompted capitalist development in non- Catholic Europe and North America: For Weber, a combination of factors prompted capitalist development in non- Catholic Europe and North America: favorable economic conditions favorable economic conditions the spread of certain moral values by the Protestant reformers of the 16th century and their followers. the spread of certain moral values by the Protestant reformers of the 16th century and their followers.

Weber and the Protestant Ethic Weber wrote that followers of Protestant theologian Calvin stressed the need to engage in worldly activity and display industry, punctuality, and frugality. Weber wrote that followers of Protestant theologian Calvin stressed the need to engage in worldly activity and display industry, punctuality, and frugality. People could assure a state of grace by working diligently and living simply. People could assure a state of grace by working diligently and living simply. In contrast, Buddhism and Confucianism hindered worldly success in competition and capital accumulation. In contrast, Buddhism and Confucianism hindered worldly success in competition and capital accumulation.

Question Weber recognized: Weber recognized: a.importance of the economic factor in explaining the rise of capitalism b.one-sidedness of any exclusively economic interpretation of the rise of capitalism c.role of certain Protestant moral values in stimulating the rise of capitalism in Western Europe and North America d.b. and c.

Answer: d Weber recognized the one-sidedness of any exclusively economic interpretation of the rise of capitalism and the role of certain Protestant moral values in stimulating the rise of capitalism in Western Europe and North America. Weber recognized the one-sidedness of any exclusively economic interpretation of the rise of capitalism and the role of certain Protestant moral values in stimulating the rise of capitalism in Western Europe and North America.

Secularization Thesis of Religion Religious institutions, actions, and consciousness are on the decline. Religious institutions, actions, and consciousness are on the decline. Critics: Critics: –There has been a religious revival in the U.S. over the past 30 years. –Survey evidence shows religion in the U.S. is resilient.

% Who Think Religion Is Very Important, 44 Countries

Social Condition of Religion

Question How confident are you in organized religion? How confident are you in organized religion?

GSS National Data Education No High School Diploma High School Graduate College Education Great Deal 30.5%27%22.6% Only Some 46.8%51.2%55.3% Hardly Any 22.7%21.8%22.2%

Fundamentalists Fundamentalists interpret their scriptures literally, seek to establish a direct, personal relationship with the higher being(s) they worship, are relatively intolerant of nonfundamentalists, and often support conservative social issues. Fundamentalists interpret their scriptures literally, seek to establish a direct, personal relationship with the higher being(s) they worship, are relatively intolerant of nonfundamentalists, and often support conservative social issues.

Fundamentalists Example: attitudes toward abortion Example: attitudes toward abortion –In % of Americans identifying themselves as fundamentalists agreed that abortion is acceptable if “the woman wants it for any reason.” –43% of Americans who identify as part of moderate or liberal denominations agreed with the statement.

Question Do you believe that the Bible is the actual word of God, to be taken literally word for word? Do you believe that the Bible is the actual word of God, to be taken literally word for word? a. Yes b. No

Revised Secularization Thesis Holds that worldly institutions break off from the institution of religion over time. Holds that worldly institutions break off from the institution of religion over time. As a result, religion governs an ever smaller part of most people’s lives and becomes largely a matter of personal choice. As a result, religion governs an ever smaller part of most people’s lives and becomes largely a matter of personal choice.

Perceived Adequacy of the Church in 12 Postindustrial Countries Is the church giving adequate answers to: Country Moral Problems Family Problems United States 6770 Ireland4236 Northern Ireland 5559 Canada5555

Perceived Adequacy of the Church in 12 Postindustrial Countries Is the church giving adequate answers to: Country Moral Problems Family Problems Italy5245 Spain4343 Belgium4237 Britain3638

Perceived Adequacy of the Church in 12 Postindustrial Countries Is the church giving adequate answers to: Country Moral Problems Family Problems West Germany 4034 Netherlands3633 France3828 Denmark2013

Question Revised secularization thesis focuses on: Revised secularization thesis focuses on: a. “re-enchantment” of the world b. restriction of religion to just the spiritual part of people ’ s lives c. the way religion has become a personal and private matter rather than one imposed by institutions d. all of these choices

Answer: b The revised secularization thesis focuses on the restriction of religion to just the spiritual part of people ’ s lives. The revised secularization thesis focuses on the restriction of religion to just the spiritual part of people ’ s lives.

Church, Sect, and Cult Integration into society Bureaucratization ChurchHighHigh SectMediumLow CultLowLow

Church, Sect, and Cult LongevityLeaders ChurchHigh Formally trained SectLowCharismatic CultLowCharismatic

Religious Preference U.S., 2002

Religious Preference by Class, United States, 2002

Question What is your current religious affiliation? What is your current religious affiliation? a. Protestant b. Catholic c. Jewish d. None e. Other

Five Major World Religions Similar in three ways: Similar in three ways: 1.With the exception of Hinduism, charismatic leaders helped to turn them into world religions. 2.With the exception of Hinduism, all had egalitarian and emancipatory messages at their origins. 3.Over time, the charismatic leadership of the world religions became routinized.

Routinization of Charisma Weber’s term for the transformation of divine enlightenment into a permanent feature of everyday life. Weber’s term for the transformation of divine enlightenment into a permanent feature of everyday life. Involves turning religious inspiration into a stable social institution with defined roles, such as interpreters of the divine message, teachers, dues-paying laypeople, and so forth. Involves turning religious inspiration into a stable social institution with defined roles, such as interpreters of the divine message, teachers, dues-paying laypeople, and so forth. Involves the weakening of the ideals of freedom and equality. Involves the weakening of the ideals of freedom and equality.

Formation of World Religions: Four Conclusions 1. New world religions are founded by charismatic personalities in times of great trouble. 2. The founding of new religions is typically animated by the desire for freedom and equality in the afterlife, and in this life. 3. Routinization of charisma makes religion less responsive to ordinary people, and supports injustices. 4. New world religions could emerge in the future.

Question How often do you attend religious services? How often do you attend religious services?

GSS National Data Age< and Up Never20.6%17.2%17% Monthly /Yearly 58.8%53.9%41.5% Weekly20.6%28.9%41.5%

GSS National Data RaceWhiteBlack Never18.9%10.7% Monthly /Yearly 50%52.3% Weekly31.2%37%

The Future of Religion Secularization is one of the two dominant trends influencing religion throughout the world. Secularization is one of the two dominant trends influencing religion throughout the world. –Between 1972 and 2002, the percent of Americans expressing no religious preference increased from 5 to 14%. –People attending religious services once a month or more fell from 57 to 47%

The Future of Religion Even as secularization grips many people, many others in the United States and throughout the world have been caught up by a religious revival. Even as secularization grips many people, many others in the United States and throughout the world have been caught up by a religious revival. The two contradictory social processes of secularization and revival are likely to persist, resulting in a world that is neither more religious nor more secular, but one that is more polarized. The two contradictory social processes of secularization and revival are likely to persist, resulting in a world that is neither more religious nor more secular, but one that is more polarized.

Quick Quiz

1. Which of the following is a criticism frequently lodged against Durkheim's theory of religion? a.Religion often heightens the sense of belonging to certain groups. b.Religion often incites social conflict. c.Religion often reinforces social inequality. d.Religion often incites social conflict, and religion often reinforces social inequality

Answer: d The ideas that religion often incites social conflict, and religion often reinforces social inequality are criticisms frequently lodged against Durkheim's theory of religion. The ideas that religion often incites social conflict, and religion often reinforces social inequality are criticisms frequently lodged against Durkheim's theory of religion.

2. A civil religion is: a.a religion that encourages its members to participate actively in the political arena b.a religion that does not discriminate on the basis of race, class, gender, or sexual orientation c.a religion that contributes to social change d.a set of quasi-religious beliefs and practices that binds the population and justifies its way of life

Answer: d A civil religion is a set of quasi- religious beliefs and practices that binds the population and justifies its way of life. A civil religion is a set of quasi- religious beliefs and practices that binds the population and justifies its way of life.

3. According to the secularization thesis: a.religious institutions, actions, and conscious are on the decline worldwide b.religious institutions, actions, and conscious are likely to disappear in the near future c.religiosity is negatively correlated with level of economic development d.Communist governments, which promoted atheism, lowered the level of religiosity in their countries

Answer : a According to the secularization thesis: religious institutions, actions, and conscious are on the decline worldwide. According to the secularization thesis: religious institutions, actions, and conscious are on the decline worldwide.

4. Which of the following is not a characteristic of a cult? a.Cults are groups of people committed to a religious vision that rejects mainstream culture and society. b.Cults are generally led by charismatic individuals. c.Cults tend to recruit members from all segments of the stratification system. d.Cults tend to disappear after a relatively short period of time.

Answer: c The following is not a characteristic of a cult: The following is not a characteristic of a cult: –Cults tend to recruit members from all segments of the stratification system.

5. The routinization of charisma is Weber's term for the transformation of divine enlightenment into a permanent feature of everyday life. a. True b. False

Answer: a The routinization of charisma is Weber's term for the transformation of divine enlightenment into a permanent feature of everyday life. The routinization of charisma is Weber's term for the transformation of divine enlightenment into a permanent feature of everyday life.