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