1. McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 1 The Sociological Perspective SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS part McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 4

2. chapter McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. CHAPTER OUTLINE Durkheim and the Sociological Approach to Religion World Religions The Role of Religion Religious Behavior Religious Organization Social Policy and Religion: Religion in the Schools 15 RELIGION

3. McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 3 Durkheim and the Sociological Approach to Religion █Emile Durkheim was the first sociologist to recognize the critical importance of religion in human societies. –Durkheim stressed the social impact of religion. –Durkheim viewed religion as a collective act; religion includes many forms of behavior in which people interact with others.

4. McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 4 Durkheim and the Sociological Approach to Religion █Durkheim defined religion as a “unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things.” █Religious faiths distinguish between events that transcend the ordinary and the everyday world: –The sacred includes elements that inspire awe, respect, and fear. People become a part of the sacred by completing some ritual. –The profane includes the ordinary and commonplace.

5. McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 5 World Religions █Diversity in World Religions –87 percent of the world’s population adheres to some religion –Christianity is the largest single faith, the second largest is Islam –Christianity, Islam, and Judaism are monotheistic religions –Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism developed in India. Buddhism is now primarily found in Asia. –Although the differences among religions are striking, they are exceeded by variations within faiths.

6. McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 6 World Religions █ Figure 15.1: Religions of the World Source: Student Atlas of World Politics, 5th Edition, by John L. Allen, McGraw-Hill/Dushkin, Copyright 2002

7. McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 7 World Religions █ Table 15.1: Major World Religions Buddhism 364 (5.9%) Southeast Asia, Gautama Triptaka Mongolia, Tibet Siddhartha (areas in Nepal) (563 B.C.) Christianity 2,039 (33%) Europe, Jesus Bible North America, (6 B.C.) (Jerusalem, Rome) South America Hinduism 828 (13.3%) India, Indian No specific Sruti and Smrti communities founder texts overseas (1500 B.C.) (seven sacred cities, including Vavansi) Islam 1,226 (19.8%) Middle East, Mohammad Qur’an or Koran Central Asia, (A.D. 570) (Mecca, Medina, North Africa, Jerusalem) Indonesia Judaism 14 (0.2%) Israel, Abraham Torah,Talmud United States, (2000 B.C.) (Jerusalem) France, Russia Current Following, in MillionsPrimaryFounder (and (and Percent ofLocation ofApproximateImportant Texts FaithWorld Population)Followers TodayBirth Date)(and Holy Sites)

8. McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 8 Religious Behavior █ Figure 15.2: Belief in God Worldwide Source: Inglehart and Baker 2000:47.

9. McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 9 World Religions (Click inside frame to start video) █ New Anxieties for Educated Women in Iraq

10. McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 10 The Role of Religion █Functions of Religion –Manifest functions: Manifest functions are open and stated. Religion defines the spiritual world and gives meaning to the divine. Religion also provides an explanation for events that are difficult to understand. –Latent functions: The latent functions of religion (unintended, covert, or hidden) might include providing a meeting ground for unmarried members.

11. McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 11 The Role of Religion █The Integrative Function of Religion –Religion offers people meaning and purpose for their lives. –Religion gives people certain ultimate values and ends to hold in common. –These values and ends help a society to function as an integrated social system.

12. McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 12 The Role of Religion █Religion and Social Support –Through its emphasis on the divine and the supernatural, religion allows us to do something about the calamities we face. –Religion encourages us to view our personal misfortunes as unimportant in the broader perspective of human history.

13. McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 13 The Role of Religion █Religion and Social Change –The Weberian Thesis Weber argued that followers of the Protestant Reformation emphasized a disciplined work ethic, this-worldly concerns, and a rational orientation for life. This became known as the Protestant ethic. A by-product of this ethic was a drive to accumulate savings that could be used for future investment.

14. McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 14 The Role of Religion █Religion and Social Change –Liberation Theology The use of a church in a political effort to eliminate poverty, discrimination, and other forms of injustice evident in a secular society.

15. McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 15 The Role of Religion █Religion and Social Control: A Conflict View –Marx argued that religion impeded social change by encouraging people to focus on other-worldly concerns rather than their poverty or exploitation. –Marx felt religion drugged the masses into submission by offering a consolation for their harsh live on earth: the hope of salvation in an ideal afterlife.

16. McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 16 Religious Behavior █Common Elements of Religion –Belief: Religious beliefs are statements to which members of a particular religion adhere. –Ritual: Religious rituals are practices required or expected of members of a faith. –Experience: Religious experience is the feeling or perception of being in direct contact with the ultimate reality or of being overcome with religious emotion.

17. McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 17 Religious Organization █Ecclesiae –An ecclesia is a religious organization claiming to include most or all of the members of a society and is recognized as the national or official religion. –Ecclesiae are conservative, in general, and do not challenge the leaders of a secular government.

18. McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 18 Religious Organization █Denominations –A denomination is a large, organized religion not officially linked with the state or government. –A denomination tends to have an explicit set of beliefs, a defined system of authority, and a generally respected position in society. –A denomination usually claims as members large segments of a population.

19. McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 19 Religious Organization █Sects –A sect can be defined as a relatively small religious group that has broken away from some other religious organization to renew what it considers the original vision of the faith. –Sects are fundamentally at odds with society and do not seek to become established national religions.

20. McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 20 Religious Organization █New Religious Movements or Cults –New religious movements are generally small secretive religious groups that represent either a new religion or a major innovation of an existing faith. –New religious movements are similar to sects in that they tend to be small and are viewed as less respectable than more established faiths.

21. McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 21 Religious Organization █ Figure 15.3: Largest Religious Groups in the United States by County, 2000 Source: D. Jones at al. 2002:592.

22. McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 22 Religious Organization █Comparing Forms of Religious Organization –Ecclesiae, denominations, sects, and new religious movements have somewhat different relationships to society. –Ecclesiae, denominations, and sects are best viewed as types along a continuum. –New religious movements, they are outside the traditional continuum of religious organizations. –Advances in electronic communication have led to the electronic church.

23. McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 23 Religious Organization █ Table 15.2: Characteristics of Ecclesiae, Denominations, Sects, and New Religious Movements Size Very large Large Small Small Wealth Extensive Extensive Limited Variable Religious Formal, little Formal, little Informal, Variable Servicesparticipation participationemotional Doctrines Specific, but Specific, but Specific, purity Innovative, interpretation interpretation of doctrine pathbreaking may be tolerated may be tolerated emphasized Clergy Well-trained, Well-trained,Trained to Unspecialized full-timefull-timesome degree Membership By virtue of By acceptance By acceptance By an emotional being a memberof doctrinedoctrinecommitment of society Relationship Recognized, Tolerated Not encouraged Ignored or to the state closely aligned challenged New Religious CharacteristicEcclesiaDenominationSectMovement (or Cult) Source: Adapted from G. Vernon 1962; see also Chalfant et al. 1994.

24. McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 24 Case Study: Religion in India █The Religious Tapestry in India –India is religiously diverse. Some of the most popular faiths in India include: Hinduism Islam Sikh Jainism

25. McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 25 Case Study: Religion in India █Religion and the State in India –India is a secular state, dominated by Hindus –Many see religion as the moving force in Indian politics, with political parties aligning themselves along religious lines.

26. McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 26 Case Study:Religion in India █Religion and Society in India –The Hindu caste system may impede India’s economic advancement because it favors people of high birth. –Dowries—major transfers of wealth from the bride’s family to the groom—also influence the role of marriage in Indian society.

27. McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 27 Social Policy and Religion (Click inside frame to start video) █ Lawsuit Plaintiff Michael Newdow and Superintendent David Gordon in Sacramento, California Discuss the Recent Court Decision Against the Term "Under God."

28. McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 28 Social Policy and Religion █Religion in the Schools –The Issue Should public schools be allowed to sponsor organized prayers or other expressions of religion in the classroom? Those who object want to maintain a strict separation of church and state. Who has the right to decide these issues?

29. McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 29 Social Policy and Religion █Religion in the Schools –The Setting The issues are at the heart of the First Amendment’s provisions on religious freedom. In 1987 the Supreme Court ruled that states could not compel the teaching of creationism in public schools. Many school districts now require that teachers entertain alternative theories to evolution and to the creation of the universe, and some discount evolution altogether.

30. McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 30 Social Policy and Religion █Religion in the Schools –Sociological Insights Supporters of school prayer and of creationism feel that the use of nondenominational prayer can in no way lead to the establishment of an ecclesia in the United States. Opponents of school prayer and creationism argue that a religious majority in a community might impose religious viewpoints specific to its faith at the expense of religious minorities.

31. McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 31 Social Policy and Religion █Religion in the Schools –Policy Initiatives School education is fundamentally a local issue, though in 2003, President Bush declared that schools with policies that prevent school prayer are at risk to lose government funding. Religious fundamentalists have had some success in pushing their agenda by getting their own candidates elected to state and local school boards. The activism of religious fundamentalists in the nation’s public schools raises a more general question: Whose ideas and values deserve a hearing in classrooms?