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Religion and Society

Religion and Society. What Is Religion?. Durkheim defined religion by three elements Beliefs that are some things are sacred (Set apart, Forbidden) Practices (rituals) centering on things considered sacred A Moral Community (a church) resulting from a groups beliefs and practices.

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Religion and Society

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  1. Religion and Society

  2. What Is Religion? • Durkheim defined religion by three elements • Beliefs that are some things are sacred (Set apart, Forbidden) • Practices(rituals) centering on things considered sacred • A Moral Community (a church) resulting from a groups beliefs and practices

  3. Why Study Religion? • Religion is a universal social intuition • What is a universal social intuition? • Sociologists study the relationship between society and religion • They do not seek to prove or disprove religions • The study of religion helps us define and understand our world

  4. Sociologists Ideas On Religion • Karl Marx • Religion is a destructive force in society • The promise that hard work and good acts gain entrance is an empty one • Believed religion was meant to distract people from their unequal or unfair treatments • “The opiate of the People”

  5. Sociologists Ideas On Religion • Emile Durkheim: • Durkheim did not agree with Marx • Why would something so destructive be at the center of every religion • He believed that religion must serve a function in society • It encourages cooperation • Religion needs to change to reflect society

  6. Sociologists Ideas On Religion • Religion and Social Change • Religion helps maintain a societies solidarity • Mechanical Solidarity • People need to follow a specific set of rules • Gods make specific demands that must be followed • These change with the society's values • Organic Solidarity • People in complex societies need to adapt their behavior to a variety of complex situations • Its better for the society to have a general set of rules to follow

  7. Sociologists Ideas On Religion • Max Weber (The Middle Man) • Agreed with Marx and Durkheim • Like Marx: religious values are not always in sync with society and can cause conflict • Like Durkheim: Religion serves as a powerful social glue that ensures cooperation and achievement of the societies goals

  8. Class Discussion In your own words, what do each of these sociologists think about religion? Which ideas do you agree or disagree with? Why? How do this ideas apply to religious philosophies or movments today? Provide an example.

  9. Functionalist Perspective • Religion is universal because it meets basic human needs • Function of Religion • Question about ultimate meaning • Emotional comfort • Guidelines for everyday life • Social control • Adaptation • Support of the government • Social change

  10. Dysfunctions of Religion • Religion as justification of persecution • Examples • War and Terrorism • Examples

  11. Symbolic Interactionist perspective • Focus on the meanings of experiences • Rituals: Ceremonies or practices; are symbols that help people unite into a moral community • Beliefs: values and perceptions (cosmology) • Religious experience: a sudden awareness of the super-natural or a feeling of coming in contact with god • Community: United though beliefs, experiences, and rituals

  12. The Conflict Perspective • Focuses on how religion supports the status quo or social inequality • Marx’s opiate of the people • The Legitimation of social inequalities • How would this be done? (I mean, we have talked about it enough) • Ex: Hinduism supports a cast system

  13. Types of Religious Groups • The religious line: • Cult: A new religion with a few followers • Views can put it at odds with society • Sect: Members feel tension toward and from society • Church: Religious group that becomes highly bureaucratized • Ecclesia: A religious group so intergraded into the dominant culture that it is difficult to tell them apart

  14. The Future of Religion • Religion will be around as long as humanity exists • 4 concerns science can not address • The existence of god • The purpose of life • The idea of an afterlife • Mortality

  15. World Religions Project

  16. World Religions Project • Task: Create a presentation for your assigned religion (30 points total) • It must include in detail (25 Points 5 points per question): • Estimated population and locations of major populations • The groups essential teachings (Beliefs, Rituals, Artifacts) • Sub sects of the religion (off shoots) and what they believe • Culture (art, food, culture, dress) • Global impact of your religion • Works Cited (5 points) • Religions: Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism

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