RELIGION

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RELIGION
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RELIGIOUS ORGANISATIONS
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RELIGIOUS ORGANISATIONS
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RELIGIOUS ORGANISATIONS
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Religion as a force for stability and change
Religion creates passive individuals who do not
attempt to change the world for the better, but
simply accept spiritual alternatives.
Religion prevents change in society. It retains
and reinforces conservative and traditional
values.
Religion
Religion can often have a close relationship to
the State reinforcing a political and
social ideology.
Religion restricts social change and justifies
social inequality. It is patriarchal and
condones many to suffering here on Earth.
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Religion as a force for stability and change
Radical religious movements fight for change
in society. The Religious Right in America have
great influence over politicians and leaders in
society.
Some religious organisations emphasise doing
good here on Earth. These organisations are
more likely to bring about change. Liberation
Theology emphasises salvation from repression
particularly in Latin America.
Religion
Religious groups that recruit their members
from less-privileged people are more likely to
want social change. E.g. Roman Catholic priests
in Latin America and radical Islamic groups.
Religious groups with a strong sense of
authority and good organisation are more
likely to bring about social change.
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Religion and Social Class

• Mainstream religions are inclusive so recruit
  from a broad range of classes.
• Established religions like the Church of England
  tend to be middle class, with its leaders tending
  to come from privileged backgrounds.
• Many denominations tend to have more working
  class members.
• Cults often recruit from deprived and marginal
  groups in society, though they can attract a
  cross section of society.
• NAM and NRM tend to appeal to the middle classes,
  particularly young professionals.

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Religion and Age Groups

• The old and young tend to be more religious,
  though many established religions have support
  from a wide age group.
• The elderly often turn to religion as a comfort
  or social experience.
• Middle aged groups are more likely to be
  attracted to NAM and world affirming NRM.
• Young people often rebel against the religion of
  their parents or chose to opt out. Many become
  attracted to cults and sects often as a result
  of a change in lifestyle or influenced by the
  Mass Media or peer groups.

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Religion and Gender

• Though the Anglican Church is male dominated,
  women are more likely to attend church than men.
• Women are also more likely to be involved in NRM
  and NAM.
• Women are often attracted to NAM because they
  emphasise feminine characteristics such as
  caring and healing.
• Older women turn to religion for a sense of
  community.
• In most religions women play a secondary role to
  men, often sidelined or marginalised, which many
  see as a form of social control.

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Religion and Ethnicity

• Many ethnic groups are more religious and
  participate readily in religion, as it is more
  significant to their culture.
• People of Afro-Caribbean descent have a huge
  input in the rise of Pentecostalism and Gospel
  Evangelism.
• There has been a steady rise in the number of
  people in the UK attending non-Christian places
  of worship.
• Many non-Christians in the UK see their religion
  as a way of life rather than simply an act of
  faith.
• Religion can maintain a cultural identity and a
  form of community amongst ethnic groups.

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Growth of Alternative ReligionsNRM NAM

• Postmodern society has led to increased choice
  and diversity, creating greater emphasis on
  individualism. Individual beliefs are trusted
  more than established religions.
• Founders of new religions develop new
  ideas/products to convert people to.
• Many people reject traditional religious
  explanations of spirituality and do not
  accept/trust scientific theories of the natural
  world.
• Many people feel marginalised by society and seek
  new movements to make sense of their lives/the
  world.
• Social change such as cultural diversity,
  breakdown of society, secularisation, crisis of
  identity, terrorism, general uncertainty, give
  new movements greater appeal.
• People who have become dissatisfied with
  established mainstream religions, seek
  alternative belief systems.

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Growth of Christian Fundamentalism

• People have rebelled against globalisation,
  postmodernism and secularisation, accepting the
  certainty that fundamentalism provides.
• Relaxation of the divorce laws, legalised
  abortion, gay rights, the increase in
  pornography, secular education, have given rise
  to powerful groups such as the New Religious
  Right in the USA. They believe that liberal
  reforms have brought about a state of moral
  crisis and wish to return to the literal
  interpretation of the Bible.
• Strong charismatic leaders promoting their views
  through mass communication can provide trust and
  meaning in times of uncertainty.
• E.g. of Christian Fundamentalism bombing of
  abortion clinics challenging, through the
  courts, the teaching of evolution.

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Growth of Islamic Fundamentalism

• Globalisation, postmodernism and modernising
  governments have led to a rise in Islamic
  Fundamentalism, seeking to return to Muslim
  beliefs.
• Western values are seen as corrupt, creating
  uncertainty, class inequality and an erosion of
  tradition and traditional beliefs.
• Strong charismatic leaders, promoting their views
  through mass communication, promise salvation and
  eternal life to adherents who carry out their
  orders e.g. suicide bombers.
• E.g. of Islamic Fundamentalism Iranian
  Revolution 1979 al Qaeda Osama bin Laden
  bombing of Pentagon and World Trade Centre 2001
  July 7th bombing in London 2005.

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Religion Marx

• Marx viewed religion as something that inhibits
  change a form of social control that keeps the
  working classes in a state of false
  consciousness.
• Religion is the sign of the oppressed creature,
  the sentiment of a heartless world. It is the
  opium of the people. Religion acts as a drug
  that does not solve problems but merely eases the
  pain.
• Religion is a tool of class exploitation it
  provides the basis of ruling class ideology and
  justifies the social order. The hymn All things
  bright and beautiful contains the verse.. The
  rich man in his castle, the poor man at his gate,
  God made them high and lowly, and ordered their
  estate.
• Religion is a conservative force which prevents
  social change. The masses are promised rewards in
  heaven, so they put up with suffering on Earth.
• Religion, therefore, involves the distortion of
  reality. It is ideological, in that it
  legitimises an unjust social order that makes it
  appear inevitable and unchangeable.

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Religion Weber, Berger and Interactionist
Theory

• Weber assumed that as societies advanced
  technologically and scientifically then
  individuals would cease to rely on religious
  meanings. They would use rational explanations to
  understand their world, which would become less
  enchanted and sacred.
• Weber suggests that religion deals with the
  problem of theodicy (justice of god) how to
  make sense of a benevolent god in a world full of
  evil and suffering. E.g. Calvinist belief in
  pre-destination Hindu belief that everyone, no
  matter how unfortunate, deserve to be in the
  position they are in.
• Berger suggests that one of the most important
  aspects of religion is its ability to explain
  phenomena such as evil, suffering and death.
• Berger speaks of the theodicy of disprivilege
  the promise of salvation may be seen as
  compensation for poverty. Such ideas promote the
  view that it is pointless trying to change the
  here and now.

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Religion - Functionalism

• Functionalists also see religion as something
  that inhibits change. But they view this as a
  good thing something that creates social order
  based on shared values.
• Durkheim The sacred (holy or spiritual) stands
  for the values of society or the community. By
  worshipping the sacred people are effectively
  worshipping their society.
• Religion maintains social solidarity by providing
  unifying practices and beliefs a collective
  consciousness.
• Religion strengthens values and promotes a sense
  of belonging and commitment. Social change and
  deviant behaviour are restricted, as religion
  binds people to society.

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Religion - Functionalism

• Parsons Religion lays down guidelines for
  individuals and societies in terms of core
  values.
• Religion helps integrate people into a community
  or society and helps make sense of their lives.
• Malinowski Religion helps deal with the
  emotional stress and anxiety of events such as
  death. Religious ceremonies at funerals create
  group unity and help manage tension.
• Bellah Civil Religion (secular symbols, rituals
  and ceremonies) creates social cohesion. Thus
  flag waving, royal marriages and deaths bring
  about a collective feeling that generates order.
• Functionalists see religion as a force to
  socialise and integrate people into society, to
  maintain societies norms and values preventing
  anomie, and to enable people to come to terms
  with life changing events.

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Religion - Feminism

• Women see God as a god of love, comfort and
  forgiveness men see God more as a god of power
  and control. (Davie, 1994)
• Women are often excluded from power in many
  religions Roman Catholicism allows only male
  priests, Orthodox Jews only male Rabbis and Islam
  only male Imams.
• Feminists believe that religion is patriarchal
  justifying male domination. Scriptures and
  religious texts often state that women are
  imperfect, temptresses or distractions to men.
  E.g. Eve created from Adam Eve and the apple.
• Though many women are venerated in Christianity,
  it is generally through acts of chastity, charity
  or as child bearers. The virgin Mary is seen as
  divine through being the mother of Jesus.
• The ordination of women priests in the Anglican
  Church has led to great divisions. Many see this
  as further proof of the subordination of women in
  religion.

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Secularisation

• A process whereby religion loses its influence
  over the various spheres of social life.
  (Wilson, 1996)
• Church attendance and membership has gone down by
  over 1 million in the last 20 years. In 2000 only
  7.5 of the population attended, and church
  membership was 10 of the population. (Religious
  Trends, 2000)
• Baptisms have decreased by nearly 40 since 1900.
  (Religious Trends, 2000)
• The average age of church goers is increasing
  rapidly and only 4 of the population attend
  Sunday School. (Religious Trends, 2000)
• Church weddings now account for 50 of marriages
  compared to 75, 30 years ago.
• In 1900 there were over 45,000 clerics in
  Britain. This has dropped to just over 34,000
  clerics in 2000 despite the population having
  doubled.
• The UK has become increasingly multi-cultural and
  established churches are losing their influence
  in integrating people into shared values.
• Science and rational explanations are undermining
  religion.

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Secularisation an over-generalisation?

• It is difficult to measure secularisation
  different groups measure membership in different
  ways.
• Religion is a private experience for many and
  therefore may not be reliably measured. Davie
  (1995) has characterised the situation in Britain
  as believing without belonging.
• Surveys still show high levels of religiosity or
  some religious beliefs. In 1998, 21 of those
  surveyed agreed to the statement I know God
  exists and I have no doubt about it. Only 10
  said that they did not believe in God at all.
  (British Social Attitudes survey, 1998)
• Religious programmes such as Songs of Praise on
  the BBC attract between 7 and 8 million viewers.
• While established religions may be in decline in
  Britain the growth of the immigrant population
  has led to an increase in religiosity. Islam is
  the fastest growing religion in Britain and
  non-Trinitarian church membership is growing.
• Religious participation also varies between
  social groups, with ethnic minority groups
  continuing to be religiously committed.