SOC Quiz 3

Committed Traditionalists:

"I am really committed to my faith." 15% of emerging adults.

Selective Adherents

"I do some of what I can." 30% of emerging adults.

Irreligious

"Religion just makes no sense." 10% of emerging adults.

The Cultural Worlds of Emerging Adults

"...the most prominent cultural themes and features that characterize the assumptions, outlooks, experiences, beliefs, and goals of the majority of American emerging adults." Life is full of major transitions. The number one priority is "standing on one's own." There is so much to figure out about life. I don't have enough money. I am optimistic about my future. Relationships with parents are improving. I have learned some hard lessons...but I have no regrets. My past has made me who I am today. I am not sure what to do with my life. It's hard to grasp any objective reality beyond my own subjective experiences. What goes around comes around. Karma catches up to you. I've become more open-minded since high school. It's easy to tell right and wrong. It's common sense. Anything that hurts others is morally wrong...but I'm not exactly sure why. I know what's right for me, but everyone is different. Everything is up to the individual; I'm my own final authority. All cultures are relative. Everything is socially constructed. Some people were just raised a different way, but for me... "I feel that..." has replaced "I think that..." and "I believe that..." Moral standards depend on the situation and the people involved. Romantic relationships often go undefined. Hooking up is common... even though I'm not sure what that means. Devastating breakups happen. I don't want to settle down quite yet. There's a lot of stuff I want to experience before I get married. It is smart to live together before marrying someone. I seek a balance between major fun and major risks. Visiting home for summers or holidays can feel regressive and weird. It's nice to help others, but no one is obligated to. Higher education has instrumental, not intrinsic, value. The American middle-class dream is alive and well. I'm not politically interested, but I love our freedoms. I'll volunteer time and donate money, someday...maybe. Blind to any larger infrastructures, social responsibility, and the common good. Seeks to be radically independent and autonomous. I have no interest in organized groups or civic participation. I have an active social life, immersed in interpersonal relationships...which I constantly maintain through technology (e.g., texting and facebook).

Spiritually Open

"There's probably something more out there." 15% of emerging adults.

Secularization Definition 1

(1) The diminution in social significance of religious institutions, actions, and consciousness.

Religion and Race

Black people might not want to be Christian because it is the religion of the oppressor, Louis Farrakhan

Weber and Secularization

Disenchantment, Rationalization

Secularization Consider Also:

Erna Lynne Bogue: Religion ebbs and flows. Berger (Heretical Imperative) Pfautz (Church-Sect as life cycle) Philip Brenner (Up-tick in religion is reactionary & temporary)

Privatization

Instead of being part of the public identity, religion becomes something in which individuals and families participate. It does not affect their participation as citizens in a civil state

What Characterizes Emerging Adulthood?

It is the age of IDENTITY EXPLORATION, of trying out various possibilities, especially in love and work. It is the age of INSTABILITY. It is the most SELF-FOCUSED age of life. It is the age of FEELING IN-BETWEEN, in transition, neither adolescent nor adult. It is the age of POSSIBILITIES, when hopes flourish; unparalleled opportunity to transform lives.

DARE TO DIFFER: GAY AND LESBIAN CATHOLIC'S ASSESSMENT ... (YIP)

Members of Quest, a UK Catholic LGBT group, Demonstrated positive self-images despite being called "disordered" by the Church. Didn't want to leave the church, despite the lack of support. Both of these demonstrate their ability to construct alternative theologies that integrate their religion with their sexuality.

Relativism

None (religion) is absolute. They're all good relative to their own culture.

Prevailing Religious Cultural Themes

Not a very threatening topic. Indifferent. It doesn't matter that much. Shared central principles of religions are good. Religious particularities are peripheral. Religion is for making people good. Religious congregations are elementary schools for morals. Family's faith is associated with dependence. Not a place of real belonging. Friends hardly talk about religion. "What seems right to me" is authority. Take or leave what you want. Mainstream religion is fine, probably. Religion is personal—not social or institutional. There is no way to know what's true. Religion is about solving my problems.

Carolyn Chen

Religious Varieties of Ethnic Presence: Social engagement of Buddhist temple allows it to be simultaneously American and Chinese. buddhist temple actually more publicly engaged w american society than is the evangelical Christian church.

Function/Religion/Durkheim

Religious sanctuary

Phillip (Secularization)

it's definitely going down, when we see religion going up it's just smaller spikes in a general downward trend. These groups are vocal and apparent because groups are reactionary and are pushing back.

Chaves (Secularization)

need to redefine

sociology of religion looks at

religiosity of women theology that empowers women religion, ethnicity, and gender women as clergy

Religiously Disconnected

"I really don't know what you're talking about." 5% of emerging adults

Religiously Indifferent

"It just doesn't matter much." 25% of emerging adults.

Some have argued that the Culture Wars are narrower than originally thought.

"The political conservatism of the religiously orthodox relative to theological progressives is limited to issues of schooling, sexuality, reproductive rights, and the gendered division of labor." In this book, Hunter described what he saw as a dramatic re-alignment and polarization that had transformed American politics and culture Hunter argued that two definable poles were emerging on a number of "hot-button" issues such as abortion, gun politics, separation of church and state, homosexuality, etc. Furthermore, he said that it was not just that there were a number of divisive issues, but that society had divided essentially along the same lines on each of these issues, so as to constitute two warring groups defined primarily not by nominal religion, ethnicity, social class, or even political affiliation, but rather by differing ideological world views Last 3rd of the 20th century where this emerged

Secularization Definiton 3

(3) The greater integration/ assimilation of religious groups into their secular culture.

Wendy Griffin. "The Embodies Goddess: Feminist Witchcraft and Female Divinity"

An alternative to patriarchal religions that oppress women and abuse the environment. Patriarchy emphasizes transcendence; Goddess Worship emphasizes immanence. Mythopoeic imagery Celebrates female power, will, imagery

Talking about Homosexuality: The Views of Mainline Protestant Clergy (Olson & Cadge)

Answer: Protestant Clergy have helped frame the debate on homosexuality. [TM: In terms that seem to work AGAINST a more homosexual-friendly attitude.] Protestant Clergy have been important in framing the church's debate about homosexuality. Interestingly, when interviewed about homosexuality they tend to frame the issue: As an internal church issue, focusing more on the denomination than their congregation As a pragmatic problem rather than a love & justice issue Specifically on homosexuality, rather than sexuality more broadly

Secularization, but others say

BUT others say . . . Conference on "Future of Christianity of the West" (New Zealand: 12/02).... "today it is secularity, not Christianity, that may be headed for extinction." Some theorists, such as Wuthnow and Christian: people aren't less religious; they express faith differently. But "the survey says" otherwise

Culture Wars: The Challenge of Homosexuality

Because homosexuality raises questions about Family Life, the locus of socialization, it's a culture wars issue. Perversion of nature, or natural evolution? Protect family or redefine family? Extends to public policy (marriage, etc) Extends to religion: ordain homosexuals? "As the military and religion go, so goes the nation." [DO YOU AGREE?] Even a casual observer of the American culture cannot help but be impressed by the increasing degree of polarization not only of American politics, but of cultural values and even lifestyles and attitudes Since the 60's, "the society and the culture have moved to the left, almost consistently, and as a result, Americans who have traditional views on social values have become increasingly alienated and even angry. This has now fully manifested itself in our politics." -Larry Sabato

Gerardo Marti: Affinity, Identity, and Transcendence: The Experience of Religious Racial Integration in Diverse Congregations

Becoming a member of a multiethnic/multiracial congregation reorients personal identity such that people of various ethnic and racial heritages subdue their ethnoracial distinctions in favor of a common religious identity that forms the basis for affiliation with their congregation and structures these cross-ethnic interactions as nondisruptive.

Noah's Curse, Stephen R Haynes

Before the Civil War, the social cohesion of the South relied on the values of order and honor. The institution of slavery was seen as essential to this order, since Africans were believed to be child-like and disorderly by nature. Thus, slave owners performed a noble function by providing for the slaves and instilling discipline in them. [McGinn's opinion: This Southern social structure was itself a rationalization for the economically beneficial institution of slavery.] In the story of Noah and Ham, pro-slavery Southerners found a mythology that "explained" the divine origin of American slavery. That scripture was then used to "sacralize" (bless or make sacred) and perpetuate the institution of slavery. Can you think of other negative social structures or practices that have used religion/scriptures as their justification? Sexism Heterosexism Holy War

Wendy Cadge and Elaine Howard Ecklund - Immigration and Religion

Changing american religious institutions, Identify formation: ethnic, religious, and gender identities, religious lives and civic participation for immigrants, religion and the second generation, need more research on how religion affects other aspects of life - outside of religious context

Religion and Immigrants

Conflict: Religion as Battle Ground between new and old cultures, or as bridge between new and old cultures. Conflict/Function: Religion as Custodian of Identity (Escape from Assimilation)

Race and Religion/Black-White/In America

Conflict: Religion as the extension of oppression Conflict: Religion as force of Liberation/Revolt Function: Religion as Bridge Function: Religion as Refuge (Experience of God's immediate and powerful presence.) Function: Religion as Alternate Society (Church providing social services when african american members cant get services from white community (church in detroit)) Function: Religion as Custodian of Identity

How is religion involved in social attitudes toward homosexuality?

Culture Wars: The Challenge of Homosexuality James D. Hunter. Answer: Religion has shaped a dichotomy in American attitudes toward a wide range of issues, including homosexuality. Even a casual observer of the American culture cannot help but be impressed by the increasing degree of polarization not only of American politics, but of cultural values and even lifestyles and attitudes Since the 60's, "the society and the culture have moved to the left, almost consistently, and as a result, Americans who have traditional views on social values have become increasingly alienated and even angry. This has now fully manifested itself in our politics." -Larry Sabato

How do homosexual religious deal with the apparent role/identity conflict?

DARE TO DIFFER: GAY AND LESBIAN CATHOLIC'S ASSESSMENT ... (YIP) Answer: They reject official Church teaching and create alternative theologies of sexuality.

Ruth A. Wallace "The Social Construction of a New Leadership Role: Catholic Women Pastors"

Decrease in male pastors has led to appointment of female parish administrators This, in turn, has led to conflict as new social realities and identities emerge

How Emerging Adult Culture affects Religion

Disruptions: Life is transitioning and uncertain Distractions: Life is complicated and hectic Identity Differentiation: Becoming one's own Postponed marriage and childbearing The desire to keep options open, not get tied down Partying, hooking up, having sex, and cohabiting Honoring diversity; deemphasizing particularities Confident self-sufficiency, lessened felt need Self-evident morality

Christianity and Consumerism

Emerging adults are "captive to consumerism," defining their goals and priorities in terms of material acquisitions and possessions. Much theological content of various Christian traditions (e.g. scripture, papal encyclicals, books, etc.) have offered directives regarding money and possessions.

Jeri Sechzer "Islam and Woman: Where Tradition Meets Modernity"

Explains the traditions and gives examples of modern approaches to these traditions. There are individual ethnic traditions within Islam, different within islam, and different expressions in different countries.

Historical Causes of Emerging Adulthood

Increasing ages for marriage and parenthood The sexual revolution of the 1960s (e.g., the pill) More years devoted to pursuing higher education A shift in the meaning and value of adulthood The changing roles of young women regarding work and family

Social Roles Religion has played in relationship to (homo)sexuality

Initiating moral value, may have consequences attached to it Reinforced "traditional" (heteronormative) values in society Blur the lines between religious practice and civil practice as it relates to marriage Taught adherents how to behave in society Invested money in political decisions about sexuality Created a social divide over a theological issue Providing "cover" for social discrimination? Letting people who are just plain biased, excuse their belief because of "religious reasons"

Timothy J. Nelson: Sacrifice of Praise: Emotion and Collective Participation in an African-American Worship Service

Intense emotional and expressive participation first invokes the presence of God, and the shouting then embodies this presence within the congregation. The "emotional" service is a religious ritual guided by collectively recognized norms of emotive and expressive behavior. Experience of God within the worship service.

What is a Culture War?

James Davison Hunter - Culture Wars: The Struggle to Define America Two definable polarities on an increasing number of "hot-button" issues Society had divided along essentially the same lines on each of these issues In this book, Hunter described what he saw as a dramatic re-alignment and polarization that had transformed American politics and culture Hunter argued that two definable poles were emerging on a number of "hot-button" issues such as abortion, gun politics, separation of church and state, homosexuality, etc. Furthermore, he said that it was not just that there were a number of divisive issues, but that society had divided essentially along the same lines on each of these issues, so as to constitute two warring groups defined primarily not by nominal religion, ethnicity, social class, or even political affiliation, but rather by differing ideological world views *somewhere along the line we got separated on a set of moral issues, rather than issues of race or anything else* - new divide

Conflict/Religion/Marx

Marx would be looking for economic dimension of farrakhan - white oppressed black for economic benefit What would marx say to christianity besides it being the religion of the oppressor? Christianity as opiate of African American masses.

Orthodoxy

Polarity stems from these opposite impulses Orthodox Group (cultural orthodoxy) (deductive -berger) (tends to associate republican) Commitment to an external, definable, and transcendent authority (God of the Bible) Believe that morality (and hence politics) is definable and unchanging

Progressivism

Progressive Group (reductive) (tends to associate democratic) Defined by the ideals of modernism, rationalism, and subjectivism Believe that morality (and hence politics) should be informed by facts and experience Hunter described this polarity as the impulse toward Progressivism and the impulse toward Orthodoxy. He argues that this results in two groups of elite on either side of the culture war. Orthodox: To claim that morality can be "decided" by mortals is laughable. Progressive: Morality is subjective to the times in which we live. The only ultimate truth we can know is that which we define for ourselves.

Demerath: Secularization and Sacralization Deconstructed & Reconstructed

Religion can be declining and increasing at the same time. Presents a 2x3 typology of secularization: Emergent (internally evolved & non-directed), Coercive (internally evolved & top-down), Imperialist (external, top-down), Diffused (external, non-directed)

Linda Woodhead "Gendering Secularization Theory"

Religious experience is gendered. Current secularization theory explains male departure from religion. Women's attitude toward religion is based on their dual work/home roles. Home first: reaffirm religion; Job first: abandon religion; juggle both: religion is used to help in the juggling, eg as a temporary escape

What is Emerging Adulthood?

The defining marks of adulthood have changed. A new, distinct, historically unprecedented stage in the life course. Ages 18 through the late-twenties. Has developed in many Western nations since the 1970s.

Bryan Wilson: Secularization and Its Discontents

The modern world's shift from "commun-ity" (Gemeinschaft) to "society" (Gesellschaft) produces a culture that is antithetical to religion. People's needs are met through other institutions that are more compatible with rationalization & technology

Chaves: Secularization as Declining Religious Authority

The secularization thesis applies best to Religious AUTHORITY, not religion generally. (It justifies its control/withholding of a desired good by reference to the supernatural.) 2x2 table: implications for social movements Consider at the societal, organizational & individual level Secularization as both dependent AND independent variable

Secularization is the most important topic in sociology according to Terry

True

Finke: An Unsecular America

US numbers do not support traditional predictions of secularization. Individuals continue to be committed to religion, especially the conservative groups that are demanding. Separation of church and state supports religious innovation (esp. among working class): low "start-up" costs.

james d hunter, culture wars

argues that religious responses to human sexuality generally and homosexuality specifically are rooted in diverse moral understandings of the family as the appropriate context for sexual behavior.

Wilson (Secularization)

argues that secularization is absolutely happening - but he's British, and secularization is absolutely happening in England

Demerath (Secularization)

going up and down at the same time

Finke (Secularization)

thesis is false, examples of how things are not in decline

Christian/ brad (Secularization)

need to redefine, not really declining. Brad is also tired of talking about it - lets get past this debate

Casanova (Secularization)

no it's not declining. Jose Casanova: Many global examples of religious resurgence and re-entry into civic domain.

Secularization Definition 2

(2) The emancipation of state, economy, and science from the religious sphere.

WE ARE GOD'S CHILDREN, Y'ALL... (MCQUEENEY))

Answer: They reframe their sexuality in the context of other self-understandings. Looks at Christian sexual identity in the context of other identities: race, gender, class. [Taking a cue from Patricial Hill Collins] Strategies for those who reconciled their faith and sexuality: Minimize, Normalize, or Moralize sexuality

Six Major Religious Types

Committed Traditionalists Selective Adherents Spiritually Open Religiously Indifferent Religiously Disconnected Irreligious:

Religion = Culture

Religion is (1) a system of symbols that acts to (2) establish powerful, pervasive, and long-lasting moods and motivations in people by (3) formulating conceptions of a general order of existence and (4) clothing these conceptions with such an aura of factuality that (5) the moods and motivations seem uniquely realistic

What some think about Secularization

Secularization has been inevitably progressing since the Enlightenment, since scientific knowledge/mindset opposes a theological world view. Fueled by: Darwin & evolution Schwietzer: "Quest of the Historical Jesus" Bultmann: Form criticism Also: increasing contact across cultures (internationally) leads to ... Pluralism: Many religions present to see.

BEAMAN (from first edition of Monahan, introduction to Part V, Monahan)

Strategies used by women to confront the patriarchal nature of religion [religion as oppressor]: Abandonment (of the faith) Radical Transformation (of the religious context; from Christianity to Wicca) Reshaping (the organization and its doctrine) Reframing (thinking differently about the organization and its doctrine) Example: catholic women are saying "we have previously thought of ourselves as second class because we cant perform sacraments, but we do other important work that we cant do.. Separate but equal" (but this didn't work out with race in America so..)

Modernity is eroding faith?

The more modern/scientific, the less religion [magic? mystery?]

Religion consists of "sets of beliefs, symbols, and practices about the reality of super-empirical orders that make claims to organize and guide human life."

Therefore, there are several connections between the cultural structures of emerging adults and their religious and spiritual lives, i.e., how they (we) think about religion.