Download Introduction to Sociology

Introduction to Sociology
Sociology Defined
• Charon and Vigilant (2009, p. 5) define sociology as a perspective and
an academic discipline that examines the human being as a social
being, who is a product of social interaction, socialization, and social
patterns. Sociology tries to concern itself with the nature of the
human being, the meaning and basis of social order, and the causes
and consequences of social inequality. It focuses on society, social
organization, social institutions, social interactions, and social
problems.
• Sociology asks different questions than psychology would (Social vs.
individual explanations for human actions)
• Marriage, family, community and Feminism are topics in this Unit
Christian’s as Sociologists?(contradiction?)
• Why? Modern sociology, like psychology, identifies marriage/ch as key
causes of social ills. Marxism underpins much of modern sociology,
and as we’ve seen Marx was intent on destroying religion.
• Christian sociology affirms individual free will and responsibility.
• Fundamental difference vs. atheistic sociology. Atheists claim that society
determines our consciousness and actions. Christianity, however, holds that
we are free to choose between right and wrong, good and evil, and that we
shape society in the process (rather than being shaped by it).
• God as the First Community: the Trinity ‘Let us make man in OUR image’
Review Question
• Note: that the test for sociology (Q 3) will ask you to identify the
Fundamental difference between Christian and Aethestic views on
Sociology
• Using the information from the previous slide, explain what this
difference is……….
Bourdieu Society ‘causing’ individual (Sec
Humanism)
• Pierre Bourdieu: dead, white, French
• Highly influential sociologist and philosopher
• Argued that society is made up of a number of ‘fields’ (E.g. Media,
Family, Government)
• These fields will be in tension with one another, but will reproduce similar
outcomes (within fields)
• The product is the ‘Habitus’: defined as a dynamic interaction between
human agency and social restraint.
• However, our choices are pre-determined by the social structures in which we
are socialized into
Christian Sociology
• The Christian worldview sees each person as valuable and able to
contribute to society. Rather than seeing the individual as helpless in
the face of societal and environmental pressures, Christian
sociologists view the person as more important than the social
institution
• Francis Schaeffer explains that we are “not a cog in a machine...not a
piece of theater; [we] really can influence history. From the biblical
viewpoint, [we are] lost, but great.” Christians such as William Carey
and William Wilberforce, for example, were able to change their
society and history by bringing an end to the slave trade.