Chapter 17: Religions

What happened after that Poor Tunisian vendor set himself on fire because the police were not letting him sell stuff from his cart

-First off, the dude could not make money, could not survive with out selling stuff -It like started these revolutions to overturn dictatorship in Egypt, Libya, and Yemen

What did Weber think about Hinduism?

-Hindu tradition depicts the material world, including commerce, as a "veil" that shrouds individuals from what is truly important. Hindu followers are encouraged to focus on spiritual development, rather than on capital accumulation.(More concerned about the human spirit) ex) The owner of a small but thriving software company decides to sell her business and devote herself to meditation and spiritual awakening.

What did Weber think Confucius teachings did for public obedience?

-People stayed docile and respected everything too much in order to have personal progress -he was wrong about this. China is killing it and there were millions of people who were lifted into the middle class

When did sociologist Mark Juergensmeyer think cosmic wars were more likely to happen

-The conflict is regarded as a decisive for depending one's identity and dignity -One culture may be threatened -Losing the conflict is unthinkable -Winning the conflict is unlikely

How did Weber think the Puritan outlook is incorporated into modern society?

-Western economic development in order to serve God -Material success the sin of divine favor

moral communities created by reiligon

-What people should do or not do ex) In the Taliban there is a heightened nonsense where anyone who deviates is punished -Competing religions may be faced with social conflicts. This can lead to hate crimes

Khomeini established an "Islamic" government with crazy traditional rules

-Women were policed- light weight imprisoned -Homosexual would be shot by a firing squad -Woman accused of adultery were stoned to death

religious economy

-a theoretical framework within the sociology of religion that argues that religions can be fruitfully understood as organizations in competition with one another for followers -religions operate like businesses, and that competition among different religions will result in higher levels of religious belief than in contexts in which only a single religion is dominant.

cults

-fragmentary religious groupings to which individuals are loosely affiliated but that lack any permanent structure -Like sects they usually form from an inspirational leader *fun fact: Christianity was seen as a cult in Ancient Jerusalem -What Indian Gurus practice in the United States is seen as a cult here

Japanese Aum Shrinkyo cult

-had like 20k members and they releases these gases on the order of Ashara who was viewed to be Christ -Ashara and some others were killed after they were caught

Compare how religious the U.S is with Europe

-in the U.S: 37% of people go to church on a weekly basis, 58% of Americans thought religion was very important in their lives. -20% of Europeans think that religion is very important in their life

What happens to religious levels in response to uncertainty and hardships?

-it increases -rise in religiosity among Christians, Muslims, and Jews may be related to economic and political instability across the globe, as well as the spread of new norms and values that may be seen as a threat to more conservative religious communities.

Which two religions are the richest?

-liberal protestants and the Jews

fatwas

-opinion that be claimed to be grounded in Islamic law -The western presence in the middle east was problematic it heightened animosity -Bid Laden and Al-Baghdadi told their followers to be opposed to all of this

sects

-religious movements that break away from orthodoxy -Find true way by changing surrounding society or withdrawing amongst themselves -People are not born into these, they join on their own -Usually people are equal members with no officials

Evangelical tactics of conversion

-television and radio shows -missionary work in other foreign countries

women portrayal in religion

-the archaic idea that women were made from the rib of a man. -Women are portrayed as wise, maternal, and gentle, as well as mysterious, polluting, destructive, threatening evil

How have Evangelicals been trying to recruit people as of late?

-the media -Many of them think that the church is going to get worse because of secularization though

What are the four types of religious organizations?

1. churches (large, establish religious bodies) 2. sects (religious subgroup of a larger organization) 3. denominations (sect that became institutionalized) 4. cults (loosely knit and transient religious grouping)

What are the three main components of religion as a social institution?

1. religion is a form of culture 2. religion involves beliefs that take the form of ritualized practices (all religions have a behavioral aspect) 3. religion provides a sense of purpose, a feeling that life is meaningful by explaining what transcends everyday life in ways that other aspects of the culture cannot

Total institutions

members turn their individual identities into that of the group, follow strict ethical code or rules, and withdraw from activity in the outside world ex)The unification church love bombs, gives all of this affection to entice people into joining and then rob them of their capacity for independent decision making ex) There are some super ****ed up ones like the Branch Davidson cult in Texas whose leader Koresh had multiple wives, was stockpiling weapons, and had sex with some of the children

Zionism

movement back to Palestine the homeland. To create the Jewish state

Weber's phases of religious movements

phase 1: some inspirational person pahse 2: the person dies phase 3: if it lasts, there is some church that has some formulated rules or procedures

New religious movement

ranges from spiritual and self-help groups within the New Age movement to exclusive sets such as Hare Krishnas -the unquestioned authority of cult leaders causes the bizarre to be seen as normal

World-accommodating movements

religious movements that emphasize the importance of inner religious life and spiritual purity over worldly concerns -They don't change your life all that much (Taliban-Wahabism)

World-affirming movements

that seek to enhance followers' ability to succeed in the outside world by helping them unlock their human potential -More like self-help/ therapy groups than conventional religious groups ex) "The Believers" attracts followers through public meditation hours held in public parks. They encourage members to let go of their daily worries and be at peace with nature to live a more "authentic" life. (Dallin said Scientology is one of these)

Islamic fundamentalism

the complete adherence to Islamic Law with rejection of most non-Islamic influences has become increasingly more popular -Sudan -Afghanistan

Existential security

the feeling that survival is secure enough that it can be taken for granted. The theory is based on the view that religion arises where people lack economic security

Thoughts of actual Muslim Americans

the majority feel their way of life is being threatened, yet they appreciate how technological innovations—such as television and cell phones—have improved their lives. The vast majority also reject violence as a means to defending Islam.

secularization

the rise of science and technology has society moving away from religious beliefs and institutions

alienation

the sense that our own abilities as human beings are taken over by other entities. The term was originally used by Max to refer to the projection of human powers onto gods. Subsequently he used the term to refer to the loss of worker's control over the nature and products of their labor -The 10 commandments may be more of a representation of what the people want instead of what God wants

What is the draw of new small religions

there is more of a sense of community -cults can be appealing to those who feel isolated emotionally and spiritually

World rejecting movements

they are highly exclusive in nature. Highly critical of the outside world, and demanding of their members -Can including changing appearance, clothing, and diet ex) "Blessings Church" members live in a commune and make most of their own food and clothing. Their leader preaches about the importance of isolating oneself from sinners.

Christian right

they are these wealthy white people who are trying to increasingly influence poitics

Marx's view on religion

thought religion was a form of false consciousness, blinding people to the underlying causes of inequality. -Thought that people used religion in order to feel better about the inequalities and injustices they are faced with

What was Nietzche view on God?

thought that God was dead and that people would have to live their lives without some high purpose, without having an entity dictate what they do

How did Weber think Calvanist ideas are incorporated into modern society

thought that one should not flaunt their wealth. This is why people would reinvest in their own enterprises- contributing to a hallmark of successful capitalistic systems

Iran's Islamic Revolution

upended much of the country's way of life in 1978. Islamic law was applied strictly, including the segregation of men and women and violent repression of those transcending sexual morality codes. The revolution was distinctly anti-Western and anti-secular in nature.

Durkheim's view on reilgion

viewed religion as an important source of social solidarity

Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)

was said to be the global caliphate in 2014 -Caliph is a religious political successor to the prophet himself who would enforce by any means necessary the return of the religious beliefs of Muhammad -Founding caliph was Abu bakr Al-Baghdadi

White supremacist Page

went out on to kill Muslims. (They were the scapegoats for 9/11. ) He ended up shooting six Sikh men at a temple before he was shot by the police.

Secular thinking

worldly thinking, particularly as seen in the rise of science, technology, and rational thought in general --> This is suppose to threaten religion

Heaven's Gate cult

idiots thought that if they killed themselves they would ascend to the space ship

1995 Timothy McVeigh

ignites a truck laden with explosives in front of this building in downtown Oklahoma City which killed 68 people including 19 kids -700 others were injured -Idiot's idea of a cosmic war against the unfaithful

Religious nationalism

involved the linking of deep religious convictions with beliefs about a people's social and political destiny -rises in the tie of rapid social change

What are some ways Durkheim think religion worked to form social cohesion?

-Ceremonies and rituals are essential in unifying groups -Religion creates a stable society because it ensures that people meet frequently in order to affirm common beliefs and values -Durkheim believed that religion played a functional role in society by bringing people together regularly and reinforcing common beliefs and values. He argued that this was necessary to maintain stability in a society.

evangelicalism

a form of Protestantism characterized by a belief in spiritual rebirth -Many protestants are seeking a more direct, personal, and emotional religious experience promised by evangelical denominations -Many are against several aspects of contemporary life

disestablishment

a period during which the political influence of established religion is successfully challenged ex) Bill of Rights (1791)- separation of the church and state ex) Influx of 17 million immigrants (1890s-1920s)- there were a lot of catholics who came, challenging a once predominantly protestant country ex) Anti-Vietnam war (60s-70s)- fight for racial equality, experimentation with sexuality and drugs. There was more women rights and birth control

Denomination

a religious sect that has lost it's revivalist dynamism and become an institutionalized body, commanding the adherences of significant numbers of people -Methodism and Mormonism -Baptists and Lutherans

Berger's idea about religion being a canapy

a sacred canapoy that covers all aspects of life (more like a quilt since there are hella religions)

Civil religion

a set of religious beliefs through which society interprets its own history in light of some conception of ultimate reality ex)Manifest Destiny. God wanting the people to move out West. ex)Cold War- fear of godless communism ex) The Pledge of Allegiance, being one nation under God was added

Some sexist nonsense found in the bible

a woman who is not found a virgin can be stoned to death by the men in her town

Hubber's weird Scientology nonsense

all about people connecting to their spirituality, getting back supernatural powers, and clearing their mind

What are the reasons so many Americans belong to religious organizations?

- religious organizations are an important source of social ties and friendship networks - churches, synagogues, and mosques are communities of people who share the same values and who support one another in times of need. therefore can play a family role

Some statistics in America's religious affiliations

-78% christian -1.8% Jewish -.9% Muslim

Where did the Christian missionaries try to colonize?

-Africa, Asia, North and South Asia -Japan and China resisted -There is a growth of evangelical protestant christianity because they go on missions and stuff where they build orphanages in things. Usually in rural areas, local Mexicans were way helpful. (It is a demanding religion so the kids may not follow it)

Sunnis vs. Shites

-Sunnis tolerate opinions while shite are more rigid -Shites are mainly in Iran, Iraq, Turkey, and Afghanistan --> Imam Ali was traced to the Shiites. Believed to have heirs of Muhammad, the family

How the Taliban ruins things for women (not the religion)

-The taliban would have women who were seen in public with any man other than her husband brutally beaten or killed -Wahhabism is this really strict and sexist views that the Taliban believe --> Idea that women should have the veil to show the chastity and piety shared by Muhammad's daughter Fatima, and because it represents defiance of the Western View of women

Some of Durkheim's categories of religious stuff

-Totemism-the elementary form of religion that worships animals and plants -profane= That which belongs to the mundane, everyday world -sacred= That which inspires attitudes of awe or reverence among believers in a given set of religious ideas

Weber's view on religion

analyzed the relationship between religion and the emergence of capitalism.

Least educated and poorest religion

black protestants

How do sociologists differ from other scholars in their approach to studying religion? (4 reasons)

1. sociologists aren't concerned with whether the beliefs are true or not: religions are viewed as being constructed by humans and therefore their beliefs are irrelevant. looking at how the religion is organized and how it applies to larger society 2. sociologists are especially concerned with the social organization of religion: they focus on the ways religions function in order to survive 3. sociologists often view religions as a major source of social solidarity bc religions often provide their believers with a common set of norms and values: can unite through common morals and practices, or can be oppressive (like the taliban) either way huge contributor to societal structure 4. sociologists tend to explain the appeal of religion in terms of social forces rather than purely personal, spiritual, or psychological factors. (do not question the depth of religious experiences, rather focus on problems of the social order that explain the appeal of turning to religion. do not focus on the individual's psychological response rather the environment that intimated the reaction.)

How many people around the world are Christian

1/3

What % of the world are Muslim?

23% of people now, should be 30% by 2050

How many people around the world subscribe to the Abrahamic religions?

3/4 of people

What % of Americans have favorable views of Islam?

30%

What % of jews have inter religious marriages

60%

sharia

=the "way" things are supposed to be -Americans view it to be restrictive while Muslims find Americans to be undisciplined, corrupt, and immoral

New age movement

A general term used to describe the diverse spectrum of beliefs and practice oriented on inner spirituality. Paganism, eastern mysticism, shamanism, alternative forms of healing, and astrology are examples of New Age activities -People are encouraged to move beyond traditional values and expectations and to live actively and reflectively

How did Marx think religion effected a person's willingness to revolt?

According to Marx, religion encourages meekness in people and a focus on the afterlife, thus diverting people from rising up against those in power. By turning to religion in response to crises, politicians support the notion that the ills of everyday life are in the hands of God, rather than preventable through policy.

Liberation theology

An activist catholic religious movement that combines catholic beliefs with a passion for social justice for the poor -Churches and religious leaders played a key role in abolition slavery and the civil rights movement -Helping people because it is right and God would have wanted them to

Religious movement

Association of people who join together to seek spread a new religion or to promote a new interpretation of an existing religion

fundamentalism

Evangelicals who are highly anti modern in many of their beliefs and adhere of their beliefs and adhere to strict codes of morality and conduct -Fundamentalists are a branch of evangelicals who are deeply anti-modern, often including strict codes of conduct against behavior such as smoking and drinking. This is akin to a "world-accommodating" religion because members do not change their lives outwardly in the way others would notice, but they adhere very strictly to their religion's teachings.

the holy trinty

God the heavenly father, His son the savior, and is sustaining Holy Spirit

What is the fastest growing religion?

Islam

Churches

Large bodies of people belonging to an established religious organization. This term is also used to refer to the place in which religious ceremonies are carried out -Formal and bureaucratic

"westoxification"

Many Muslims believe that the traditional ways of life were being lost and needed protection against foreign influence

Pew's findings on the public's opinion on Muslim

Pew found that 57% of people found Islam favorable and 70% thought Muslims were more prone to violence

passover

Recounting the escape of Jews from egyptian slavery during the ritual passover meal called seder (order) the vow was made next year in Jerusalem

What are the differences between classical and contemporary approaches to understanding religion?

classical approaches often studied the religion of the majority, and thus applied the concepts to the society as a whole contemporary approaches focus on pluralism rather than on religious domination, and study the rise of secular thinking and its effects on religion another big difference: classical theorists believed that a religion weakens when challenged by different religious views or secular viewpoints, while religious economists (contemporary theorists) argue that competition increases the overall level of religious involvement

Who do Catholics view to be the highest earthly authority?

da pope

How is religion growing in impoverished countries?

There are usually all of these kids being born, these kids are then religious. -Islam in Islamic countries -Christianity in Subharan Africa

How religious were the people after the civil rights movement, during the Vietnam war

There was this wave of religion

Are most wars today secular or religious?

They are mostly secular, under the pretense of religion

Weber's connection between Christianity and revolutions

Thought christianity's emphasis on salvation could stimulate revolt against the existing order -People could be saved if they accept certain faiths -Challenge against sin. -Luther and Calvin arose by challenging existing social orders.

Weber's opinion on how well structured different religions are.

Weber thought churches were conventional and well established, cults were neither, and sects fall somewhere in the middle

Theism

a belief in one or more supernatural deities -Buddhism is one of the religions that believes in all of these inspirational forces instead of a singular god

Religion

a cultural system of commonly shared beliefs and rituals that provides a sense of ultimate meaning and purpose by creating an idea of reality that is sacred, all-encompassing, and supernatural -Form of culture: shared beliefs, values, norms, and aerial conditions -Ritualized practices that brings people together as a community -Makes life meaning. That there is something better coming

What are some social forces that cause people to submit to religions?

economic hardship, loneliness, loss or grief, physical suffering, or poor health