Religion Chapter 9 Lecture PowerPoint © W. W. Norton & Company, 2008

What Is Religion? You May Ask Yourself Copyright © 2008 W.W. Norton & Company, Inc. 2  A system of beliefs and practices around sacred things, shared “stories” that guide belief and action  Society’s way of dealing with issues that other institutions are not equipped to handle “residual institution” –does what other institutions do not historically: science, medicine, education, justice, politics, were all part of religion. today: mostly moral & ethical issues  Secularism = movement away from religiosity, toward rationality and science

Types of religions You May Ask Yourself Copyright © 2008 W.W. Norton & Company, Inc. 3  Three categories: Theism — the worship of a god or gods Ethicalism — the adherence to certain principles to lead a moral life Animism — the belief that spirits roam the natural world

Figure 9.1 | World Religions

Figure 9.2 | Percentages of Religious Adherents Worldwide

Figure 9.4 | U.S. Religions

Theoretical Perspectives on Religion: Durkheim You May Ask Yourself Copyright © 2008 W.W. Norton & Company, Inc. 7  religions promote solidarity by strengthening the collective conscience Gives sense of unity and belonging  Religion reinforces values, maintains order Stresses obedience to laws  Sacred symbols become powerful because people collectively invest them with power

Theoretical Perspectives on Religion: Weber You May Ask Yourself Copyright © 2008 W.W. Norton & Company, Inc. 8  Protestantism as influential in development of capitalism Promoted hard work and discipline as duties to God Encouraged deferred gratification – saving, investing Viewed money as OK if not wasted on personal pleasure These ideas made up “Protestant Ethic” These values support capitalist system

Theoretical Perspectives on Religion: Marx You May Ask Yourself Copyright © 2008 W.W. Norton & Company, Inc. 9  Religion keeps workers from questioning their oppressed position  Emphasizes acceptance of status quo - poverty and misery are “God’s will”  “Opiate of the people” – used to control working class, keep them content  Major religions were elitist – dominated by upper class Christianity of 1800’s Europe also by white males

Is religion weakening? You May Ask Yourself Copyright © 2008 W.W. Norton & Company, Inc. 10  Yes: Pluralism The presence of numerous distinct religious groups in one society May weaken credibility of any one church May provide more choices that compete with each other May allow diverse religions to engage with one another to build a common sense of community

Figure 9.3 | Percentage of National Populations That Rated the Importance of God in Their Lives as “10”

Figure 9.5 | Attendance at Religious Services

Is religion weakening? You May Ask Yourself Copyright © 2008 W.W. Norton & Company, Inc. 13  No: Religiosity = how individuals express religious interests and convictions (Glock and Stark) Belief (about God, doctrines) Ritual (church attendance, prayer, reading) Intellectual (knowledge, study, philosophy) Experience (personal religious experience) Consequences (actual effects on behavior, attitudes)  Church attendance is declining, but other dimensions are same or increasing

The Power of Religion: Social Movements You May Ask Yourself Copyright © 2008 W.W. Norton & Company, Inc. 14  Marx criticized religion as maintaining status quo  Churches often lead and support social movements such as the antislavery Temperance Civil rights  Churches work through coalition building, fundraising, and communications.  Churches also provide social services

The Power of Religion: Social Movements You May Ask Yourself Copyright © 2008 W.W. Norton & Company, Inc. 15  Churches and church organizations also played a key role in the civil rights movement through coalition building, fundraising, and communications.  The church has long played an important role in African American communities, building strong social networks, providing social services, and functioning as a safe haven for people who have experienced enormous marginalization in society at large.

Religion and the Social Landscape You May Ask Yourself Copyright © 2008 W.W. Norton & Company, Inc. 16  Who is more religious? Church attendance and formal religious affiliation are higher for: Women Older people Minorities Married, widowed Lower classes Southern, midwestern states

Religion as market commodity You May Ask Yourself Copyright © 2008 W.W. Norton & Company, Inc. 17  Religion brings in money: Charitable donations Religious products, particularly Christian Youth market is very large Churches depend on donations for operating expenses  Therefore, religious denominations and churches may compete for members  Today’s churchgoers are treated as consumers

Marketing of religion  Appeal to markets: youth market, sports and fitness, contemporary themes and worship, counseling, secular activities  Increased size – megachurches have members, million $ budgets  Speed – time is scarce resource; quick services appeal to many  Streamlined, contemporary, high tech – Biblezines, web churches, Christian punk & goth, following trends Christianity has historically done this

Sect-Church Cycle You May Ask Yourself Copyright © 2008 W.W. Norton & Company, Inc. 19  Explains existence of so many types of Christian churches in United States  Sects start out by splintering off from an existing church because of disagreements  Over time, if sect develops a large following, it may become a church  Eventually another sect may split off from it.  Sect is not a cult – cult is independent group that makes new claim about supernatural

Why conservative churches are growing You May Ask Yourself Copyright © 2008 W.W. Norton & Company, Inc. 20  Stricter religious institutions grow faster  Members of stricter groups are likely to be more committed and to buy more into the group mission.  Sense of belonging and team effort are rewarding  Have had strong influence on political issues Abortion Same sex marriage Private school funding Public school curriculum