Sociology of Religion Midterm

6. Why do Jews place an emphasis on being "born" into the faith tradition rather than converting, whereas Christianity and Islam highly value evangelism and conversion?

Judaism is an inherited religion. Christianity has no ethnic qualifications and emphasizes belief > rituals. Lack of emphasis on doctrine and emphasis on communities is a function of the fact that a Jew is not someone who believes in Judaism, rather a person that was BORN into Judaism. A Jew is a member of a family. Those who convert are not members of the religious community, just adopted children. Christianity is deliberately universal and focuses on doctrine to allow anyone to join. If you believe, you can be Christian.

2. According to Durkheim, what are the two categories which the world of human experience could be divided into? What qualifies a person, place or thing, to fall into one of these two categories?

The two categories are the sacred and the profane. The sacred is "what is of ultimate concern." The profane is what is "considered ordinary and mundane." For the religious, specific times and places are identified as sacred. Most societies designate holidays (holy days) and sacred sites. A location like a temple, mosque, or cathedral, or a war memorial or cemetery. Crossing from profane to sacred space often requires certain actions, dress, or attitudes. Religions also divide time into the sacred and profane. Religious festivals and rituals involve the reactualization of sacred events that took place in the beginning or during some significant hierophany, the sacred elements of time are thus transformed and shifted to the present moment. An example is the pilgrimage to the Hajj, the Islamic duty to go to Mecca which combines a sacred space with time.

14. In Nelson's article, he discusses rituals as having a communicative component, a formality and repetitiveness, and an expressiveness form of action. Describe the pros and cons of each characteristic.

1. Communicative Component: con-everything we do in life expresses something, intentional or not. Example: walking ones dog shows they are a responsible dog owner who cares from the well-being of their pet. 2. Formality and Repetitiveness: prescribed actions undertaken at set intervals. Con- every action is somewhat repetitive. Example: have to do the action every day and formal acts include attaching the leash, visiting the same spots. 3. Expressiveness Form of Action: rituals are primarily expressive as opposed to purposeful action. Con- every action has some formalness

8. What are the three social functions that people's ethos grow out of their worldview? Of the three social functions, which one do you think has the most impact and why?

1. Facilitates the process of identity construction I believe this one has the most impact because it helps one understand why they are linked to a specific class, ethnicity or nationality 2. Shapes and legitimates/challenges the stratification system of social order 3. Identifies taboo lines and lays out the ethical guidelines implied by worldview

7. What are the five aspects of the identity building process related to religious traditions? Give a brief example of each.

1. Standards or Models: a belief system may provide the standards and models for personal and collective identity construction, especially evaluating good and evil. 2. Religious Social Networks as Reference Groups: reference group of people who shape self-concept. An individual turns to his/her most significant others for positive or negative reinforcement of identity. 3. Interaction with a Deity: the process of engaging in religious rituals and interacting with God may have an impact on sense of identity by perceiving self as being "chosen." 4. Mechanisms for sustaining identity changes: religious traditions, rites of passage, visions or experiences, legitimation of a new identity that comes from religious communities. 5. A System of Meaning and Security: provides a "shield against terror" in times of crisis.

10. What are 3 reasons that people become spiritual shoppers?

1. Why some people become shoppers more readily than others is a function of how they were raised. Most shoppers appear to have been reared by parents who were open-minded about diversity and tolerant towards people of different religious orientations, rather than rigidly committed to one denomination. 2. Exposure to diverse religious communities (whether it is the neighborhood you grow up in or from going abroad or from learning at college campuses). 3. Experimentation with new spiritual ideas and practices is reinforced by social contexts. The ability to travel and go to college is indicative of middle/upper-middle class families. 4. Personal trauma

9. What is "spiritual shopping"?

A new approach to religious diversity. The idea of shopping reflects the fact that American's religion is shaped by consumer culture. Shopping connotes making choices and having the freedom to choose according to one's personal tastes and needs. Shopping feels light-hearted which may not necessarily fit the religion metaphor. Shopping involves trying out new things, considering whether they fit one's lifestyle, and piecing together beliefs and practices from a variety of traditions. Americans understand pluralism and internal diversity because of our social context. The spiritual shopper is open and eager to embrace a wide variety of religions. Shoppers nearly always have a conviction that God exists, but often entertain doubts and questions about specific theological teachings about God. Spiritual shoppers aren't necessarily looking for the "right" religion (most do not end up converting to one), but instead, are looking for experiences/affirmations that God exists.

13. According to Nelson, what makes a worship service different from the "ordinary, mundane world" that Nelson mentions. Is God only present in these services?

A worship service is a place where people worship God, people come to the worship as God's children not as citizens or as their occupation and in worship service God is also present. It is different from the "ordinary, mundane world" because during this service it is an intimate connection with God and His children, people dress up, they worship by singing and they do symbolic bodily actions.

3.We often use sacred texts to help us classify religion. Why is it that analyzing sacred texts is not always correct or useful?

According to Kurtz, analyzing sacred texts is not always useful or correct because these texts are open to interpretation. Individuals can interpret these texts too literally, or may misunderstand what the text is trying to say. The texts for most of the world's religions are readily available, although not always in good translation, so scholars can at least construct theological categories within which to place them. How are scholars to judge which sacred texts are significant and how they should be interpreted? To what extent have time and translation altered the original sacred texts? How is context different now?

17. What is the purpose of Yom Kippur or the Jewish Day of Atonement; in other words, what is the individual supposed to do?

Following 10 days after the jewish new year, Jews must set aside their domestic and commercial activities and mentally review their actions over the preceding year, identifying all those whom they have hurt or behaved unjustly towards. They must seek out those whom they have frustrated, angered or otherwise betrayed and offer contrition. This is God's will, and a rare opportunity for forgiveness.

12. Do individuals within the same community have similar moral codes? Why or why not?

Moral rules are shared within the group and become building blocks of the community. A "moral community" describes the collective that is formed when a group of people adhere to shared beliefs and practices regarding the sacred. Engaging in collective religious rituals maintains and reinforces community by strengthening ties and creating a group feeling. Membership and sense of belonging creates motive to follow society's moral rules (or be cast as an outsider). No matter how objectively true or universal a moral system may feel, moral systems do not precede human communities. Instead, they are products of human communities; they come from the communities. As a result, what we think is "good" or "right" is largely embedded by the community in which we are embedded.

18. How do religions "give us slack" when it comes to being a part of their community?

Religions do not ignore the inherently dark aspect of social life. Religions understand that to belong to a community is both very desirable and not very easy. Religions teach us to be polite, honor one another, be faithful and sober, but also know that if they do not allow us to be or do otherwise once and awhile, they will break our spirit.

1. What are the 3 components of religion according to Durkheim's sociological definition in Chapter 1 in Kurtz? How does Kurtz say they play a role in human society?

The beliefs about the sacred, practices (rituals), and the community or social organizations of people drawn together by a religious tradition. • A religious tradition's worldview is outlined in a set of interrelated beliefs that explain the world and guide people in living their lives • These ideas are incorporated through narratives (myths and legends) that incorporate the oppositions and contradictions of life • They are reenacted and reinforced through rituals that are sustained by, and in turn provide legitimacy for, the institutions of each religious movement • Every religion has a system of beliefs about the world and what should be considered sacred or held in awe or what is of ultimate concern or unrestricted value • Religious traditions also provide some answers to the fundamental questions of the meaning of life and how the world was created, they offer comfort, and joy in the face of suffering and death • Religions provide standards of truth and ways of seeing and interpreting the world • Any given religion is also part of people's culture, they are often essentially the same • The fundamental truths of a religion are often recalled and reinforced in ritual practices that also sustain social order. Examples of rituals: religious festivals, rites of passage (birth, marriage, funerals). These rituals hold the spiritual and material world together.

11. Are morality and religion the same thing? Discuss.

Though they are closely related, morality and religion are not the same thing. Students usually describe morality as a way to regulate human behavior. Morality is about being able to tell right from wrong. It is about knowing how to behave. It is acting in predictable and acceptable ways. It is saying and doing the right thing and, just as important, not saying or doing things that are forbidden. Religion also acts a regulatory system. Religion strengthens human communities because it lends stability by promoting good behavior with transcendent sacred meanings.

5. What role does a deity or deities play in Eastern religions as compared to Western traditions?

Western religions believe in one God who created the universe and regularly intervenes in history. He is an active deity who is constantly shaping and creating the world. He calls people to do his work. Westerners have a tendency towards this worldly orientation that emphasizes performing action for the deity. Eastern religions worship many gods, specialized by their function, or humans who become deified. Rather than giving commands and intervening in history, these gods seem to prefer simply to explain how the universe works and tell people how to do their best with what they have been allotted in this lifetime. Also determine their dharma (religious duty). As opposed to not focusing on what God wants, focus on one's role in the universe.

20. In the section that discussed societies as moral orders, in what ways did Wilson say morals were developed in the past? What are 2 similarities to how we form our morals today?

a. In the past, morals were used to encourage conforming to them and promise communal salvation b. We are a much more hedonistic (self-indulgent) society and do not believe our moral behavior will necessarily bring salvation (religious support) c. Most men wanted to act morally and would conduct their business, even if tempted not to, in moral fashion d. Religious moral code was the punishment for bad behavior in a society where sin was public e. Work caused the moral order to change and people had to act internally and develop a conscience (we have this today, no one will stand over our every move and make us act morally)

19. Going off of what Wilson mentioned in his article regarding the way in which families now have less time to devote to the ethical upbringing of their children, what would you say has become the major influence on the formation of children's morals? In which ways, if any, have you seen this happen in your own life?

a. Specialization of social order =separation of home from work, and home from school, and parents have less time to teach children moral upbringing b. Parents are not present enough in the home and tv can distance people from their families c. I would say peers are the major influence of children's morals as well as teachers in school and religious training if they have any d. I would say my family has been the biggest influence in my moral formation and in life I have surrounded myself with friends who have similar moral values

4. Kurtz mentions that religions change based on societal changes in order to adapt to present situations of believers. He discusses Hinduism, Buddhism and Confucianism in Chapter 2 and the ways in which society has caused aspects of the religions to change. Give an example of how one of these three religions has changed, even slightly, due to societal factors.

• Buddhist religion is known for its flexibility and that has helped it persist • It has been politically suppressed an areas yet still has influence • Buddhism emerged because of a time of social change in 6th century BCE when Cyrus the great was extending the Persian Empire o Buddhists came together because of a response of multicultural contact (cultures encountering each other) • Buddhist religion can actually be a bit different depending upon the area of worship, for example the bodhisattva (one who qualifies for nirvana but choses to work for salvation of all beings instead) can be different dependent upon where you live