Religion Sociology 13 h Edition by John Macionis

Basic Concepts • Emile Durkheim – Religion involves things that surpass the limits of our knowledge. • Profane–Ordinary elements of everyday life • Sacred–Set apart as extraordinary, inspiring awe and reverence • Religion–The social institution involving beliefs and practices based on recognizing the sacred • Ritual–Formal, ceremonial behavior Sociology, 13 h Edition by John Macionis Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Religion and Sociology • Faith–Belief based conviction rather than scientific evidence • Sociology asks why religions take a particular form in one society or another. – Asks how religious activity affects society as a whole Sociology, 13 h Edition by John Macionis Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Structural-functional Analysis • Durkheim: Religion has 3 major functions. – Social cohesion • Totem–An object in the natural world collectively defined as sacred – Social control – Provides meaning and purpose • Critical Evaluation – Downplays religion’s dysfunctions such as generating social conflict and violence Sociology, 13 h Edition by John Macionis Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Symbolic-interaction Analysis • Religion is socially constructed. • Berger: “Cosmic frame of reference” gives us the appearance of “ultimate security and permanence. ” • Critical Evaluation – Downplays religion’s link to social inequality Sociology, 13 h Edition by John Macionis Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Social-conflict Analysis • Religion serves the elites by legitimizing the status quo and diverting attention from social inequities. – Disrupts cultures with attempts to “convert heathens” – Marx: “Opium of the people” • Critical Evaluation – Downplays religion’s efforts to promote social equality Sociology, 13 h Edition by John Macionis Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Applying Theory Religion Sociology, 13 h Edition by John Macionis Copyright © 2010 Pearson

Religion and Social Change • Max Weber: Protestantism and capitalism – Rise of industrial capitalism was encouraged by Calvinism, a movement within the Protestant reformation. • Liberation theology–The combining of Christian principles with political activism, often Marxist in character – Social oppression runs counter to Christian morality. Sociology, 13 h Edition by John Macionis Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Religious Organizations • Church–A type of religious organization that is well-integrated into the larger society • State church–Church formally allied with the state • Denomination–A church, independent of the state, that recognizes religious pluralism Sociology, 13 h Edition by John Macionis Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Religious Organizations • Sect–A type of religious organization that stands apart from the larger society • http: //www. pbs. org/wgbh/americanexperie nce/films/amish/player/ – Charisma–Extraordinary personal qualities that can turn people into followers • Cult–A religious organization that is largely outside a society’s cultural traditions • http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=7 z 9 FUW Gl 3 O 0&feature=related Sociology, 13 h Edition by John Macionis Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Religion in History • In pre-industrial societies – Animism–Elements of the natural world are conscious life forms that affect humanity – Belief in a single divine power responsible for creating the world began with pastoral and horticultural societies. Sociology, 13 h Edition by John Macionis Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Religion in History • In industrial societies – The Industrial Revolution introduced a growing emphasis on science. – Science: How does the world work? – Religion: Why are we here? Sociology, 13 h Edition by John Macionis Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Christianity • Most Christians live in Europe or the Americas. • Built on the personal charisma of a leader, Jesus of Nazareth • Began as a cult, drawing elements from Judaism • Monotheism–Belief in a single divine power Sociology, 13 h Edition by John Macionis Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Global Map 19. 1 Christianity in Global Perspective Christianity is the dominant religion of Western Europe and became the dominant religion of the Americas. Can you explain this pattern? Source: Association of Religion Data Archives (2009). h Sociology, 13 Edition by John Macionis Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Islam • Islam is the word of God as revealed to Muhammad, a prophet, not a divine being. • Followers of Islam are called Muslims. • A majority of people in the Middle East are Muslims, but most of the world’s Muslims live elsewhere. • Muslim population is large and diverse. • In Arabic, the word “islam” means both “submission” and “peace. ” Sociology, 13 h Edition by John Macionis Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Global Map 19. 2 Islam in Global Perspective Islam is the dominant religion of the Middle East, but most of the world’s Muslims live in North Africa and Southeast Asia. Source: Association of Religion Data Archives (2009). Sociology, 13 h Edition by John Macionis Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Judaism • Jews comprise a majority of the population only in Israel. • Judaism has special importance to the US because the largest concentration is found in North America. • Judaism has deep historical roots that extends to Mesopotamia. • A distinctive concept of Judaism is the covenant. • Judaism has three main denominations: Orthodox, Reform, and Conservative Sociology, 13 h Edition by John Macionis Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Hinduism • The oldest religion, originating in the Indus River valley • Mostly practiced in India and Pakistan • Hinduism isn’t linked to the life of any single person. • God is a universal moral force rather than a specific entity. • Recognizes no ultimate judgment at the hands of a supreme god. Sociology, 13 h Edition by John Macionis Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Global Map 19. 3 Hinduism in Global Perspective Hinduism is closely linked to the culture of India. Source: Association of Religion Data Archives (2009). Sociology, 13 h Edition by John Macionis Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Buddhism • Almost all Buddhists live in Asia. • Recognizes no god of judgment; sees daily actions as having spiritual consequences, and emphasizes reincarnation • Originates in the life of Siddhartha Gautama • Much of life in this world involves suffering. • Worldly things hold back spiritual development. • Emphasizes meditation Sociology, 13 h Edition by John Macionis Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Global Map 19. 4 Buddhism in Global Perspective Buddhists represent a large part of the populations of most Asian nations. Source: Association of Religion Data Archives (2009). Sociology, 13 h Edition by John Macionis Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Confucianism • From about 200 B. C. E. until the beginning of the 20 th century, Confucianism was China’s official religion. • After 1949, the communist government repressed all religious expression. • China is still home to Confucian thought. • Confucius instructed followers to engage the world according to a code of moral conduct • A central idea is “jen, ” meaning “humaneness. ” Sociology, 13 Edition by John Macionis h Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Figure 19. 1 Religiosity in Global Perspective Sociology, 13 h Edition by John Macionis

Table 19. 1 Religious Identification in the United States, 2006 Sociology, 13 h Edition

Religion in the US • Religious affiliation – – New England, Southwest: Mostly Catholic South: Mostly Baptist Northern plains: Mostly Lutheran Utah: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints • Religiosity–The importance of religion in a person’s life • Religious affiliation is related to social class, ethnicity, and race. • http: //www. pbs. org/godinamerica/view/ Sociology, 13 h Edition by John Macionis Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

National Map 19. 1 Religious Membership across the United States In general, people in the U. S. are more religious than people in other high-income nations. Yet membership in a religious organization is more common in some parts of the country than in others. What pattern do you see in the map? Can you explain the pattern? Source: Glenmary Research Center (2002). Sociology, 13 h Edition by John Macionis Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

National Map 19. 2 Religious Diversity across the United States In most counties, at least 25 percent of people who report having an affiliation are members of the same religious organization. So although the U. S. is religiously diverse at the national level, most people live in communities where one denomination predominates. What historical facts might account for this pattern? *When two or more churches have 25 to 49 percent of the membership in a county, the largest is shown. When no church has 25 percent of the membership, that county is left blank. Source: Glenmary Research Center (2002) h Sociology, 13 Edition by John Macionis Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Figure 19. 2 Religious Nonaffiliation among First-Year College Students, 19702008 Sociology, 13 h Edition

Religion in a Changing Society • Secularization–Historical decline in the importance of the supernatural and the sacred • Civil religion–A quasi-religious loyalty binding people in a basically secular society Sociology, 13 h Edition by John Macionis Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Religion in a Changing Society • Religious revival – New Age spirituality flourishes – Interests increases in fundamentalism– A conservative religious doctrine that opposes intellectualism and worldly accommodation in favor of restoring traditional, otherworldly religion • The Electronic Church – “Prime-time preachers” on television Sociology, 13 h Edition by John Macionis Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.