CHAPTER 15: RELIGION

1. CHAPTER 15: RELIGION

2. WHAT IS RELIGION? 1 Religion—a social institution that involves shared beliefs, values, and practices based on the supernatural which unites believers into a community

3. What Is Religion? 1 • Durkheim distinguished between: • Sacred—anything that people see as mysterious, awe-inspiring, extraordinary • Profane—everyday activities, secular

4. What Is Religion? 1 Religiosity—the ways that people demonstrate their religious beliefs Spirituality—a personal quest connected to a reality greater than ourselves

5. TYPES OF RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION 2 Cult—a religious group that is devoted to beliefs and practices which are outside of mainstream culture and society, new religious movement Sect—a religious group that has broken off from an established religion to form its own

6. Types of Religious Organization 2 Denomination—subgroup within a religion that has a common name, tradition, and identity Church—a large body of people belonging to an established religious group that has strong times to the larger society

7. Application • Identify the type of religious organization: • Baptists have a common tradition and identity and are a subgroup of Christianity. • Heaven's Gate was a small religious group in California organized by a charismatic leader. • The Amish broke away from an established religion to form their own.

8. SOME MAJOR WORLD RELIGIONS 3 • Christianity • The largest group worldwide • Largest numbers are in Latin America and Europe. • Islam • Founded by Muhammad • Mainly in Asia

9. Some Major World Religions 3 • Hinduism • Mainly in India • Buddhism • Throughout Asia • Judaism • Mainly Israel and the United States

10. RELIGION IN THE UNITED STATES 4 About 92% of Americans believe in God. About 56% say that religion is very important in their lives. Mainline Protestant groups have lost membership. Evangelicals have increased in number. About 4 in 10 Americans attend religious services at least once a week.

11. Discussion 4 Why is the number of people who attend church so much smaller than the number of people who believe in God?

12. Religion in the United States 4 • Religious participation is influenced by: • Sex—Women tend to be more religious. • Age—Older Americans are more likely to be religious. • Race/ethnicity—Whites are the least likely to be affiliated with a church. • Social class—As income increases, the importance of religion decreases.

13. SECULARIZATION: IS RELIGION DECLINING? 5 Secularization—the process of removing institutions from the dominance or influence of religion There is evidence of greater secularization as well as fundamentalism—the belief in the literal meaning of the text.

14. Secularization: Is Religion Declining? 5 Some argue that the U.S. practices civil religion in which elements of nationalism and patriotism take on properties of the sacred.

15. Secularization: Is Religion Declining? 5

16. Discussion 5 Does the United States have a civil religion?

17. SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES ON RELIGION 6 • Functionalism considers the benefits of religion. • Belonging and identity • Meaning, purpose, and emotional comfort • Social service • Social control • Social change

18. Discussion 6 How does religion maintain the status quo? How can religion be used as an agent of social change?

19. Sociological Perspectives on Religion 6 • Conflict theories argue that religion promotes social inequality. • Marx view religion as a form of false consciousness, an acceptance of a system that prevents people from protesting oppression. • Religion often promotes strife through the differentiation of "we" and "them." • Religion can promote prejudice and discrimination.

20. Sociological Perspectives on Religion 6 • Feminist theories argue that religion subordinates and excludes women. • Most religions are patriarchal, emphasizing men's experiences and women as subordinate. • Some argue that religious texts have been interpreted and manipulated in a patriarchal manner.

21. Sociological Perspectives on Religion 6 Feminist scholars also point out that women are excluded from leadership positions.

22. Sociological Perspectives on Religion 6 Symbolic interactionists study the ways in which religion provides meaning in everyday life. Religion is a social product that is taught through symbols, rituals, and beliefs.

23. Sociological Perspectives on Religion 6 Symbol—something that stands for something else Ritual—formal and repeated behavior Belief—convictions about what people think is true

24. Application • Is it a symbol, ritual, or belief? • Prayer is important. • First communion and confirmation reinforce a child's place in the church. • Judaism is represented by a star.

25. Internet Connections: Quick Links • Academic Info: Religion in America isan excellent gateway for information on many religious faiths, religious studies programs, new religious movements, and religious news articles: http://www.academicinfo.net/amrelig.html • Religious Tolerance “promotes religious freedom, tolerance, and diversity as positive cultural values.” It contains thousands of essays and numerous links to sites that explain the range of religious beliefs in North America, from Asatru to Zoroastrianism, and includes writings on dozens of hot topics such as same-sex marriage and abortion: http://www.religioustolerance.org • The Pew Forum on Religion & Religious Life “seeks to promote a deeper understanding of issues at the intersection of religion and public affairs.” This site examines the relationships between religion and other institutions, and hosts interesting national surveys on religion amongst U.S. minority groups: http://www.pewforum.org • Who, or what, created the world? The Genesis Project invites you to explore a variety of creation beliefs from around the world: http://library.thinkquest.org/29064/main.html