Sociology of Religion

1. Sociology of Religion • Religious universals • Churches, Sects and Cults • Religion in the world today • Why is the U.S. so religious in comparison to other developed societies? • Sex Differences • Why do people join a religion? • Religious capital • Social networks • Effects of religion • The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism • Does religion make you happier? • Does religion make you healthier? • Religion and violence

2. Religious universals • Religion is found in all human societies • In simple societies, religions tend to be polytheistic • have many gods, spirits or other supernatural beings

3. The spirit No Face meets a young girl in the Japanese movie “Spirited Away.” Beliefs in spirits are common in pre-industrial societies.

4. In more developed societies, religions tend to be monotheistic • Have beliefs in one god or spirit • Religion in agrarian societies tends to be monotheistic • Islam, Judaism and Christianity are products of agrarian societies

5. In more developed societies, religion is more complex and is often bureaucratized • There are hierarchies of priests or religious leaders

6. Most religions are characterized by the four “Ms” • Magic • Membership • Morality • Mysticism

7. Magic • This refers to beliefs in spirits and gods who intervene in human affairs.

8. Membership • A religion requires participation in the rituals of the religion e.g. attending and/or participating in ceremonies, services

9. Morality • To be a part of a religion requires following certain rules about behavior

10. Mysticism • All religions involve mysticism to some extent • Mysticism is contact with the divine

11. Churches, sects and cults • Churches are established religious organizations of a society • Sects are more informal religious organizations that are still part of the mainstream religion • stress the emotional content of religion • Cults are new religious movements

12. Members of the polygamist sect, Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS), leave a courthouse. These women were residents of the Yearning for Zion Ranch in Eldorado County, Texas.

13. Many religions start out as cults or sects, but end up as churches • E.g. Christianity – began as a sect of Judaism, became a cult in Rome, and now is a mainstream church in many societies.

14. Secularization hypothesis • The secularization hypothesis suggests that as societies industrialize and become more complex, religion diminishes in importance. • Evidence that the hypothesis is correct

16. The U.S. is the most religious of the developed societies. • Vast majority of Americans also self identify themselves as religious • Few Americans (15%) say they have no religion

18. Within the U.S., people are more religious in the south and the midwest • People are less religious in New England and the Pacific Northwest.

19. No religion population by state

20. Why is the U.S. so religious compared to other developed societies? • One theory of why this is so is the “religious economies” theory • Suggests that religion is strong in the U.S. because there are many competing religions. • Religions compete to meet people’s spiritual needs

21. In European countries, there is usually a state-sponsored church that may not always offer what people want, so fewer people are religious

22. Sex differences in religion • Around the world, women are more likely than men to be religious. • Why is this so? • One explanation is that men are more likely to take risks, and not being religious may be considered a “risk”

23. Why do people join a religion? • One reason is because their families belong to the religion • Often referred to as “religious capital” • People know people in the religion and are familiar with the doctrines, traditions, rituals etc. of the religion

24. Another reason is because people have friends who have already joined the religion • Social networks are an important way people join new religions

25. Effects of Religion • In his essay “The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism,” Weber argued that Protestantism was important for promoting the beginning the capitalism • Protestant behaviors such as hard work, thrift, honesty and the avoidance of luxury helped capitalism by promoting commerce and providing savings for investment.

26. Religion and happiness • Studies suggest that religious people are happier than non-religious people

27. Religion and health • Studies also suggest that religious people are healthier.

28. Religion and violence • Throughout history, a great deal of violence has been perpetuated in the name of religion. • Does religion promote violence? • No – but some leaders have used religious beliefs to encourage violent behavior.