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Sociology, Tenth Edition Religion

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Page 1: Sociology, Tenth Edition Religion. Sociology, Tenth Edition Profane and Sacred Differentiating Between Ordinary & Extraordinary Emile Durkheim –Religion

Sociology, Tenth Edition

Religion

Page 2: Sociology, Tenth Edition Religion. Sociology, Tenth Edition Profane and Sacred Differentiating Between Ordinary & Extraordinary Emile Durkheim –Religion

Sociology, Tenth Edition

Profane and SacredDifferentiating Between Ordinary &

Extraordinary

• Emile Durkheim– Religion focuses on things that surpass the limits of our

own knowledge

• Profane – “outside the temple”- Ordinary elements of everyday life

• Sacred – That which is extraordinary, inspiring a sense of awe, reverence, and even fear

• Religion – The social institution involving beliefs and practices based upon a conception of the sacred

• Ritual – formal, ceremonial behavior

Page 3: Sociology, Tenth Edition Religion. Sociology, Tenth Edition Profane and Sacred Differentiating Between Ordinary & Extraordinary Emile Durkheim –Religion

Sociology, Tenth Edition

• Faith– Belief anchored in conviction

rather than scientific evidence

• If not science, what?– Scientific sociology is interested

in the consequences of religious belief rather than a direct critique of the belief systems

Page 4: Sociology, Tenth Edition Religion. Sociology, Tenth Edition Profane and Sacred Differentiating Between Ordinary & Extraordinary Emile Durkheim –Religion

Sociology, Tenth Edition

Structural Functional Analysis of Religion

• According to Durkheim religion has 3 major functions– Social cohesion – Unites people through shared symbols,

values, and norms• Totem – an object in the natural world collectively

defined as sacred– Social control – The use of religious symbols and language

to control human behavior has always been with us– Provides meaning and purpose – Personal spirituality

allows humans to pass through tough times without total collapse

• Critical Evaluation– Downplays religion’s dysfunctions such as generating social

conflict and violence

Page 5: Sociology, Tenth Edition Religion. Sociology, Tenth Edition Profane and Sacred Differentiating Between Ordinary & Extraordinary Emile Durkheim –Religion

Sociology, Tenth Edition

Symbolic-interaction Analysis of Religion

• Religion is socially constructed (although perhaps with divine inspiration). Through rituals like prayers, fasts, observances we sharpen the distinction between sacred and profane– According to Peter Burger placing our brief lives

in some cosmic frame of reference gives us the semblance of security and permanence

• Critical Evaluation– Socially constructed religion only works if we

ignore that it is a social construct– Downplays religion’s link to social inequality

Page 6: Sociology, Tenth Edition Religion. Sociology, Tenth Edition Profane and Sacred Differentiating Between Ordinary & Extraordinary Emile Durkheim –Religion

Sociology, Tenth Edition

Social-conflict Analysis of Religion

• Religion serves the ruling elites by legitimizing the status quo and diverting people’s attention from social inequities– Disrupts cultures with attempts to “convert heathens– Focuses on the “better world to come” Marx called it

the “opium of the people”• Critical Evaluation

– Downplays religion’s efforts to promote social equality as in the abolition of slavery and the civil rights movement

Page 7: Sociology, Tenth Edition Religion. Sociology, Tenth Edition Profane and Sacred Differentiating Between Ordinary & Extraordinary Emile Durkheim –Religion

Sociology, Tenth Edition

Religious Organizations

• Church – organization that is well integrated into society

• State church – formally allied with the state• Denomination – independent of the state and

pluralistic• Sect – a type of religious organization that stands

apart from the larger society– Leaders sometimes have charisma – extraordinaire

personal qualities that can turn an audience into followers

• Cult – religious organizations that are substantially outside a society’s cultural traditions

Page 8: Sociology, Tenth Edition Religion. Sociology, Tenth Edition Profane and Sacred Differentiating Between Ordinary & Extraordinary Emile Durkheim –Religion

Sociology, Tenth Edition

History of religion• IN PREINDUSTRIAL SOCIETIES

– RITUALS PRACTICED 40,000 YEARS AGO– EMBRACED “ANIMISM”

• ELEMENTS OF THE NATURAL WORLD ARE CONSCIOUS LIFE FORMS THAT AFFECT HUMANITY

– NO FULL-TIME RELIGIOUS LEADERS

• IN INDUSTRIAL SOCIETIES– SCIENCE HAS OFTEN REPLACED RELIGION AS A SOURCE

OF COMFORT AND CERTAINTY– SCIENCE IS SILENT WHEN IT COMES TO ANSWERING

“WHY” WE AND THE REST OF THE UNIVERSE EXISTS– OFTEN THESE TWO BELIEF SYSTEM ARE AT ODDS WITH

ONE ANOTHER

Page 9: Sociology, Tenth Edition Religion. Sociology, Tenth Edition Profane and Sacred Differentiating Between Ordinary & Extraordinary Emile Durkheim –Religion

Sociology, Tenth Edition

Christianity

• 2.0 BILLION FOLLOWERS• 85% OF AMERICANS AND CANADIANS• CHRISTIANITY BEGAN AS A CULT• IT IS MONOTHEISTIC (ONE GOD)• JESUS CHRIST IS CENTRAL FIGURE AS

BOTH MAN ON EARTH AND SON OF GOD

• PREACHES PERSONAL SALVATION• MANY SPLITS FROM ORIGINAL FORM

OF ROMAN CATHOLICISM

Page 10: Sociology, Tenth Edition Religion. Sociology, Tenth Edition Profane and Sacred Differentiating Between Ordinary & Extraordinary Emile Durkheim –Religion

Sociology, Tenth Edition

Islam• 1.2 BILLION FOLLOWERS• NOT ALL MUSLIMS ARE ARABS• THE MIDDLE-EAST, ASIA, AND PARTS OF AFRICA

ARE ISLAMIC-CENTERED• ISLAM IS THE WORD OF GOD AS REVEALED TO THE

PROPHET MUHAMMAD, BORN IN MECCA AROUND 570

• THE QUR’AN URGES SUBMISSION TO GOD (ALLAH) AS THE PATH TO INNER PEACE

• FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM– RECOGNIZE ALLAH AS THE TRUE GOD– RITUAL PRAYER– GIVING OF ALMS TO THE POOR– FASTING DURING RAMADAN– MAKING THE ONCE IN A LIFETIME PILGRIMAGE TO MECCA

Page 11: Sociology, Tenth Edition Religion. Sociology, Tenth Edition Profane and Sacred Differentiating Between Ordinary & Extraordinary Emile Durkheim –Religion

Sociology, Tenth Edition

Global Map 19-1 Christianity in Global Perspective

Page 12: Sociology, Tenth Edition Religion. Sociology, Tenth Edition Profane and Sacred Differentiating Between Ordinary & Extraordinary Emile Durkheim –Religion

Sociology, Tenth Edition

Global Map 19-2 Islam in Global Perspective

Page 13: Sociology, Tenth Edition Religion. Sociology, Tenth Edition Profane and Sacred Differentiating Between Ordinary & Extraordinary Emile Durkheim –Religion

Sociology, Tenth Edition

Judaism

• 15 MILLION ADHERENTS WORLDWIDE• NATIONAL MAJORITY ONLY IN ISRAEL• JEWS BELIEVE THAT A COVENANT EXISTS BETWEEN

GOD AND GOD’S CHOSEN PEOPLE• THE TORAH EMPHASIZES MORAL BEHAVIOR IN THE

WORLD• DENOMINATIONS:

– ORTHODOX JEWS ARE VERY TRADITIONAL– REFORM JUDAISM IS MORE CHURCH-LIKE– CONSERVATIVE JUDAISM ACTS TO BRIDGE THE FIRST TWO

BELIEF SYSTEMS

• ANTI-SEMITISM– PREJUDICE AND DISCRIMINATION AGAINST JEWISH

PEOPLE

Page 14: Sociology, Tenth Edition Religion. Sociology, Tenth Edition Profane and Sacred Differentiating Between Ordinary & Extraordinary Emile Durkheim –Religion

Sociology, Tenth Edition

Hinduism

• THE OLDEST OF ALL WORLD RELIGIONS• MORE THAN 800 MILLION BELIEVERS• FOUND MOSTLY IN INDIA AND AFRICA• NO SACRED WRITINGS LIKE THE BIBLE• PRINCIPLES:

– DHARMA REFERS TO CORRECT LIVING– KARMA REFERS TO BELIEF IN SPIRITUAL

PROGRESS THROUGH REINCARNATION

• NIRVANA REPRESENTS SPIRITUAL PERFECTION AND A RELEASE FROM THE CYCLE OF REBIRTH

Page 15: Sociology, Tenth Edition Religion. Sociology, Tenth Edition Profane and Sacred Differentiating Between Ordinary & Extraordinary Emile Durkheim –Religion

Sociology, Tenth Edition

Buddhism

– 350 MILLION PERSONS • ALMOST ALL ASIANS

– RESEMBLES HINDUISM IN DOCTRINE AND CHRISTIANITY DUE TO ITS TIES TO THE LIFE OF ONE INDIVIDUAL

• SIDDHARTHA GAUTAMA– ACHIEVED “BODHI” OR ENLIGHTENMENT– BECAME “BUDDHA”

– NO “GOD OF JUDGMENT,” BUT DAILY ACTION HAS ITS CONSEQUENCES

Page 16: Sociology, Tenth Edition Religion. Sociology, Tenth Edition Profane and Sacred Differentiating Between Ordinary & Extraordinary Emile Durkheim –Religion

Sociology, Tenth Edition

Global Map 19-3 Hinduism in Global Perspective

Page 17: Sociology, Tenth Edition Religion. Sociology, Tenth Edition Profane and Sacred Differentiating Between Ordinary & Extraordinary Emile Durkheim –Religion

Sociology, Tenth Edition

Global Map 19-4 Buddhism in Global Perspective

Page 18: Sociology, Tenth Edition Religion. Sociology, Tenth Edition Profane and Sacred Differentiating Between Ordinary & Extraordinary Emile Durkheim –Religion

Sociology, Tenth Edition

Confucianism

– 100,000 PERSONS IN NORTH AMERICA– PRIOR TO THE 1949 REVOLUTION, IT

WAS AN ECCLESIA: THE OFFICIAL RELIGION OF CHINA

– PERHAPS IT IS MORE A WAY OF DISCIPLINED LIVING THAN A RELIGION

Page 19: Sociology, Tenth Edition Religion. Sociology, Tenth Edition Profane and Sacred Differentiating Between Ordinary & Extraordinary Emile Durkheim –Religion

Sociology, Tenth Edition

Figure 19-1 Religiosity in Global

Perspective

Page 20: Sociology, Tenth Edition Religion. Sociology, Tenth Edition Profane and Sacred Differentiating Between Ordinary & Extraordinary Emile Durkheim –Religion

Sociology, Tenth Edition

Religion in the U.S.• AFFILIATION

– 56.2% PROTESTANTS (20.6% BAPTIST)– 25.1% CATHOLICS– 14.7% NO PREFERENCE– 2.3% JEWISH– 1.7% OTHER OR NO ANSWER

• RELIGIOSITY– REFERS TO IMPORTANCE OF RELIGION IN A PERSON’S

LIFE– TYPES:

• EXPERIENTIAL: EMOTIONAL TIES• RITUALISTIC: FREQUENCY OF ACTIVITIES• IDEOLOGICAL: DEGREE OF BELIEF IN DOCTRINE• CONSEQUENTIAL: TIE INTO DAILY ACTIVITIES• INTELLECTUAL: KNOWLEDGE OF RELIGION

Page 21: Sociology, Tenth Edition Religion. Sociology, Tenth Edition Profane and Sacred Differentiating Between Ordinary & Extraordinary Emile Durkheim –Religion

Sociology, Tenth Edition

National Map 19-1 Religious Membership across the United States

Page 22: Sociology, Tenth Edition Religion. Sociology, Tenth Edition Profane and Sacred Differentiating Between Ordinary & Extraordinary Emile Durkheim –Religion

Sociology, Tenth Edition

National Map 19-2 Religious Diversity across the United States

Page 23: Sociology, Tenth Edition Religion. Sociology, Tenth Edition Profane and Sacred Differentiating Between Ordinary & Extraordinary Emile Durkheim –Religion

Sociology, Tenth Edition

Religious Practices Are Found to Be Tied to Various Other Social

Patterns• Social class

– High achievement: Episcopalians, Presbyterians, and United Church of Christ congregations

– Moderate achievement: Methodists and Catholics

– Lower achievement: Baptists, Lutherans, and members of sects

– Jewish people tend to be represented among the higher achievers due to stress on education and achievement

• Race and ethnicity– Many religions are tied to specific regions and

societies in America• Irish Catholics, Anglo-Saxon protestants,

Greek orthodox, Russian Jews, etc

Page 24: Sociology, Tenth Edition Religion. Sociology, Tenth Edition Profane and Sacred Differentiating Between Ordinary & Extraordinary Emile Durkheim –Religion

Sociology, Tenth Edition

Religion’s Changing FaceReligion’s Changing Face• Secularization – historical decline in the importance

of the supernatural and the sacred– Religion isn’t going away, but rather some features are in

decline

• Civil religion – A quasi-religious loyalty binding people in a basically secular society– American way of life has its core rooted in a moral belief

system

• Religious revival– New age spirituality flourishes– Membership in mainstream churches dwindles

– Interests increases in Fundamentalism – a conservative religious dogma that opposes intellectualism and worldly

accommodation in favor of traditional otherworldly religion

Page 25: Sociology, Tenth Edition Religion. Sociology, Tenth Edition Profane and Sacred Differentiating Between Ordinary & Extraordinary Emile Durkheim –Religion

Sociology, Tenth Edition

Fundamentalism

• Interpret sacred texts literally• Rejects religious pluralism• Pursues the personal experience of

God’s presence• Opposes “secular humanism”• Endorse conservative political

goals

Page 26: Sociology, Tenth Edition Religion. Sociology, Tenth Edition Profane and Sacred Differentiating Between Ordinary & Extraordinary Emile Durkheim –Religion

Sociology, Tenth Edition

High-tech• Some organizations especially fundamentalist

are becoming electronic churches• Prime-time preachers include: Oral Roberts

Pat Robertson Robert Schuler• 10 million regular watchers; 40 million watch

some every week• The internet is one of the most recent

modalities to spread religion to people• Pope John Paul II called it the “new evangelism”