Social Institutions: Religion

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Social Institutions Religion

• SOC 101
• Chapter 13

2
What Is Religion?

• A social institution involving beliefs and
  practices based on a conception of the sacred
• Religion is a matter of faith, belief anchored in
  conviction rather than scientific evidence
• Exists in some form in all societies

3
Three Key Elements in Religion

• BELIEFS that some things are sacred (forbidden,
  set off from profane)
• PRACTICE (rituals) based on the things
  considered sacred
• A MORAL COMMUNITY (a church) resulting from a
  groups beliefs and practices

4
Theoretical Analysis of Religion

• Sociologists have applied various paradigms to
  the study of religion
• Structural-Functional Analysis has identified
  functions of religion
• 1. Social cohesion
• 2. Social control
• 3. Providing meaning and purpose

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Dysfunctions of Religion

• 1. May encourage war and conflict
• 2. May serve as justification for persecution
• 3. May retard needed change

6
Symbolic Interaction Analysis

• Peter Berger argues that people socially
  construct religious beliefs as a response to
  lifes uncertainties
• Placing our brief lives within some cosmic frame
  of reference gives us the semblance of ultimate
  security and permanence

7
Social-Conflict Analysis

• Marx viewed it as opium of the people

• Conflict theorists argue that religion tends to
  legitimize inequality and the status quo

8
Types of Religious Organizations

• Churches, which are religious organizations well
  integrated into their societies, fall into two
  categories
• 1. State church a church formally allied with
  the state (Example Iran)
• 2. Denomination a church, independent of the
  state, that recognizes religious pluralism
  (Example Methodist)

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Sect

• A type of religious organization that stands
  apart from the larger society
• Sects are often marked by charismatic leadership
  and suspicion of the larger society
• Examples Amish, Jehovahs Witnesses

10
Cult

• A new religious movement with few followers
  largely outside a societys cultural traditions
• Usually led by a charismatic leader
• Christianity began as a cult

Rev. Jim Jones
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Loflands Theory

• He stresses 7 accumulating conditions for
  conversion
• 1. Experience enduring tensions
• 2. Within a religious perspective
• 3. Self-definition as a religious seeker

• 4. Encounter cult at a turning point
• 5. Wherein an affective bond is formed
• 6. Non-cult attachments low
• 7. Exposure to intensive interaction.

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Religion in the United States

• Great diversity - 350,000 congregations and
  hundreds of denominations
• No dominant religion
• Largest - Roman Catholic, 61,200,000

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Religious Commitment

• Surveys report about 90 of American adults claim
  some religious preference
• More than half say they are Protestants,
  one-quarter Catholics, and 2 Jews

14
Religiosity

• The importance of religion in a persons life
• A recent survey (1999) found that 88 believe in
  a divine power 50 report they pray each day
  31 report attending weekly religious services

15
Secularization

• Refers to the historical decline in the
  importance of the supernatural and the sacred
• While some measures of U.S. religiosity
  (including membership in mainstream churches)
  have declined, others (such as membership in
  sects) are on the rise.
• Religion is unlikely to disappear

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Religious Revival

• One striking trend growth of fundamentalism, a
  conservative religious doctrine that opposes
  intellectualism and worldly accommodation in
  favor of restoring traditional, otherworldly
  religion

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Religious Fundamentalism

• Distinctive in 5 ways
• 1. Interprets sacred texts literally
• 2. Rejects religious pluralism
• 3. Pursues the personal experience of Gods
  presence

• 4. Opposes secular humanism
• 5. Endorses conservative political goals

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Electronic Church

• Has blossomed into its own type of church
• Its preachers are called televangelists
• Most recent form is on the Internet

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Religion in the 21st Century

• It will remain a major part of modern society
• Immigration will intensify and diversify the
  religious character of U.S. society

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Closing Quiz

• True - False Items
• 1. According to Durkheim, all religions
  separate the sacred from the profane.
• 2. Cults often begin with the appearance of a
  charismatic leader.
• If you were planning to start a cult, where would
  you look for recruits?