Religion

1
Chapter 13

• Religion

2
Chapter Outline

• The Nature of Religion
• Magic
• Major Types of Religion
• A Sociological Approach to Religion
• Organization of Religious Life
• Aspects of American Religion
• Major Religions in the United States

3
The Nature of Religion

• Religion
• A system of beliefs, practices, and values shared
  by a group of people.
• Defines the sacred.
• Helps explain life.
• Offers salvation from the problems of human
  existence.

4
The Elements of Religion

• All religions contain certain shared elements
• Ritual and prayer
• Emotion
• Belief
• Organization

5
Magic

• Magic is an active attempt to coerce spirits or
  to control supernatural forces.
• Magic is used to manipulate and control matters
  that seem to be beyond human control and that may
  involve danger and uncertainty.
• In most instances, religion serves to unify a
  group of believers, whereas magic is designed to
  help the individual who uses it.
• Mana is a diffuse, nonpersonalized force that
  acts through anything that lives or moves.

6
Four Major Types of Religions

1. Supernaturalism - Postulates the existence of
   nonpersonalized supernatural forces that can
   influence human events.
2. Animism - The belief in inanimate, personalized
   spirits or ghosts of ancestors that actively work
   to influence human affairs.

7
Four Major Types of Religions

1. Theism - The belief in divine beingsgods and
   goddesseswho shape human affairs.
2. Abstract ideals - Focus on the achievement of
   personal awareness and a higher state of
   consciousness through correct ways of thinking
   and behaving, rather than by manipulating spirits
   or worshipping gods.

8
Question

• In animistic religions, shamans are able to cure
  illness because they
• use powerful medicines.
• manipulate the populace to believe in their
  power.
• have developed a working knowledge of natural
  medicines.
• have a special relationship with the spirits that
  cause illness.

9
Answer D

• In animistic religions, shamans are able to cure
  illness because they have a special relationship
  with the spirits that cause illness.

10
Major Religions of the World2000
Religion Number of Total
Christians 1,999,564,000 33
Roman Catholic 1,057,328,000 17.5
Protestants 342,002,000 5.6
Orthodox 215,129,000 3.7
Anglican 79,650,000 1.3
Unaffiliated Christians 111,125,000 1.8
11
Major Religions of the World2000
Religion Number of Total
Baha 7,106,000 0.1
Buddhists 353,794,000 6.0
Chinese folk-religionists 359,982,000 5.9
Ethnic religionists 228,367,000 3.8
12
Major Religions of the World2000
Religion Number of Total
Muslims 1,188,243,000 19.6
Hindus 811,336,000 13.3
Jews 14,434,000 0.2
Sikhs 23,258,000 0.4
Nonreligious 768,159,000 12.7
Atheists 150,090,000 2.5
13
Question

• What is your current religious affiliation?
• Protestant
• Catholic
• Jewish
• None
• Other

14
Polytheism

• Belief in a number of gods.
• Each god or goddess usually has particular
  spheres of influence such as childbirth, rain, or
  war.
• There is generally one who is more powerful than
  the rest and oversees the others activities.

15
Monotheism

• The belief in the existence of a single god.
• Three religions are known to be monotheistic
• Judaism
• Christianity
• Islam

16
The Functionalist Perspective

• Four categories of religious function
• Satisfying individual needs.
• Promoting social cohesion.
• Providing a worldview.
• Helping to adapt to society.

17
Society, Religion, and the Individual A
Functionalist View
18
Question

• Do you believe that the Bible is the actual word
  of God, to be taken literally word for word?
• Yes
• No

19
The Conflict Theory Perspective

• Marx saw religion as a tool the upper classes
  used to dominate the lower classes.
• The lower classes were distracted from social
  change by the promise of happiness through
  religion.
• They would receive their reward in heaven, and so
  had no reason to improve their condition in this
  world.

20
Organization of Religious Life

• Universal churchIncludes all the members of a
  society within one united moral community. 
• EcclesiaA church that shares the same ethical
  system as the secular society and has come to
  represent and promote the interest of the society
  at large.

21
Organization of Religious Life

• DenominationTends to limit its membership to a
  particular class, ethnic group, or religious
  group, or at least to have its leadership
  positions dominated by members of such a group.
• SectA small group that adheres strictly to
  religious doctrine that often includes
  unconventional beliefs or forms of worship.

22
Millenarian Movements

• Typically prophesy the end of the world, the
  destruction of all evil people and their works,
  and the saving of the just.

23
Question

• Which of the following is not a denomination?
• Judaism
• Catholicism
• Lutheranism
• Hinduism

24
Answer D

• Hinduism is not a denomination.

25
Question

• How do sects differ from denominations?
• Sects are more tolerant of other religious
  groups.
• Sects participate less in secular society.
• They have beliefs that are more conventional.
• All of these choices are correct.

26
Answer B

• Sects differ from denominations in that they
  participate less in secular society.

27
American Religiosity
People in the United States Are People in the United States Are
Too Religious Not Religious Enough
United States 21 58
France 61 26
Netherlands 57 25
Great Britain 39 28
Germany 39 31
Canada 35 38
28
American Religiosity
People in the United States Are People in the United States Are
Too Religious Not Religious Enough
India 32 57
Spain 31 40
Russia 27 38
Poland 6 56
Jordan 95
29
Question

• How important would you say religion is in your
  own life?
• Very important
• Fairly important
• Not very important
• No opinion

30
American Believers
Category Percentage Who Believe In
God 92
Heaven 85
Miracles 82
Angels 78
Hell 74
The Devil 71
Ghosts 34
Witches 24