Religion

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Religion
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Religion

• Where ever an altar is found, there civilization
  exists. Joseph De Maistre
• Oh, senseless man, who cannot possibly make a
  worm, and yet will make Gods by dozens. Michel
  De Montaigne
• I count religion but a childish toy, and hold
  there is no sin but innocence. Christopher
  Marlowe
• Religions are the cradles of despotism. Marquis
  De Sade
• Give us religion that will help us to livewe
  can die without assistance. E. Hubbard

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of pop. who rate importance of God as 10 on a
10 point scale
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How Religious Are You? (Soc. 134)
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How Often Do You Pray? (Soc. 134)
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Religion

• Unified system of beliefs and practices that
  pertain to sacred things (Durkheim)
• Life after death
• How people should act toward each other

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• Differentiates between the sacred and the profane
• Sacred
• Profane

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Theoretical Perspectives

• Freud Psychological
• Marx Hegel Conflict theory
• Durkheim Functionalism

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Freud

• Religion is born of the need to make tolerable
  the helplessness of man.

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Conflict

• Religion is the opiate of the masses
• Enslaves
• Liberation theology

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Functionalism

• Religion is ubiquitousexists in all cultures
• Therefore, it must serve a critical function for
  survival of society

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Functions of Religion

• 1. Supplies answers to cosmic questions
• 2.
• Provides comfort in times of distress

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• 5. Bestows a sense of identity on believers
• 6.
• Provides social cement
• 9. Provides social control mechanisms

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Dysfunctions

• For example Ireland, Bosnia, India,
• Middle East
• Justification for persecution

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U.S. Membership in Denominations (Percentage in
2005)
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Religious Preferences (Percent of 134)
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Contemporary Religion in U.S.

• Growth of fundamentalist religion

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Background

• Prevailing beliefs in 1960s
• These two factors would decrease membership in
  churches

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• Mainline denominations became
• More liberal in interpretations of scripture
• Consider culture and history of the time of
  scripture writing in understanding meaning

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• Modernized structure and hierarchy
• More democratic, more lay involvement
• E.G. Reform movements in Judaism, Protestant
  religions, Catholicism post Vatican II

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• However, change has occurred
• Fundamentalist churches which did not change

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Characteristics of Fundamentalist Denominations

• Literal interpretation of scripture
• Evangelical conversion mission
• Personal salvation more important than social
  activism

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• Allow members less personal freedom
• Strong emphasis on community

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Fundamentalist Ministries

• Pat Robertson
• 700 Club

• Jimmy Swaggart
• Ministries

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Fundamentalist Religions

• Southern Baptists
• Pentecostals
• Seventh-Day Adventists
• Assembly of God
• Orthodox Jews
• Fundamentalist Islamic groups
• Charismatic Catholic movement

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Possible Reasons for Appeal of Fundamentalist
Religions

• Search for communityresponse to gesellschaft
  society
• Quest for essential meaning in life

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Evangelicals vs Fundamentalists

• Fundamentalists
• Evangelicals who are not fundamentalist
• Less conservative politically
• Less strict in their belief in separation from
  the world

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Evangelical or Born Again (Soc. 134)
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Entrepreneurial Evangelicals

• Sunday schools like Disney World
• Coffee bars and car repair shops
• Savvy technology and media use
• On-line confessions

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Willow Creek Community Church(outside Chicago)

• 48 million annual budge
• 143 million in net assets
• 427 employees
• 10,000 volunteers
• 21,000 attend weekly services
• 110,000 fee paying church members
• Church President has Harvard MBA

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• Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, CA
• 82,000 in congregation
• 2,600 small groups coordinated by 9,200 ministers
• Computer, cyclists, knitters, single parents,
  mens groups

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Religion and Education Today

• Some see educational institutions undermining
  religious doctrine
• Pa. case weighs intelligent design in schools