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RELIGION

RELIGION. RELIGION. Definition. An institution consisting of beliefs, pratices, and values pertaining to the distinction between the empirical and the super-empirical. MAJOR FUNCTIONS. World Construction and Maintenance Theodicy—dealing with suffering and evil

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RELIGION

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  1. RELIGION RELIGION

  2. Definition • An institution consisting of beliefs, pratices, and values pertaining to the distinction between the empirical and the super-empirical.

  3. MAJOR FUNCTIONS • World Construction and Maintenance • Theodicy—dealing with suffering and evil • Instrumental—health, wealth, happiness, etc.

  4. THEORIES OF RELIGION • Functional Analysis • Durkheim: The Sacred and the Profane • People celebrate the power of their society • Religion performs three major functions • Social Cohesion • Social Control • Meaning and Purpose • Criticism

  5. Symbolic Interaction (Peter Berger) • Religion provides a cosmic frame of reference, a “Sacred Canopy.” • Criticism • Conflict Theory (Marx) • Alliance between religion and political-economic power • “The opium of the people” • Religion and Patriarchy • Colonialism, Slavery, Segregation • Criticism

  6. CHRISTIANITY • 1.9 billion followers. c. 1/3 of humanity. • Most in Europe or Americas. • Began as cult, incorporating much from Judaism. • Trinity, Jesus as Son of God, Resurrection • 312, became official religion of Holy Roman Empire

  7. ISLAM • 1.1 billion (c. 19% of humanity) Muslims • 6 million in U.S. (disputed) • Muhammad (born c. 570), Mecca, Medina. Qur’an, • Hijra—Flight to Medina. 622 B.C.E. A.H.1 • Sunni, Shi’a (c. 10%)

  8. Five Pillars of Faith • The Profession: One God, Allah, Muhammad his Prophet • Prayer • Alms • Fasting during Ramadan • Hajj—pilgrimage to Mecca at least once • Dualism: Heaven and Hell

  9. JUDAISM • 14 million world wide, most in U.S. and Israel • Moses, Exodus, 13th cty. B.C.E. (Passover) • Monotheism • Denominations: • Orthodox • Reform • Conservative • Sects: e.g. Chabad/Lubavitcher

  10. HINDUSIM • Oldest (At least 4,500 years ago) • 775 million—14% of humanity. 1.3 million in U.S. • India (also Pakistan, Southern Africa, Indonesia) • No single person is key. Sacred writings, but not seen in same light as Bible and Qur’an • Deities: Brahma, Shiva, Vishnu—Brahman-Atman. (Others)

  11. Karma/Samsara (Reincarnation) • Moral order in every element of nature • Rituals

  12. BUDDHISM • 330 million (6%). Mostly Asia. Myanmar (Burma) Thailand, Cambodia, Japan, India, PRC, Vietnam • Origin in India. Siddartha Gautama. • Asoka (3rd cty B.C.E.). • Life involves suffering, pleasures transitory. Goal of spiritual transformation. • Acts have consequences. Reincarnation.

  13. CONFUCIANISM • From c. 200 B.C.E. till 1900, the official religion of China. • Suppressed after 1949 revolution. Still influential. Mostly in China, but also in North America. • Confucius c. 551-479 B.C.E. • Strict code of moral conduct. • No clear sense of sacred, supernatural.

  14. SECULARIZATION • KEY TERMS • Secularism • Secularization • The Secularization Hypothesis • Evidence?

  15. Survey Data on Religion www.thearda.com

  16. Believe in God?

  17. Church Membership • Record-keeping varies among denominations • Long Range: 6% in 1800; 35% in 1900; 77% in 1936. • Decline started in 1960s. Mostly among liberal churches. Slide stabilized in 1978. • About 60% claim membership (86% claim a preference (NORC 1999)

  18. Personal Salience • Religiosity: “very important” or “important” • Bible study, book sales, • New Age Spirituality. 35 million at laest somewhat interested

  19. SECULARIZATION (?) • Perceived Influence of Religion • Evidence for Secularity • Moral relativism • Bias against religion in media, education • Lack of regard for religious factors in diplomatic circles.

  20. Conclusions • Data do not support general secularization • Problems of measuring religiosity • Problems of time frame • Evidence tricky • Secularization is segmental. Occurs simultaneously with revival.

  21. Religion and the Election2004

  22. Why Evangelicals Love Bush • They feel persecuted, marginalized. He makes them feel better. • Bush was transformed, born again. • He was “called” to his role. • Moral Clarity

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