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Chapter 17

Chapter 17. Religion. Chapter Outline. Defining Religion The Significance of Religion in U.S. Society Forms of Religion Sociological Theories of Religion Globalization: World Religions and Religious Diversity Diversity and Religious Belief. Chapter Outline. Race and Religion

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Chapter 17

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  1. Chapter 17 Religion

  2. Chapter Outline • Defining Religion • The Significance of Religion in U.S. Society • Forms of Religion • Sociological Theories of Religion • Globalization: World Religions and Religious Diversity • Diversity and Religious Belief

  3. Chapter Outline • Race and Religion • Ethnicity and Religion • Religious Organizations • Becoming Religious • Social and Political Attitudes: The Impact of Religion • Religion and Social Change

  4. Defining Elements of Religion • Religion is institutionalized. • Religion is a feature of groups. • Religions are based on beliefs that are considered sacred, as distinguished from profane.

  5. Defining Elements of Religion • Religion establishes values and moral proscriptions for behavior. • Religion establishes norms for behavior. • Religion provides answers to questions of ultimate meaning, as distinguished from secular beliefs.

  6. Religion in U.S. Society • The U.S. is one of the most religious societies in the world. • 2/3 of Americans think religion can solve all or most of society’s problems. • 37% percent of the population describe themselves as “born again”. • 82% of Americans believe in life after death.

  7. Religions in the U.S. Percentage of people in the U.S. who identify as: • Protestant - 57% • Catholic - 24% • Jewish - 2 % • People with diverse religions - 8% • No religious identification - 8%

  8. Durkheim: The Functions of Religion Religion is functional for society: • Reaffirms the social bonds between people. • Creates social cohesion and integration through religious rituals. • Binds individuals to society by establishing a collective consciousness.

  9. Weber: The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism • The Protestant faith supported the development of capitalism. • Material wealth meant one was favored by God, motivating Protestants to work to confirm their salvation. • Value judgments about those who haven’t succeeded can be traced to influence of religion.

  10.  Marx: Religion, Social Conflict, and Oppression • Religion legitimates the social order and supports the ideas of the ruling class. • Oppressed people develop religion to soothe them and it prevents them from rising up against oppression. • Religion can be the basis for social change or social continuity.

  11. Sociological Theories of Religion: Functionalism

  12. Sociological Theories of Religion: Conflict Theory

  13. Sociological Theories of Religion: Symbolic Interaction

  14. Three Types of Religious Organizations • Churches - formal organizations that are seen by society as primary and legitimate religious institutions. • Sects - groups that have broken off from an established church. • Cults - religious groups devoted to a specific cause or a leader with charisma.

  15. Religion and Social Change • Evangelical groups linked to conservative political causes have influenced national elections. • Religion has had an important part in the civil rights movement and feminism.

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