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Chapter 17 Religion Chapter Outline The Sociological Study of Religion Sociological Perspectives on Religion World Religions Types of Religious Organization Trends in Religion in the United States Religion in the Future An Overview Of Religion Religion is a system of beliefs and practices based on some sacred or supernatural realm, that guides human behavior, gives meaning to life, and unites believers into a single moral community. The sociology of religion focuses on religious groups and organizations, on the behavior of individuals within those groups, and on ways religion is intertwined with social institutions. How Much Do You Know About the Impact of Religion on U.S. Education? True or False? The Constitution of the United States originally specified that religion should be taught in the public schools. How Much Do You Know About the Impact of Religion on U.S. Education? False. Due to the diversity of religious backgrounds of the early settlers, no mention of religion was made in the original Constitution. Even the sole provision that currently exists (the establishment clause of the First Amendment) does not speak directly of the issue of religious learning in public education. How Much Do You Know About the Impact of Religion on U.S. Education? True or False? Parochial schools have decreased in enrollment as interest in religion has waned in the United States. How Much Do You Know About the Impact of Religion on U.S. Education? False. Just the opposite has happened. As parents have felt that children were not receiving the type of education they desired in public schools, parochial schools have flourished. Christian schools have grown to more than 5,000 in number; Jewish parochial schools have also grown rapidly over the past decade. Question When you were a child, how often did your mother attend religious services? a. Rarely to Never (Never or 1 or 2 per year) b. Infrequently to Several a year (1 to 3 per month) c. Often (About weekly, Weekly, Several times/week) GSS National Data Lib. Con. Religion Catholic Jewish None Protestant Protestant Rarely 14% 14.1% 11.4% 53.7% 34.1% Several 32.2 24.6 20.4 36.6 23 Often 53.8 61.2 68.2 9.8 42.9 Religion Seeks to answer questions such as why we exist, why people suffer and die and what happens when we die. Comprised of beliefs, symbols and rituals. All known groups over the past 100,000 years have had some form of religion. Religion Faith is unquestioning belief that does not require proof or scientific evidence. Sacred refers to those aspects of life that are extraordinary or supernatural. Profane refers to the everyday, secular aspects of life. Rituals are regularly repeated and carefully prescribed forms of behaviors that symbolize a cherished value or belief. Question How important would you say religion is in your own life? a. Very important b. Fairly important c. Not very important d. No opinion Four Categories of Religion Simple supernaturalism - the belief that supernatural forces affect people's lives positively or negatively. Animism - the belief that plants, animals, and elements of the natural world are endowed with spirits that impact events in society. Four Categories of Religion Theism - belief in a God or Gods. Transcendent idealism - belief in sacred principles of thought and conduct, such as truth, justice, life and tolerance for others. Secularization The process by which religious beliefs, practices, and institutions lose their significance in sectors of society and culture. Question _____________ is the belief that supernatural forces affect people’s lives either positively or negatively. a. monotheism b. polytheism c. simple supernaturalism d. nontheistic religion Answer: c Simple supernaturalism is the belief that supernatural forces affect people’s lives either positively or negatively. Question ___________ is a belief in a single supreme being who is responsible for significant events. a. monotheism b. polytheism c. simple supernaturalism d. nontheistic religion Answer: a Monotheism is a belief in a single supreme being who is responsible for significant events. Major World Religions Christianity Islam Current Followers 1.7 billion 1 billion Founder Jesus Muhammad Date 1st century C.E. ca. 600 C.E Major World Religions Hinduism Buddhism Current Followers 719 million 309 million Founder No specific founder Siddhartha Gautama ca. 1500 B.C.E 500 to 600 B.C.E. Date Major World Religions Judaism Confucianism Current Followers 18 million 5.9 million Founder Abraham, Isaac, Jacob K’ung Fu-Tzu Date ca. 2000 B.C.E. 500 B.C.E Durkheim on Religion According to Emile Durkheim, all religions share three elements: 1. Beliefs held by adherents. 2. Practices (rituals) engaged in collectively by believers. 3. A moral community based on the group’s shared beliefs and practices pertaining to the sacred. Functionalist Perspective Religion has 3 functions: 1. Providing meaning and purpose to life. 2. Promoting social cohesion and a sense of belonging. 3. Providing social control and support for the government. Civil Religion The set of beliefs, rituals, and symbols that makes sacred the values of the society and places the nation in the context of the ultimate system of meaning. Civil religion is not tied to any one denomination or religious group. Conflict Perspective According to Karl Marx, religion is the "opiate of the people." Max Weber argued that religion could be a catalyst to produce social change. Symbolic Interactionist Perspective Religion serves as a reference group to help people define themselves. Women’s versions of a certain religion usually differ from men’s versions. Question According to the functionalist perspective, religion offers meaning for the human experience by: a. providing an explanation for events that create a profound sense of loss on both an individual and a group basis. b. offering people a reference group to help them define themselves. c. reinforcing existing social arrangements. d. encouraging secularization. Answer: a According to the functionalist perspective, religion offers meaning for the human experience by providing an explanation for events that create a profound sense of loss on both an individual and a group basis. Question In regard to religion, Max Weber asserted that: a. church and state should be separated. b. religion could be a catalyst to produce social change. c. religion retards social change. d. the religious teachings of the Catholic Church were directly related to the rise of capitalism. Answer: b In regard to religion, Max Weber asserted that religion could be a catalyst to produce social change. Characteristics of Churches and Sects Organization Church Large, bureaucratic organization,led by professional clergy Sect Small group,high degree of lay participation Membership Open to all; members usually from upper and middle classes Guarded membership, usually from lower classes Characteristics of Churches and Sects Worship Salvation Church Formal, orderly Granted by God Sect Informal, spontaneous Achieved by moral purity Characteristics of Churches and Sects Attitude Toward Other Religions Church Tolerant Sect Intolerant Question The Anglican Church in England and the Lutheran church in Sweden are examples of a(n): a. church b. sect. c. denomination. d. ecclesia. Answer: d The Anglican Church in England and the Lutheran church in Sweden are examples of a(n) ecclesia. Original Locations of the World’s Major Religions Major U.S. Denominations That Selfidentify As Christian Religious Body Members Churches Roman Catholic 66,407,000 19,484 Southern Baptist Convention 16,248,000 42,775 United Methodist 8,251,000 35,102 Church of God in Christ 5,500,000 15,300 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints 5,411,000 11,879 Major U.S. Denominations That Selfidentify As Christian Religious Body Members Churches Evangelical Lutheran Church in America 5,038,000 10,721 National Baptist Convention,USA 5,000,000 9,000 National Baptist Convention of America 3,500,000 N.A. Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) 3,407,000 11,097 Assemblies of God 2,687,000 12,133 Question What was your mother's religious preference when you were a child was it: a. Protestant b. Catholic c. Jewish GSS National Data Region East Midwest South West Protestant 43% 64.7% 79% 61.3% Catholic 53.4 34.3 19.8 34.6 Jewish 3.7 1 1.2 4.1 U.S. Religious Bodies Membership Religious Body Members Protestants 91,500,000 Roman Catholics 63,683,000 Muslims 6,000,000 Jews 5,602,000 Orthodox Christians 5,631,000 Buddhists 1,864,000 Hindus 795,000 Question Do you believe in God? a. Yes b. No Sociological Perspectives Of Religion Functionalist Sacred beliefs and rituals bind people together and help maintain social control. Conflict Religion may be used to justify the status quo (Marx) or to promote social change. Symbolic Interactionist Religion may serve as a reference group for many people, but because of race, class, and gender people may experience it differently. Question How much confidence do you have in organized religion? a. Great deal b. Only some c. Hardly any GSS National Data Education No High School Diploma High School Diploma College Education Great deal 30.5% 27% 22.6% Only same 46.8 51.2 55.3 Hardly any 22.7 21.8 22.2 Fundamentalism A traditional religious doctrine that is conservative, is typically opposed to modernity, and rejects “worldly pleasures” in favor of otherworldly spirituality. Liberation Theology The Christian movement that advocates freedom from political subjugation within a traditional perspective and the need for social transformation to benefit the poor and downtrodden. Quick Quiz 1. According to Sociologists, religion attempts to: a. bridge the gap between the known and the unknown. b. have a personal relationship with God. c. all of the choices. d. save every soul. Answer: a According to Sociologists, religion attempts to bridge the gap between the known and the unknown. 2. Who said "religion is the opiate of the masses?” a. Emile Durkheim b. Karl Marx c. Max Weber d. Talcott Parsons Answer: b Karl Marx said "religion is the opiate of the masses?” 3. A relatively small religious group that has broken away from another religious organization to renew what it views as the original version of the faith is referred to as: a. an ecclesia b. Catholicism c. a sect d. a denomination Answer: c A relatively small religious group that has broken away from another religious organization to renew what it views as the original version of the faith is referred to as a sect. 4. Unquestioning belief that does not require proof or scientific evidence is: a. sacred b. profane c. taboo d. faith Answer: d 4. Unquestioning belief that does not require proof or scientific evidence is faith. 5. Which of these is not one of the three elements shared by all religions, as enumerated by Emile Durkheim? a. beliefs b. practices c. a moral community d. dogma Answer: d Dogma is not one of the three elements shared by all religions, as enumerated by Emile Durkheim? 6. From a Conflict perspective, religion tends to: a. end strife and bring people together. b. promote strife between groups and societies. c. save souls, but marginalize groups. d. separate the good people from the bad. Answer: b From a Conflict perspective, religion tends to promote strife between groups and societies. 7. _____ is the belief that humans can become better through their own efforts rather than through belief in God and religious conversion. a. New Ageism b. Secularization c. Liberation theology d. Secular humanism Answer: d Secular humanism is the belief that humans can become better through their own efforts rather than through belief in God and religious conversion.