Transcript Religion - K. Tamayo

Religion
• Religion
– System of roles and norms organized
around the sacred realm that binds people
together in social groups
• What does “sacred” mean?
• Things take on sacred meaning only
when they are socially defined as such
by a group of believers
• What one society believes as sacred
another may view as profane
Sociologists focus on the social
characteristics of religion and the
consequences that religion has for
society.
The Function of Religion
A.Social Cohesion
– The strengthening of bonds among
people
– Creates a sense of belonging
– Serves as an anchor to society
– Provides support and purpose
– Religion can create conflict in societies
where there are more than one religion
practiced
The Function of Religion
Example of Social Cohesion:
Durkheim found that suicide rates were
lower among those with strong
attachments to religious groups
The Function of Religion
B. Social Control
– Encouraging conformity to the norms of
society
– Norms and values may be reinforced through
religious doctrine
– The Bible, Torah and Qur’an give divine
purpose to conformity
– May maintain a control over behavior by
providing a standard by which individuals may
judge themselves and be judged by other
people
The Function of Religion
C. Emotional Support
– Helps people endure disappointment
and suffering with the belief that there is
a special purpose (“Everything happens
for a reason.”)
– Attempts to provide answers to those
questions that cannot be provided by
science or common sense (“What
happens when we die?”)
The Nature of Religion
A.Rituals and Symbols
– Rituals
• An established pattern of behavior through
which a group of believers experience the
sacred
– Ritualistic behavior is a part of every
religion
– Often used to mark change in status
– Used to unite believers and reinforce
faith
The Function of Religion
Example of Rituals:
In the Christian faith, baptism and the
taking of communion are rituals.
In the Catholic faith, confirmation is an
example of a ritual.
The Nature of Religion
B. Belief Systems – 3 basic types
1. Animism
• Belief system in which spirits are active in
influencing human life
• Spirits are not worshipped as gods, but
seen as supernatural forces that can be
used to human advantage
a. Shamanism
– Belief system in which spirits communicate
only with one person acknowledged as a
specialist
The Nature of Religion
Shamanism cont.
– A shaman is believed to communicate with
the spirits either speaking to them directly
or by making his/her soul leave the body
and enter the spirit world
– Shamans are believed they can heal the
sick, predict the future and see events
happening far away
The Nature of Religion
b. Totemism
– Belief in kinship between humans and animals
or natural objects
– The totem is the animal or object viewed as
sacred
– Thought to represent a family or clan and
their ancestors
– Totem is treated with awe and respect
– No one is allowed to hurt, eat, kill or even
touch it
– Are seen as protectors who watch over the
group
The Nature of Religion
2. Theism
• Belief in a god or gods
• The god is considered a divine power
worthy of worship
a. Monotheism
– Belief in one god
– All contain an organizational structure,
sacred writings, worship rituals and
organized priesthood or ministry
– Ex. Judaism, Christianity and
Islam
The Nature of Religion
b. Polytheism
– Belief in a number of gods
– Usually center on one powerful god who
has control over a number of lesser gods
– The lesser gods are thought to have their
own separate spheres of influence.
– Controlling things such as harvests,
childbirth and earthquake
– Ex. Hinduism, Greek mythology
The Nature of Religion
3. Ethicalism
• Belief system in which moral principles have a
sacred quality
• Based on a set of principles such as truth,
honor and tolerance that serves as a guide to
living a righteous life
• Ex. Buddhism, Confucianism, Shintoism
• Involves meditation and purity of thought and
action
• The goal is for followers to reach their
highest potential
The Nature of Religion
C. Organizational Structure – four types
1. Ecclesia
• Type of religious organization in which all
people in the society are members by virtue
of their birth
• The state church is closely allied with the
government
• Structured bureaucratic organization,
officials are highly trained and wield
considerable power
The Nature of Religion
Ecclesia cont.
• Ceremonies tend to be very formal
and follow well-established procedures
• Do not tolerate religious differences
and make membership a matter of law
• Ex. Fundamentalist Islam in Iran
The Nature of Religion
2. Denomination
• Well-established religious
organization in which a substantial
portion of the population are
members
• Formal bureaucratic structures
with trained officials
• Hold strongly to their own beliefs
The Nature of Religion
Denomination cont.
• Tend to be tolerant, acknowledging
the rights of others to hold beliefs that
differ than their own
• Many are born into their
denomination, but converts are
welcome
• Ex. Presbyterian Church and Baptist
Church
The Nature of Religion
3. Sect
• Relatively small religious organization
that typically has split off from a
denomination because of doctrinal
differences
• Tend to claim exclusive access to
religious truth and are often intolerant
of other faiths
• Tend to be hostile toward the existing
power structure, seeing it as corrupt
and worldly
The Nature of Religion
Sect cont.
• Encourage displays of emotions and
spontaneity such as clapping, dancing,
singing and shouting
• Encourage active recruitment of new
members
• Many are short-lived
• Former sects (like the Methodist
Church) can become denominations
• Ex. Jehovah’s Witness, Hassidic
Jews
The Nature of Religion
4. Cult
• Religious group founded on the
revelations of a person believed to
have special knowledge
• Leaders are charismatic figures who
appear to have extraordinary qualities
• Followers are attracted to the leader
as much as the message
• Followers are disillusioned by
traditional religion and by life in
general
The Nature of Religion
Cult cont.
• May totally give themselves to the
cult and reject the rest of society,
including friends and family
• Most are short-lived
• Their beliefs are too different for
the majority of people in a society
to accept
• Ex. Jonestown, Heaven’s Gate
Though dubbed a "massacre,"
what transpired at Jonestown on
November 18, 1978, was to some
extent done willingly, making the
mass suicide all the more
disturbing.
The Jonestown cult (officially
named the "People's Temple")
was founded in 1955 by
Indianapolis preacher James
Jones.
Jones's 912 followers were given
a deadly concoction of a purple
drink mixed with cyanide,
sedatives, and tranquilizers.
Jones apparently shot himself in
the head.
Heaven's Gate is a destructive, doomsday cult
centered in California. 21 women and 18 men
voluntarily committed suicide in three groups on
three successive days starting on March 23,
1997