Chapter 14 RELIGION

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Chapter 14RELIGION

• Made By

• Mr. Schumacher /Period 3

• Nicole Borden
• Nicole Marino
• Quinn Johnson
• Maggie Isaac
• Ashley Rasmousen

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Religion and Sociology

• Section 1
• Emile Durkheim (the first sociologist to examine
  religion scientifically) defines religion as a
  unified system of beliefs and practices concerned
  with sacred things

• Sacred- holy set apart and given a special
  meaning that goes beyond, or transcends,
  immediate existence
• Profane- nonsacred

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• To study religion sociologists have to keep their
  faith personal and focus on the social aspects of
  religion that can be measured and observed.
• Some questions that they might ask themselves and
  you can think about yourself are
• How can we find evidence for something that cant
  be seen?
• How can we remain objective about such a
  value-laden subject, especially when we have our
  own beliefs?
• Is science really the proper tool to evaluate
  religion?

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Theoretical Perspectives

• Section 2
• Functionalism and Religion
• Religion is an important part of almost all
  societies. This is shown by religious artifacts
  customs and taboos that have been left behind
  tracing back to 50,000 B.C.
• Religion has several functions. It legitimates
  the structure of society, promotes social unity,
  and provides a sense of meaning and belonging.
• In his book, The Elementary Forms of Religious
  Life (1915), Durkheim says that the essential
  function of religion was to provide through
  sacred symbols a mirror for members of society to
  see themselves.

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• Sociologists identify the following social
  functions of religion
• Religion gives formal approval to existing social
  arrangements.
• Religion encourages a sense of unity.
• Religion provides a sense of understanding.
• Religion promotes a sense of belonging.
• Legitimate- to justify or give official approval
  to
• Conflict Theory and Religion
• Conflict theory focuses on how religion works to
  either inhibit or encourage social change.
• Sprit of Capitalism- the obligation to reinvest
  money in business rather than to spend it.
• Protestant Ethic- a set of values, norms,
  beliefs, and attitudes stressing hard work,
  thrift, and self discipline.

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• Symbolic Interactionism and Religion
• People create symbolic meanings from their
  religious beliefs, rituals, and ideals.
• People use their socially created symbolic
  meanings to guide everyday social interactions.
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vQxBRZCr6vhgfeature
  related
• Religious Organization and Religiosity
• Section 3
• Religious Organization
• Early scholars have identified four basic types
  of religious organizations
• Church
• Denomination
• Sect
• Cult

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• Church- a life-encompassing religious
  organization to which all members of a society
  belong
• Denomination- one of several religious
  organizations that most members of a society
  accept as legitimate
• Sect- a religious organization that arises out of
  desire to reform an existing religious
  organization
• Cult- a religious organization whose
  characteristics are not drawn from existing
  religious traditions within a society
• Religiosity
• Religiosity- ways in which people express their
  religious interests and convicts
• There are five dimensions of religiosity. They
  are
• Beliefs
• Rituals
• Intellectual Dimension
• Experience
• Consequences

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• Religion in the United States
• Section 4
• The Development of Religion in America
• Secularism- a process through which the sacred
  loses influence over society.
• Some people believe that secularism is destroying
  Religion in the United States.
• Americans claiming that Religion was important in
  their lives fell from 75 in 1952 to 57 in 2005.
• On the other hand, some research has found that
  many Americans are still very committed to their
  Religions.

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• There are over three hundred denominations and
  sects in the United States, the denominations
  that make up a majority of the United States
• Protestant- 50
• Baptism- 16
• Methodist- 8
• Lutheran- 5
• Fundamentalism- The resistence of secularization
  and the rigid adherence to traditional religious
  beliefs, rituals, and doctrines.
• Believe in literal truth of Scriptures
• Involves being born again through acceptance of
  Jesus.
• Religious organizations that share in much of the
  fundamentalist theology have unique beliefs and
  practices.
• Example neo- Pentacostalism which has occurred
  for the most part within traditional religious
  organizations.

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• Several reasons for the growth of fundamentalism
  have been proposed
• Many Americans feel their world is out of
  control.
• Churches emphasize warmth and love to people who
  are experiencing the weakening of family and
  community ties.
• Churches offer what they consider a more purely
  sacred environment.
• The electronic church contributes to the growth
  of religious fundamentalism.
• Politics and Religion
• Jewish faith is aligned with democratic party,
  followed by Catholics and protestants.
• Episcopalians and Presbyterians are found to be
  republican.

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Who did what?

• Putting together power point Quin
• Quiz and power point Nicole and Nicole
• Activity Maggie and Ashley