Sociology 20 Religion

Protestant Ethic and Spirit of Capitalism

1. Capitalism is fundamentally different way of thinking about money (Spirit of Capitalism) 2. Religions in China, India, and Roman Catholic maintained a traditional approach to life: not thrift or investment 3. Protestant believed in Predestination 4. This Doctrine made people anxious Prove they were part of the chosen Lead moral lives, work hard, do not waste time (Protestant Ethic) 5.Because couldn't spend, capital was invested

Four Ideal types

Animatism Animism Theism Ethical religions

Struct function on religion examples

Elementary forms of religious life, Religion provides functions for society, Paradox of Community: dysfunction of religion

Rites of passage

accompany major transitions in life such as brith, puberty, or marriage

Animatism

crystals, elements (fire, water, earth)

Denomination

reality in the United States

Theism

God(s)

Religious Beliefs

Ideas that explain to the world the difference between the sacred and the profane

Uses of rituals

Identify the course of the problem and characterize evil Mark boundaries between "us' and "them" Arrive and some means of working toward a solution

Conflict on religion

Karl Marx: the base of the capitalist society is the economy False consciousness Liberation Theology: combines Marx theology with a theology of salvation as liberation from injustice.

Church

Large group of religiously oriented people in which members are usually born into rather than joining consciously an voluntarily Characteristics of churches Leadership is composed of professionals who have highly specialize training As a whole tens to have highly bureaucratic structure and a complex division of labor Seeks to include as many people as possible Often seek out new members Sometimes employ missionaries Accept status quo

Paradox of Community: dysfunction of religion

Leads to ethnocentrism involving intolerance and conflict and even violence Traditions accentuate difference between "us and them"

Characteristics of cults

Often at odds with established religions as wells the larger society Those who found cults ten to be religious radicals who want to go back to religions origin Import ideas from other religions or create totally new ideas Tend to be founded by charismatic figures

Karl Marx on Religion

Opiate of the masses Religion is base of capitalism

Religion provides functions for society

Provides answers to questions about ultimate meaning Emotional comfort Fosters social solidarity Help people adjust to life's problems Provides social control Spearheads change

Symbolic Interaction

Religion consists of beliefs and rituals that are part of the interaction among followers. Reciting the Lord's prayer bowing toward Mecca, an keeping a kosher home are meaningful displays of different religious values an norms. Leaders may play a role in creating social interaction

Structural Functionalism

Religion is an important social institution that functions as the basis to the morals an ethics that followers embrace and that are applied to both society and the individual, thus promoting social order

Conflict Theory

Religion serves to control the masses by creating rules for behavior, sanctions against violations may not be equally or fairly applied. Culture wars reflect tensions among groups over which values and norms will dominate

Components of Religion

Religious Belief Religious rituals Religious experience Religious community

Secularization casuses

Rise of scientific thinking Development of industrial society Rise of governments that do not promote established religion Encouragement of religious tolerance Existence of competing secular moral ideologies (humanism) Religion as a form of consumption

Sacred vs profane

Sacred: spiritual, awe-inducing, revered Profane: Ordinary, mundane

SECT

Small group of people who have joined the group consciously and voluntarily to have a personal religious experience Believe themselves as true believers Leaders often have charisma Tend to be anti-establishment Pone to reject society an the status quo Seen as breakaway dissident groups that leave established religious institutions Frequently draw membership from lower classes Set themselves apart from larger society admit only those who rigorously conform to norm Doctrinal purity is emphasized

Animism

Spirit benison another plane of existence, guardian angels, demons

Fundamentalism

Strongly held belief in the fundamental or foundational precepts of any religion Also characterized by rejection of the modern secular world All major world religions have a fundamentalist element Internet has become increasingly important Reject idea of religious pluralism

Max Weber on religion

Wanted to understand effect of religion on society and individuals, Trends erode religious power, Foresaw emergence of new religions as responses to challenges of religious belief, PROTESTANT ETHIC AND SPIRIT OF CAPITALISM

Civil Religion

beliefs and practices, and symbols a nation holds sacred, especially important at difficulty times

Ethical religions

buddhism, other philosophies

Secularization

declining significance of religion at individual or societal level

Religions spreads...

mostly through actual movement (transnational migration)

Elementary forms of religious life (Durkheim)

provides a sense of security and answers questions about meaning or the purpose of life Provides explanations of puzzling aspects of life Vital function of religion is to provide a set of ethical guidelines Provide guidelines for a better style of lie Provide individuals an groups with hope for the future, including what happens after death Religion plays a crucial role in the process of social change

Ritual

regularly repeated prescribed and traditional behaviors symbolizing a value or belief

Emile Durkheim on religion

religion is eternal,sacred and profane, struct funct

liminal period

special time set apart from ordinary reality