Religion

1
Chapter 17

• Religion

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Chapter Outline

• Defining Religion
• The Significance of Religion in U.S. Society
• Forms of Religion
• Sociological Theories of Religion
• Globalization World Religions and Religious
  Diversity
• Diversity and Religious Belief

3
Chapter Outline

• Race and Religion
• Ethnicity and Religion
• Religious Organizations
• Becoming Religious
• Social and Political Attitudes The Impact of
  Religion
• Religion and Social Change

4
Defining Elements of Religion

1. Religion is institutionalized.
2. Religion is a feature of groups.
3. Religions are based on beliefs that are
   considered sacred, as distinguished from profane.

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Defining Elements of Religion

1. Religion establishes values and moral
   proscriptions for behavior.
2. Religion establishes norms for behavior.
3. Religion provides answers to questions of
   ultimate meaning, as distinguished from secular
   beliefs.

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Religion in U.S. Society

• The U.S. is one of the most religious societies
  in the world.
• 2/3 of Americans think religion can solve all or
  most of societys problems.
• 37 percent of the population describe themselves
  as born again.
• 82 of Americans believe in life after death.

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Religions in the U.S.

• Percentage of people in the U.S. who identify as
  
• Protestant - 57
• Catholic - 24
• Jewish - 2
• People with diverse religions - 8
• No religious identification - 8

8
Durkheim The Functions of Religion

• Religion is functional for society
• Reaffirms the social bonds between people.
• Creates social cohesion and integration through
  religious rituals.
• Binds individuals to society by establishing a
  collective consciousness.

9
Weber The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of
Capitalism

• The Protestant faith supported the development of
  capitalism.
• Material wealth meant one was favored by God,
  motivating Protestants to work to confirm their
  salvation.
• Value judgments about those who havent succeeded
  can be traced to influence of religion.

10
 Marx Religion, Social Conflict, and Oppression

• Religion legitimates the social order and
  supports the ideas of the ruling class.
• Oppressed people develop religion to soothe them
  and it prevents them from rising up against
  oppression.
• Religion can be the basis for social change or
  social continuity.

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Sociological Theories of Religion Functionalism
Religion and the Social Order An integrative force in society.
Religious Beliefs Promote order by a sense of collective consciousness.
Religious Practices and Rituals Reinforce a sense of social belonging
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Sociological Theories of Religion Conflict Theory
Religion and the Social Order Reflects inequality in society.
Religious Beliefs Can provide legitimation for oppressive social conditions.
Religious Practices and Rituals Define in-groups and out-groups, thereby defining group boundaries.
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Sociological Theories of Religion Symbolic
Interaction
Religion and the Social Order Is socially constructed and emerges with social and historical change.
Religious Beliefs Socially constructed and subject to interpretation can also be learned through religious conversion.
Religious Practices and Rituals Symbolic activities that provide definitions of group and individual identity.
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Three Types of Religious Organizations

• Churches - formal organizations that are seen by
  society as primary and legitimate religious
  institutions.
• Sects - groups that have broken off from an
  established church.
• Cults - religious groups devoted to a specific
  cause or a leader with charisma.

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Religion and Social Change

• Evangelical groups linked to conservative
  political causes have influenced national
  elections.
• Religion has had an important part in the civil
  rights movement and feminism.