Religion

Profane and Sacred Differentiating Between Ordinary & Extraordinary Emile Durkheim Emile Durkheim – Religion focuses on things that surpass the limits of our own knowledge

Profane – “outside the temple”- Ordinary elements of everyday life Sacred – That which is extraordinary, inspiring a sense of awe, reverence, and even fear

Religion – The social institution involving beliefs and practices based upon a conception of the sacred Ritual – formal, ceremonial behavior

Faith Faith – Belief anchored in conviction rather than scientific evidence If not science, what? If not science, what? – Scientific sociology is interested in the consequences of religious belief rather than a direct critique of the belief systems

Structural Functional Analysis of Religion According to Durkheim religion has 3 major functions According to Durkheim religion has 3 major functions – Social cohesion – Unites people through shared symbols, values, and norms Totem – an object in the natural world collectively defined as sacred Totem – an object in the natural world collectively defined as sacred – Social control – The use of religious symbols and language to control human behavior has always been with us – Provides meaning and purpose – Personal spirituality allows humans to pass through tough times without total collapse Critical Evaluation Critical Evaluation – Downplays religion’s dysfunctions such as generating social conflict and violence

Symbolic-interaction Analysis of Religion Religion is socially constructed (although perhaps with divine inspiration). Through rituals like prayers, fasts, observances we sharpen the distinction between sacred and profane Religion is socially constructed (although perhaps with divine inspiration). Through rituals like prayers, fasts, observances we sharpen the distinction between sacred and profane – According to Peter Burger placing our brief lives in some cosmic frame of reference gives us the semblance of security and permanence Critical Evaluation Critical Evaluation – Socially constructed religion only works if we ignore that it is a social construct – Downplays religion’s link to social inequality

Social-conflict Analysis of Religion Religion serves the ruling elites by legitimizing the status quo and diverting people’s attention from social inequities Religion serves the ruling elites by legitimizing the status quo and diverting people’s attention from social inequities – Disrupts cultures with attempts to “convert heathens” – Focuses on the “better world to come” Marx called it the “opium of the people” Critical Evaluation Critical Evaluation – Downplays religion’s efforts to promote social equality as in the abolition of slavery and the civil rights movement

Religious Organizations Church – organization that is well integrated into society Church – organization that is well integrated into society State church – formally allied with the state State church – formally allied with the state Denomination – independent of the state and pluralistic Denomination – independent of the state and pluralistic Sect – a type of religious organization that stands apart from the larger society Sect – a type of religious organization that stands apart from the larger society – Leaders sometimes have charisma – extraordinary personal qualities that can turn an audience into followers Cult – religious organizations that are substantially outside a society’s cultural traditions Cult – religious organizations that are substantially outside a society’s cultural traditions

Religion in the U.S. RELIGIOSITY RELIGIOSITY – REFERS TO IMPORTANCE OF RELIGION IN A PERSON’S LIFE – TYPES: EXPERIENTIAL: EMOTIONAL TIES EXPERIENTIAL: EMOTIONAL TIES RITUALISTIC: FREQUENCY OF ACTIVITIES RITUALISTIC: FREQUENCY OF ACTIVITIES IDEOLOGICAL: DEGREE OF BELIEF IN DOCTRINE IDEOLOGICAL: DEGREE OF BELIEF IN DOCTRINE CONSEQUENTIAL: TIE INTO DAILY ACTIVITIES CONSEQUENTIAL: TIE INTO DAILY ACTIVITIES INTELLECTUAL: KNOWLEDGE OF RELIGION INTELLECTUAL: KNOWLEDGE OF RELIGION

Religious Practices Are Found to Be Tied to Various Other Social Patterns Social class Social class – High achievement: Episcopalians, Presbyterians, and United Church of Christ congregations – Moderate achievement: Methodists and Catholics – Lower achievement: Baptists, Lutherans, and members of sects – Jewish people tend to be represented among the higher achievers due to stress on education and achievement Race and ethnicity Race and ethnicity – Many religions are tied to specific regions and societies in America Irish Catholics, Anglo-Saxon protestants, Greek orthodox, Russian Jews, etc Irish Catholics, Anglo-Saxon protestants, Greek orthodox, Russian Jews, etc

History of religion IN PREINDUSTRIAL SOCIETIES IN PREINDUSTRIAL SOCIETIES – RITUALS PRACTICED 40,000 YEARS AGO – EMBRACED “ANIMISM” ELEMENTS OF THE NATURAL WORLD ARE CONSCIOUS LIFE FORMS THAT AFFECT HUMANITY ELEMENTS OF THE NATURAL WORLD ARE CONSCIOUS LIFE FORMS THAT AFFECT HUMANITY – NO FULL-TIME RELIGIOUS LEADERS IN INDUSTRIAL SOCIETIES IN INDUSTRIAL SOCIETIES – SCIENCE HAS OFTEN REPLACED RELIGION AS A SOURCE OF COMFORT AND CERTAINTY – SCIENCE IS SILENT WHEN IT COMES TO ANSWERING “WHY” WE AND THE REST OF THE UNIVERSE EXISTS – OFTEN THESE TWO BELIEF SYSTEM ARE AT ODDS WITH ONE ANOTHER

Religion’s Changing Face Secularization – historical decline in the importance of the supernatural and the sacred Secularization – historical decline in the importance of the supernatural and the sacred – Religion isn’t going away, but rather some features are in decline Civil religion – A quasi-religious loyalty binding people in a basically secular society Civil religion – A quasi-religious loyalty binding people in a basically secular society – American way of life has its core rooted in a moral belief system Religious revival Religious revival – New age spirituality flourishes – Membership in mainstream churches dwindles – Interests increases in Fundamentalism – a conservative religious dogma that opposes intellectualism and worldly accommodation in favor of traditional otherworldly religion

Fundamentalism Interpret sacred texts literally Interpret sacred texts literally Rejects religious pluralism Rejects religious pluralism Pursues the personal experience of God’s presence Pursues the personal experience of God’s presence Opposes “secular humanism” Opposes “secular humanism” Endorse conservative political goals Endorse conservative political goals

The Electronic Church Some organizations especially fundamentalist are becoming electronic churches Some organizations especially fundamentalist are becoming electronic churches Prime-time preachers include: Oral Roberts, Pat Robertson, and Robert Schuler Prime-time preachers include: Oral Roberts, Pat Robertson, and Robert Schuler 10 million regular watchers; 40 million watch some every week 10 million regular watchers; 40 million watch some every week The internet is one of the most recent modalities to spread religion to people The internet is one of the most recent modalities to spread religion to people Pope John Paul II called it the “new evangelism” Pope John Paul II called it the “new evangelism”

Christianity 2.0 BILLION FOLLOWERS 2.0 BILLION FOLLOWERS 85% OF AMERICANS AND CANADIANS 85% OF AMERICANS AND CANADIANS CHRISTIANITY BEGAN AS A CULT CHRISTIANITY BEGAN AS A CULT IT IS MONOTHEISTIC (ONE GOD) IT IS MONOTHEISTIC (ONE GOD) JESUS CHRIST IS CENTRAL FIGURE AS BOTH MAN ON EARTH AND SON OF GOD JESUS CHRIST IS CENTRAL FIGURE AS BOTH MAN ON EARTH AND SON OF GOD PREACHES PERSONAL SALVATION PREACHES PERSONAL SALVATION MANY SPLITS FROM ORIGINAL FORM OF ROMAN CATHOLICISM MANY SPLITS FROM ORIGINAL FORM OF ROMAN CATHOLICISM

Islam 1.2 BILLION FOLLOWERS 1.2 BILLION FOLLOWERS NOT ALL MUSLIMS ARE ARABS NOT ALL MUSLIMS ARE ARABS THE MIDDLE-EAST, ASIA, AND PARTS OF AFRICA ARE ISLAMIC-CENTERED THE MIDDLE-EAST, ASIA, AND PARTS OF AFRICA ARE ISLAMIC-CENTERED ISLAM IS THE WORD OF GOD AS REVEALED TO THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD, BORN IN MECCA AROUND 570 ISLAM IS THE WORD OF GOD AS REVEALED TO THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD, BORN IN MECCA AROUND 570 THE QUR’AN URGES SUBMISSION TO GOD (ALLAH) AS THE PATH TO INNER PEACE THE QUR’AN URGES SUBMISSION TO GOD (ALLAH) AS THE PATH TO INNER PEACE FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM – RECOGNIZE ALLAH AS THE TRUE GOD – RITUAL PRAYER – GIVING OF ALMS TO THE POOR – FASTING DURING RAMADAN – MAKING THE ONCE IN A LIFETIME PILGRIMAGE TO MECCA

Judaism 15 MILLION ADHERENTS WORLDWIDE 15 MILLION ADHERENTS WORLDWIDE NATIONAL MAJORITY ONLY IN ISRAEL NATIONAL MAJORITY ONLY IN ISRAEL JEWS BELIEVE THAT A COVENANT EXISTS BETWEEN GOD AND GOD’S CHOSEN PEOPLE JEWS BELIEVE THAT A COVENANT EXISTS BETWEEN GOD AND GOD’S CHOSEN PEOPLE THE TORAH EMPHASIZES MORAL BEHAVIOR IN THE WORLD THE TORAH EMPHASIZES MORAL BEHAVIOR IN THE WORLD DENOMINATIONS: DENOMINATIONS: – ORTHODOX JEWS ARE VERY TRADITIONAL – REFORM JUDAISM IS MORE CHURCH-LIKE – CONSERVATIVE JUDAISM ACTS TO BRIDGE THE FIRST TWO BELIEF SYSTEMS ANTI-SEMITISM ANTI-SEMITISM – PREJUDICE AND DISCRIMINATION AGAINST JEWISH PEOPLE

Hinduism THE OLDEST OF ALL WORLD RELIGIONS THE OLDEST OF ALL WORLD RELIGIONS MORE THAN 800 MILLION BELIEVERS MORE THAN 800 MILLION BELIEVERS FOUND MOSTLY IN INDIA AND AFRICA FOUND MOSTLY IN INDIA AND AFRICA NO SACRED WRITINGS LIKE THE BIBLE NO SACRED WRITINGS LIKE THE BIBLE PRINCIPLES: PRINCIPLES: – DHARMA REFERS TO CORRECT LIVING – KARMA REFERS TO BELIEF IN SPIRITUAL PROGRESS THROUGH REINCARNATION NIRVANA REPRESENTS SPIRITUAL PERFECTION AND A RELEASE FROM THE CYCLE OF REBIRTH NIRVANA REPRESENTS SPIRITUAL PERFECTION AND A RELEASE FROM THE CYCLE OF REBIRTH

Buddhism – 350 MILLION PERSONS ALMOST ALL ASIANS ALMOST ALL ASIANS – RESEMBLES HINDUISM IN DOCTRINE AND CHRISTIANITY DUE TO ITS TIES TO THE LIFE OF ONE INDIVIDUAL SIDDHARTHA GAUTAMA SIDDHARTHA GAUTAMA – ACHIEVED “BODHI” OR ENLIGHTENMENT – BECAME “BUDDHA” – NO “GOD OF JUDGMENT,” BUT DAILY ACTION HAS ITS CONSEQUENCES

Confucianism – 100,000 PERSONS IN NORTH AMERICA – PRIOR TO THE 1949 REVOLUTION, IT WAS AN ECCLESIA: THE OFFICIAL RELIGION OF CHINA – PERHAPS IT IS MORE A WAY OF DISCIPLINED LIVING THAN A RELIGION