1. Welcome To Sociology 3222 Sociology of Religion
Professor: Dr. Richard Pitt
Teaching Assistant: Rachel Skaggs

3. Books We’ll Read

4. A = 579 to 600 A- = 540 to 578 B’s = 480 to 539 C’s = 420 to 399
Only way to go back up is get extra credit point from town meeting evals and weekly posts to the blog
A = 579 to 600
A- = 540 to 578
B’s = 480 to 539
C’s = 420 to 399
D’s = 370 to 349
F’s = 0 to 299
Grade Scale

5. Average Grades In This Class
Reading Quizzes (100)
Course Blog (100)
Town Meeting (100)
Field Notes (100)
Ethnographic Paper (100)
Examination (100)
73 points
87 points
81 points
90 points
89 points
510 points ( the same as an 85% )
Grade? B
extra points = 535 points (Grade? B+)

6. Course Blog Register for the course blog by clicking login.
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Course Blog

7. Performance Evaluation
What Is A Town Meeting?
Performance Evaluation
Did they know what they were talking about?
How persuasive their argument was
How much their argument reflected broad knowledge of the topic
How well they stayed in character
How much time spent on the preparation for meeting

8. Why Do People Kill Themselves?
Suicide Rates
The National Institute Of Mental Health (2009) says:
“The number one risk factor for suicide is depression and other mental disorders. More than 90% of people who die by suicide have these risk factors”
15-24 year olds
% Suicide
White Men
18%
Black Men
12%
Latino Men
Asian Men 7%
Native Men
33%
15-24 year olds
% Suicide
White Women 4%
Black Women 2%
Latino Women 3%
Asian Women
Native Women
10%
CLEARLY
something else is going on here.
Older White men commit suicide at the highest rates of any population group. Widowhood, illness, and social isolation are common risk factors.
Living alone and being single increases suicide risk. Divorced and separated people are more likely than married ones to commit suicide.
Religion seems to protect people against suicide. This works for both people who are “spiritual” but don’t go to church much and for those who attend services.
There are 1100 suicides (and 24k attempts) on college campuses every year and it is the SECOND LEADING CAUSE of death (after accidents). Suicides more prevalent in elite schools. More seniors than freshmen and more graduate students than undergrads.
Duh.
Why Do People Kill Themselves?
Data from US Dept of Health and Human Services

9. Two Kinds Of Suicide Affected By Social Integration
Emile Durkheim 1897
EGOISTIC
Society Is Too Weak
Two Kinds Of Suicide Affected By Social Integration
ALTRUISTIC
Society Is Too Strong