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Essentials of
Sociology
9th Edition
Chapter 13: Education and Religion
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Chapter Overview
Education in Global Perspective
Three Sociological Perspectives
Problems in the Educational System
What is Religion?
Three Sociological Perspectives (Religion)
Types of Religious Groups
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3. Education and Industrialization
Early in U.S. history there was no free public education.
As the country industrialized in the 1800’s, political and civic leaders saw the need for an educated work force
Community colleges were born in the early 1900’s
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Figure Educational Achievement in the United States Note: Americans 25 years and over. Asterisk indicates author’s estimate. Sources: By the author. Based on National Center for Education Statistics 1991:Table 8; Statistical Abstract of the United States 2010:Table 228.
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5. Education Around the World
Education in Japan (Industrialized Nations)
Emphasis on Solidarity within Group
Discourages Competition among Individuals
Education in Russia (Industrializing Nations)
Education, including College was Free
Post-Soviet Russians are “Reinventing” Education as Communism has dissolved
Education in Egypt (Least Industrialized Nations)
Mandatory Attendance Laws are Not enforced
Many learn from their parents
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Credential Societies
Credential Societies - Diplomas Determine Job Eligibility
Diplomas Serve as Sorting Devices
Credential Societies are usually Industrialized Societies
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7. The Functionalist Perspective
Education provides manifest and latent functions
Manifest functions include:
Learning skills and knowledge
Social Integration: Mainstreaming
Cultural transmission of values
Tracking and Gatekeeping
There are dysfunctions within the educational system, including school violence and mediocrity
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8. The Conflict Perspective
The educational system perpetuates social inequalities that already exist in society
The Hidden Curriculum
Tracking leads to inequalities
Standardized tests are biased towards certain social classes
Some students lack cultural capital
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9. The Symbolic Interactionist Perspective
The Ray Rist Study: Teacher’s perception of students led to labeling
George Farkas studied how teacher expectations affect grades
Teachers label students a certain way which leads to a self-fulfilling prophecy among many students
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10. Problems in U.S. Education
Rising Tide of Mediocrity
Unequal Funding
Cheating
Grade Inflation, Social Promotion, Functional Illiteracy
Violence in Schools
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What is Religion?
Emile Durkheim said, “A religion is a unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things.”
Sacred is the opposite of profane (ordinary)
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13. Three Elements of Religion (Durkheim)
Beliefs that Some Things are Sacred
Practices Centering on Things Considered Sacred
A Moral Community Resulting from a Group’s Beliefs and Practices
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14. The Functionalist Perspective
Religion provides certain functions:
Answers questions about the ultimate meaning of life
Social solidarity
Emotional comfort
Provides guidelines for everyday life
There are also dysfunctions of religion including: War and Terrorism and Religious Persecution
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15. The Symbolic Interactionist Perspective
Studies what meanings people give to their religious beliefs and what religion means to each individual
Religious Symbols
Rituals, Ceremonies, Repetitive Practices
For some people the meaning of the Religious Experience is so powerful, they believe they are Born Again
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Conflict Perspective
Marx saw religion as “The opium of the people” and believed that religion diverted people’s attention from the oppression they were facing
Legitimization of Social Inequalities
Social Arrangements Represent God’s Desires
Divine Rights of Kings
Pharaoh as God
Hindu Cast System
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17. Types of Religious Groups
Cults
Begin with Charismatic Leader
Most Popular Religions Started this Way
Religious Fervor is High
Most Cults Fail
If Cults Survive, They Often Form:
Sects
Loosely Organized and Fairly Small
Emphasize Personal Salvation
Some sects remain sects and never turn into churches (Amish)
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18. Types of Religious Groups
Churches
Highly Bureaucratized
National and International
Relationship with God Less Intense
Ecclesia
State Religions
Part of Cultural Identification
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Figure Religious Groups: From Hostility to Acceptance Note: Any religious organization can be placed somewhere on this continuum, based on its having “more” or “less” of these characteristics and emphases. The varying proportions of the rectangles are intended to represent the group’s relative characteristics and emphases. Sources: By the author. Based on Troeltsch 1931; Pope 1942; and Johnson 1963.
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Religion in the U.S.
The hour between 10 and 11 am on Sundays has been referred to as the most segregated hour in the U.S.
Religious participation goes up as one ages
94 % of Americans believe that there is a God
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Figure Social Class and Religious Affiliation 1Since the income data were reported, inflation has run approximately 27 percent. 2Higher numbers mean that more of the group’s members work at occupations that have higher prestige, generally those that require more education and pay more. For more information on occupational prestige, see Table 8.2 on page 193. Source: By the author. Based on Smith and Faris 2005.
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The Future of Religion
Religion Thrives
People will Always Ponder the Purpose of Life
Science Cannot Tell Us About
The Existence of God
The Purpose of Life
An Afterlife
Morality
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