The Impact of Doctrine

1
The Impact of Doctrine
2
Key Points

• Religious belief can by itself be a sufficient
  cause of human action. We need not always dig for
  material motives.
• The Crusades were a response to Islamic
  provocations and were sustained by Western piety.
• The Great Awakenings were the result of effective
  religious advertising.
• The emergence of Eastern religions in the 1960s
  was the result of changing immigration laws
  resulting in a supply of such religions.
• The Post WWII religious revival in Japan was the
  result of newly found religious liberty.

3
The Effectiveness of Religious Doctrines

• Doctrines are more likely to be effective to the
  extent that
• They are clear
• Sufficient motivation is built into them
• They encompass a greater scope
• They provide compelling rewards and severe
  punishments
• They are plausible (or nonempirical)
• They can claim to be authoritative

4
Discussion Questions

• Why do you think social scientists have been so
  reluctant to attribute a causal role to religion
  and religious belief?
• Would you add anything else to Starks points
  about what should make religious doctrines more
  compelling? Why or why not?

5
Upper-class Asceticism
6
Key Points

• There is little empirical evidence for the
  deprivation thesis (the more difficult things
  are for you in this life, the more faith you will
  have in the next).
• Data has shown that the unchurched are less
  educated and have lower incomes than the
  churched.
• Sect movements are often upper-class movements.
• Ascetic movements for which we have data seem to
  indicate it is predominantly upper-class people
  who choose to live an ascetic lifestyle.

7
Gender and Family Background of Ascetic Saints
500-1500
8
Discussion Questions

• What are some possible explanations about why
  upper-class people might be more likely to become
  ascetics?
• How might Starks evidence about upper-class
  asceticism affect earlier arguments made by Marx?