Sociology Chapter 12 Religion – Flashcards

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sociological definition of religion
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an institution offering a set of beliefs (sometimes regarding supernatural) to a community, incorporating symbols and ritual practices.
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two broad foci of how sociologists approach studying religion
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1. our focus is on the organization and insitutionalization of religion. 2. we often see religions as unifying, but also see where they can lead to conflicts & inequality. -Marx, Weber, & Durkheim were all interested in religion.
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4 broad conditions that set stage for sociological study of religion
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1. sociologists not concerned w/ whether religious beliefs are true or not. 2. especially concerned w/ the social organization of religion. 3. often view religions as a major source of social solidarity bc religions provide believers w/ common set of norms & values. 4. tend to explain the appeal of religion in terms of social forces rather than purely personal, spiritual, or psychological factors.
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Marx
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-religion & inequality. -accepted the view that religion represents human self-alienation. -declared that religion was the "opium of the people. -religion declares happiness & rewards to the afterlife, teaching resigned acceptance of earthly life. -attention diverted from injustices in this world by the promise of what is to come next.
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alienation
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the sense that our own abilities as human beings are taken over by other entities. -refers to projection of human powers onto gods. -loss of workers' control over the natures & products of their labor.
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Durkheim
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-religion & functionalism. -spent a good amount of his career studying religion. -particularly concentrated on totemism as practiced by Australian aboriginal societies. -The Elementary Forms of Religious Life is perhaps the most influential single study in the sociology of religion. -Connected religion not with social inequalities or power, but with the overall nature of the institutions of a society. -his argument was that totemism represented religion in its most elementary form.
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how durkheim defined religion
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in terms of a distinction between the sacred & the profane. -sacred is something that inspires awe or reverence among those who believe in a given set of religious ideas. -profane is that which belongs to the mundane, everyday world. -a totem is a sacred object, regarded with veneration & surrounded by ritual activities which were essential to unifying members of groups.
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weber
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-the world religions & social change. -massive study of religions worldwide. -concentrate on the connection between religion & social change. -argued that religion not necessarily a conservative force, religiously inspired movements have produced dramatic social transformations. -protestantism source of capitialistic outlook in the modern West. -Christianity = salvation religion.
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ecclesia
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has relationship w/ government. not so separate from state.
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church
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large, established religious body, normally having a formal, bureaucratic structure & a hierarchy of religious officials. term also used to refer to the place in which religious ceremonies are carried out.
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denomination
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a religious sect that has lost its revivalist dynamism and become an institutionalized body, commanding the adherence of significant numbers of people.
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sect
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tend to be breakaways from churches, a little more controversial, challenge churches they once came from.
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Cult (NRM)
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tend to rely on charismatic leader, deemed dangerous/illegitimate by larger society, tend to die out quickly.
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4 reasons we study religions
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1. it is clearly important to people 2. a significant portion of the population feels so (85% of global population) 3. it is socially & structurally patterned. 4. because of its implications (both functional & conflict) for societies.
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Religion in the United States
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-despite declines in religious identification, Americans remain believers at high rates. -the decline in identification with some religious group: 1990: 90%-->2008: >80% -most religiously diverse country in the world. -highly religious compared to the citizens of other industrial nations.
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do we merely select our own religion?
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perhaps, but religion is socially & structurally patterned.
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religiousity & class/ethnic stratification
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-socioeconomic status varies by religion group membership and vice versa. -jews & liberal protestants = highest SES. -moderate protestants & catholics = middle. -last is conservative & black protestants.
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race & ethnicity
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irish catholics, anglosaxon protestant, greek orthodox, russian jews, etc. -more structurally, where we are born may matter for the religion we belong to.
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modern era - high tech religion
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-electronic churches -personalities (oral roberts, pat robertson, robert schuller) -followers: 10 million regulars, 40 million periodic. -God online: internet is most recent medium to spread religion (official organization, to chat rooms, to recruitment sites on the web.)
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The Functions of Religion
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-among it's manifest functions: religion defines the spiritual world and gives meaning to the divine. it provides an explanation for events.
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More functions of religion
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-social integration: provides shared meaning, symbols, values, and norms; especially during times of fear/confusion, social similarity. -social support: can provide relief during hard times, either through community or belief. -can shape social change: Weber argued that Protestantism help spur on the development of capitalism. -can foster social control: reinforce prevailing institutional arrangements/inequalities.
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On the conflict side
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-the social control functions of religion may limit people's options. -religion may create or reinforce inequality for individuals in groups, even if they are not part of that particular religion --> a conservative and/or divisive force (Marx) -may create change in either a conservative or progressive direction (liberation theology)
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attributes of all religions (Durkheim)
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-distinguished between profane and sacred. -totems & rituals
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rituals
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practices by the groups (defining sacred/profane) that foster commonality.
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