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Religion: Definition, Major Functions, Theories, and Key Religions

Explore the definition and major functions of religion, theories of religion, and key religions such as Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism. Also, discuss the concept of secularization.

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Religion: Definition, Major Functions, Theories, and Key Religions

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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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