Chapter 17, Religion

Defining Religion The Significance of Religion in American

Society Forms of Religion Sociological Theories of Religion

Chapter 17, Religion

Globalization: World Religions and Diversity Religious Organizations Becoming Religious Social and Political Attitudes: The Impact of

Religion Religion and Social Change

Six Defining Elements of Religion

1. Religion is institutionalized.

2. Religion is a feature of groups.

3. Religions are based on beliefs that are considered sacred, as distinguished from profane.

Six Defining Elements of Religion

4. Religion establishes values and moral proscriptions for behavior.

5. Religion establishes norms for behavior.

6. Religion provides answers to questions of ultimate meaning, as distinguished from secular beliefs.

Religious Identification in the U.S.

Protestant: 57% Catholic: 26% None/Undesignated: 12% Jewish: 2% Mormon: 1% Orthodox Church: 1% Other: 2%

Durkheim: The Functions of Religion

Religion is functional for society: Reaffirms the social bonds between people. Creates social cohesion and integration

through religious rituals. Binds individuals to society by establishing a

collective consciousness.

Weber: The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism

The Protestant faith supported the development of Capitalism.

Material wealth meant one was favored by God, motivating Protestants to work to confirm their salvation.

Value judgments about those who haven’t succeeded can be traced to influence of religion.

 Marx: Religion, Social Conflict, and Oppression

Religion legitimates the social order and supports the ideas of the ruling class.

Oppressed people develop religion to soothe their distress and it prevents them from rising up against oppression.

Religion can be the basis for social change or social continuity.

Religions of the World

Religions of the World: Christianity: 1.9 billion Islam: 1.2 billion Hindus: 761 million Chinese folk-religionists: 379 million Buddhists: 363 million Jewish: 14 million

 Christianity

Dominant religion worldwide and in the U.S. Two categories of Protestants: mainline and

conservative fundamentalists. Roman Catholics adhere to a hierarchical

religious system, with values and codes of behavior mandated by the Pope.

 Judaism

More than 40% of the world's Jewish population lives in the U.S.

The Jewish faith is more than 4,000 years old. 19% of Jewish Americans attend services in a

typical week, but most observe the high holidays and bar/s mitzvahs.

 Judaism

Jews are both a religious group and a minority group.

The bond of solidarity among the Jewish people is strengthened by their history of persecution and by continuing prejudice against them.

 Islam

Muslims believe that Islam is the word of God, revealed in the prophet Muhammad.

Highly traditional Islamic fundamentalists adhere strictly to the word of the Koran.

Muslims have a patriarchal world view with women being denied the freedoms men enjoy.

Hinduism

Karma is the principle that sees all human action as having spiritual consequences.

Deeply linked to the caste system in India. Gandhi used Hindu principles of justice,

honesty, and courage to guide one of the most important independence movements in the world.

 Buddhism

Buddhism encourages its followers to pursue spiritual transformation and enlightenment to relive themselves of worldly suffering.

Involves a concept of birth and rebirth through reincarnation.

Many New Age spiritual groups in Western society have adopted its focus on meditation.

 Confucianism

A complex religious system originating in China, Confucianism promotes a disciplined way of life.

Confucians follow the principles of Confucius, a leader who promoted certain moral practices.

The expression of goodness and social unity is an important principle, there is not a particular god or set of disciples Confucians follow.

 Diversity and Religious Belief

In general, those most likely to be unaffiliated with any church are young, White, well-educated, non-Southern men who move frequently.

The most religiously committed are older, African American, less educated, Southern women who are geographically stable.

Three Types of Religious Organizations

Churches - formal organizations that are seen by society, as the primary and legitimate religious institutions.

Sects - groups that have broken off from an established church.

Cults - religious groups devoted to a specific cause or a leader with charisma.

 Becoming Religious

People learn religious faith through religious socialization.

The family is one of the main sources of religious socialization.

Religious conversion involves a dramatic transformation of religious identity.

Religious Conversion

A social process in three phases:

1. Disruption in previous life experience leading to withdrawal and some loss of autonomy.

2. Creation of an emotional bond with group members and a weakening of former bonds.

3. Period of intense interaction with the new group.

Religion: Social and Political Attitudes

Racial Prejudice. People who belong to religious organizations that encourage intolerance are likely to be racially prejudiced.

Homophobia is linked to religious orientations that promote intolerance of any kind.

Anti-Semitism is one of the world’s most persistent forms of prejudice.

The New Religious Conservatism

Fundamentalists whose unity is facilitated through Christian religious media, have:

Fueled anti-abortion activism. Revived the effort to teach creationism. Campaigned against women’s rights and gay

and lesbian rights, while supporting “family values.”

Changes in Religious Behavior

Enormous growth in conservative religious groups.

Evangelical groups have been highly influential though their use of electronic media.

Religion has had an important part in the civil rights movement and feminism.