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Chapter 13

Chapter 13. Religion. Chapter Outline. The Nature of Religion Magic Major Types of Religion A Sociological Approach to Religion Organization of Religious Life Aspects of American Religion Major Religions in the United States. The Nature of Religion. Religion:

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Chapter 13

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  1. Chapter 13 Religion

  2. Chapter Outline • The Nature of Religion • Magic • Major Types of Religion • A Sociological Approach to Religion • Organization of Religious Life • Aspects of American Religion • Major Religions in the United States

  3. The Nature of Religion Religion: • A system of beliefs, practices, and values shared by a group of people. • Defines the sacred. • Helps explain life. • Offers salvation from the problems of human existence.

  4. The Elements of Religion All religions contain certain shared elements: • Ritual and prayer • Emotion • Belief • Organization

  5. Magic • Magic is an active attempt to coerce spirits or to control supernatural forces. • Magic is used to manipulate and control matters that seem to be beyond human control and that may involve danger and uncertainty. • In most instances, religion serves to unify a group of believers, whereas magic is designed to help the individual who uses it. • Mana is adiffuse, nonpersonalized force that acts through anything that lives or moves.

  6. Four Major Types of Religions • Supernaturalism - Postulates the existence of nonpersonalized supernatural forces that can influence human events. • Animism - The belief in inanimate, personalized spirits or ghosts of ancestors that actively work to influence human affairs.

  7. Four Major Types of Religions • Theism - The belief in divine beings—gods and goddesses—who shape human affairs. • Abstract ideals - Focus on the achievement of personal awareness and a higher state of consciousness through correct ways of thinking and behaving, rather than by manipulating spirits or worshipping gods.

  8. Question • In animistic religions, shamans are able to cure illness because they: • use powerful medicines. • manipulate the populace to believe in their power. • have developed a working knowledge of natural medicines. • have a special relationship with the spirits that cause illness.

  9. Answer: D • In animistic religions, shamans are able to cure illness because they have a special relationship with the spirits that cause illness.

  10. Major Religions of the World—2000

  11. Major Religions of the World—2000

  12. Major Religions of the World—2000

  13. Question • What is your current religious affiliation? • Protestant • Catholic • Jewish • None • Other

  14. Polytheism • Belief in a number of gods. • Each god or goddess usually has particular spheres of influence such as childbirth, rain, or war. • There is generally one who is more powerful than the rest and oversees the others’ activities.

  15. Monotheism • The belief in the existence of a single god. • Three religions are known to be monotheistic: • Judaism • Christianity • Islam

  16. The Functionalist Perspective Four categories of religious function: • Satisfying individual needs. • Promoting social cohesion. • Providing a worldview. • Helping to adapt to society.

  17. Society, Religion, and the Individual: A Functionalist View

  18. Question • Do you believe that the Bible is the actual word of God, to be taken literally word for word? • Yes • No

  19. The Conflict Theory Perspective • Marx saw religion as a tool the upper classes used to dominate the lower classes. • The lower classes were distracted from social change by the promise of happiness through religion. • They would receive their reward in heaven, and so had no reason to improve their condition in this world.

  20. Organization of Religious Life • Universal churchIncludes all the members of a society within one united moral community. • EcclesiaA church that shares the same ethical system as the secular society and has come to represent and promote the interest of the society at large.

  21. Organization of Religious Life • DenominationTends to limit its membership to a particular class, ethnic group, or religious group, or at least to have its leadership positions dominated by members of such a group. • SectA small group that adheres strictly to religious doctrine that often includes unconventional beliefs or forms of worship.

  22. Millenarian Movements • Typically prophesy the end of the world, the destruction of all evil people and their works, and the saving of the just.

  23. Question • Which of the following is not a denomination? • Judaism • Catholicism • Lutheranism • Hinduism

  24. Answer: D • Hinduism is not a denomination.

  25. Question • How do sects differ from denominations? • Sects are more tolerant of other religious groups. • Sects participate less in secular society. • They have beliefs that are more conventional. • All of these choices are correct.

  26. Answer: B • Sects differ from denominations in that they participate less in secular society.

  27. American Religiosity

  28. American Religiosity

  29. Question • How important would you say religion is in your own life? • Very important • Fairly important • Not very important • No opinion

  30. American Believers

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