Chapter 15-Religion

World Religions

89% of people in the world subscribe to some type of religion

Christianity, Islam, and Judaism All are monotheistic

All believe in a prophet

All believe in the afterlife

Hinduism and Buddhism Use meditation to overcome selfish cravings

Religions of the World

Durkheim and the Functions of Religion

Religion- a unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things

Durkheim viewed religion as an integrative force in human society.

Religion’s emphasis on the divine and supernatural allows us “to do something” about the calamities we face

Functions of Religion

Manifest FunctionsGives meaning and purposeOffers values and ends to hold in

commonStrengthens social integration within

groups

Functions of Religion

Latent FunctionsEncourages people to view personal

misfortunes as relatively unimportant Faith based communities take more

responsibility in social assistance

Weberian Thesis

Protestant Work Ethic: followers of the Protestant Reformation emphasized discipline and hard work

Religion and Social Control

Marx believed that religion impeded social change

He called it an “opiate of the masses” byoffering consolation for the harsh lives lived on earth

Religion reinforced existing patterns of dominance and inequality

Feminist Perspective

Women generally play a fundamental role in the

process of religious socialization

Women play in vital role as volunteers,

staff , and educators

Religious Beliefs

Religious beliefs are statements to which member so a particular religion adhere.

Fundamentalism: Rigid adherence to fundamental religious doctrines

It is found worldwide among major religious groups

Religious Rituals

Religious Rituals: Practices required or expected of members of a particular faith

Religious Experience: Feeling or perception of being in direct contact with the ultimate reality or of being overcome with religious emotion

http://www.vice.com/video/mecca-diaries

Religious Organization

Ecclesiae: Religious organizations claiming to include most or all members of a society

Denominations: Large, organized religion not officially linked with the state or government

Sects: relatively small religious group that has broken away from some other religious organization to renew the original vision of the faith.

Fundamentally at odds with society and does not seek to become an established national religion

New Religious Movements or Cults

Cults: small, secretive religious groups that represent either a new religion or a major innovation of an existing faith Similar to sects Tend to be small Viewed as less respectable Top Ten Cults https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNOSm9wvf5o