Chapter 18: Religion Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 20051 Sociology: A Down-to-Earth Approach 7/e James M. Henslin Chapter Eighteen: Religion James M. Henslin

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2005 1

Chapter 18: ReligionChapter 18: Religion

Sociology: A Down-to-EarthSociology: A Down-to-EarthApproach 7/eApproach 7/e

Sociology: A Down-to-EarthSociology: A Down-to-EarthApproach 7/eApproach 7/e

James M. HenslinJames M. HenslinChapter Eighteen: ReligionChapter Eighteen: ReligionJames M. HenslinJames M. HenslinChapter Eighteen: ReligionChapter Eighteen: Religion

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Emile Durkheim said, “A religion is a unified Emile Durkheim said, “A religion is a unified

system of beliefs and practices relative to system of beliefs and practices relative to

sacred things.”sacred things.”

What is Religion?What is Religion?



BeliefsBeliefs that Some Things are Sacred that Some Things are Sacred

PracticesPractices Centering on Things Centering on Things

Considered SacredConsidered Sacred

A A Moral CommunityMoral Community Resulting from a Resulting from a

Group’s Beliefs and PracticesGroup’s Beliefs and Practices

Three Elements of ReligionThree Elements of Religion



Questions about Ultimate MeaningQuestions about Ultimate Meaning

Emotional ComfortEmotional Comfort

Social SolidaritySocial Solidarity

Guidelines for Everyday LifeGuidelines for Everyday Life

The Functionalist PerspectiveThe Functionalist Perspective



Social ControlSocial Control

AdaptationAdaptation

Support for the GovernmentSupport for the Government

Social ChangeSocial Change

The Functionalist PerspectiveThe Functionalist Perspective



Organizations Like Alcoholics AnonymousOrganizations Like Alcoholics Anonymous

PsychotherapyPsychotherapy

HumanismHumanism

Transcendental MeditationTranscendental Meditation

Political PartiesPolitical Parties

Functional Equivalents of ReligionFunctional Equivalents of Religion



Religion as Justification for PersecutionReligion as Justification for Persecution

War and TerrorismWar and Terrorism

Dysfunctions of ReligionDysfunctions of Religion



Religious SymbolsReligious Symbols

Rituals, Ceremonies, Repetitive PracticesRituals, Ceremonies, Repetitive Practices

Beliefs—CosmologyBeliefs—Cosmology

Religious Experience—Contact with GodReligious Experience—Contact with God

Community Shared Through Symbols, Rituals, and Community Shared Through Symbols, Rituals, and

BeliefsBeliefs

Symbolic Interactionist PerspectiveSymbolic Interactionist Perspective



Marx’s Opium of the PeopleMarx’s Opium of the People

Legitimization of Social InequalitiesLegitimization of Social Inequalities

Social Arrangements Represent God’s DesiresSocial Arrangements Represent God’s Desires

Divine Rights of KingsDivine Rights of Kings

Pharaoh as GodPharaoh as God

Hindu Caste SystemHindu Caste System

Conflict PerspectiveConflict Perspective



Weber—Religion Held the Key to Weber—Religion Held the Key to

ModernizationModernization

Protestant EthicProtestant Ethic

Personal Duty to Make and Invest MoneyPersonal Duty to Make and Invest Money

A Move away from Traditional ThriftA Move away from Traditional Thrift

Spend Only on Necessities, Reinvest the RestSpend Only on Necessities, Reinvest the Rest

Religion and the Spirit of CapitalismReligion and the Spirit of Capitalism



JudaismJudaism

Originated 4,000 Years AgoOriginated 4,000 Years Ago

Originated in MesopotamiaOriginated in Mesopotamia

God’s Chosen People Through Covenant with AbrahamGod’s Chosen People Through Covenant with Abraham

Fundamental Change in Religion to MonotheismFundamental Change in Religion to Monotheism

Contemporary—Orthodox, Reform, ConservativeContemporary—Orthodox, Reform, Conservative

The World’s Major ReligionsThe World’s Major Religions



ChristianityChristianity

Also MonotheisticAlso Monotheistic

Believe Jesus Christ is MessiahBelieve Jesus Christ is Messiah

Born in Poverty to a VirginBorn in Poverty to a Virgin

At about 30 Jesus Began TeachingAt about 30 Jesus Began Teaching




ChristianityChristianity

12 Main Followers—Apostles12 Main Followers—Apostles

Belief in Christ’s ResurrectionBelief in Christ’s Resurrection

Split to Greek Orthodoxy in 11th Century, Split to Greek Orthodoxy in 11th Century,

Reformation in 16th CenturyReformation in 16th Century

Currently about 2 Billion AdherentsCurrently about 2 Billion Adherents




IslamIslam

World’s Third Monotheistic ReligionWorld’s Third Monotheistic Religion

Founded by Muhammad (Born in Mecca)Founded by Muhammad (Born in Mecca)

About Age 40 had Visions from GodAbout Age 40 had Visions from God

Visions and Teachings Written in KoranVisions and Teachings Written in Koran




IslamIslam

Muhammad Founded a Theocracy in MedianMuhammad Founded a Theocracy in Median

Two Main Branches—Sunni and ShiiteTwo Main Branches—Sunni and Shiite

Shiites More Conservative and FundamentalistShiites More Conservative and Fundamentalist

Consider Bible Sacred but Koran Final WordConsider Bible Sacred but Koran Final Word




HinduismHinduism

No Specific FounderNo Specific Founder

Chief Religion in India for 4,000 YearsChief Religion in India for 4,000 Years

No Canonical ScriptureNo Canonical Scripture

Brahmanas, Bhagavad-GitaBrahmanas, Bhagavad-Gita, and , and UpanishadsUpanishads

Expound Moral VirtuesExpound Moral Virtues




HinduismHinduism

People Make Sacrifices to godsPeople Make Sacrifices to gods

Polytheistic—Many godsPolytheistic—Many gods

Central Belief is Karma—Spiritual ProgressCentral Belief is Karma—Spiritual Progress

No Final Judgment—ReincarnationNo Final Judgment—Reincarnation

Spiritual Perfection Results in NirvanaSpiritual Perfection Results in Nirvana




BuddhismBuddhism

Siddhartha Gautama Founded in about 600 B.C.Siddhartha Gautama Founded in about 600 B.C.

Four Noble TruthsFour Noble Truths

Existence is SufferingExistence is Suffering

Origin of Suffering is DesireOrigin of Suffering is Desire

Suffering Ceases when Desire CeasesSuffering Ceases when Desire Ceases

Follow “Noble Eightfold Path” to End DesireFollow “Noble Eightfold Path” to End Desire




Buddhism—Eightfold PathBuddhism—Eightfold Path

Right BeliefRight Belief

Right ResolveRight Resolve

Right SpeechRight Speech

Right ConductRight Conduct


Right Occupation or LivingRight Occupation or Living

Right EffortRight Effort

Right-MindednessRight-Mindedness

Right EcstasyRight Ecstasy



ConfucianismConfucianism

K’ung Fu-tsu Born in China 551 B.C.K’ung Fu-tsu Born in China 551 B.C.

Public Official Distressed by Corruption in Public Official Distressed by Corruption in

GovernmentGovernment

Urged Social ReformUrged Social Reform

Developed System of Morality Based on Peace, Developed System of Morality Based on Peace,

Justice, Universal OrderJustice, Universal Order




ConfucianismConfucianism Teaching Written in the Teaching Written in the AnalectsAnalects

Basic Moral Principle—Basic Moral Principle—JenJen

Loyalty and Morality above Self-InterestLoyalty and Morality above Self-Interest

Confucian Golden RuleConfucian Golden Rule

Taught the “Middle Way”Taught the “Middle Way”

Originally Atheistic, Gods Added along the WayOriginally Atheistic, Gods Added along the Way




CultsCults Begin with Charismatic LeaderBegin with Charismatic Leader

Most Popular Religions Started this WayMost Popular Religions Started this Way

Most Cults FailMost Cults Fail

SectsSects Loosely Organized and Fairly SmallLoosely Organized and Fairly Small

Emphasize Personal SalvationEmphasize Personal Salvation

Types of Religious GroupsTypes of Religious Groups



ChurchesChurches Highly BureaucratizedHighly Bureaucratized

National and InternationalNational and International

Relationship with God Less IntenseRelationship with God Less Intense

EcclesiaEcclesia State ReligionsState Religions

Part of Cultural IdentificationPart of Cultural Identification

Types of Religious GroupsTypes of Religious Groups



Members Reject Dominant CultureMembers Reject Dominant Culture

Members Reject Specific Elements of a Members Reject Specific Elements of a

CultureCulture

Society Rejects Religious GroupSociety Rejects Religious Group

When Religion and Culture ConflictWhen Religion and Culture Conflict



Characteristics of MembersCharacteristics of Members

Social ClassSocial Class

Race and EthnicityRace and Ethnicity

AgeAge

Religion in the U.S.Religion in the U.S.



Characteristics of Religious GroupsCharacteristics of Religious Groups

DiversityDiversity

Pluralism and FreedomPluralism and Freedom

Competition and RecruitmentCompetition and Recruitment

CommitmentCommitment




Characteristics of Religious GroupsCharacteristics of Religious Groups

TolerationToleration

Fundamentalist RevivalFundamentalist Revival

The Electronic ChurchThe Electronic Church

The Internet and ReligionThe Internet and Religion




The Secularization of ReligionThe Secularization of Religion

The Secularization of CultureThe Secularization of Culture

Secularization of Religion Secularization of Religion and Cultureand Culture



Religion Thrives Religion Thrives

People Will Always Ponder PurposePeople Will Always Ponder Purpose

Science Cannot Tell Us About…Science Cannot Tell Us About…

The Existence of GodThe Existence of God

The Purpose of LifeThe Purpose of Life

An AfterlifeAn Afterlife

MoralityMorality

The Future of ReligionThe Future of Religion

Documents

Chapter 18: Religion Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 20051 Sociology: A Down-to-Earth Approach 7/e James M. Henslin Chapter Eighteen: Religion James M. Henslin