Religion
Religion as a Social Institution
Religion:
Set of institutionalized beliefs and practices
that deal with the meaning of life
Beliefs and actions related to the supernatural
Relieves anxiety when the world doesn’t make
sense
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Elements of Religion
Religious Beliefs:
Define the supernatural/divine order, clarify
humans’ role
Organize perceptions of the world
Create a guide for behavior
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Elements of Religion
Religious Beliefs:
Myth: Narrative stories about supernatural
forces or beings
Serve to express core beliefs and teach morality
Transmit information about survival and
conservation
Doctrine: Direct statements about religious
beliefs
Written, formal
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Elements of Religion
Religious Rituals:
Formal enactments of religious beliefs
Activities have symbolic meanings
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Elements of Religion
Religious Rituals:
Periodic rituals
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Elements of Religion
Religious Rituals:
Periodic rituals
Life-cycle rituals
Separation
Transition
Reintegration
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Elements of Religion
Religious Rituals:
Periodic rituals
Life-cycle rituals
Separation
Transition
Reintegration
Pilgrimage
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Elements of Religion
Religious Rituals:
Periodic rituals
Life-cycle rituals
Separation
Transition
Reintegration
Pilgrimage
Rituals of inversion
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Elements of Religion
Religious Rituals:
Periodic rituals
Life-cycle rituals
Separation
Transition
Reintegration
Pilgrimage
Rituals of inversion
Sacrifice
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Elements of Religion
Subjective Experiences:
Arise out of rituals and beliefs
Religion provides framework to interpret inner
states
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Elements of Religion
Community:
Shared beliefs, rituals, experiences create a
community of believers
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An Evolutionary Model of Religion
Magic Religion Science
Magic: People’s attempt to compel supernatural
forces/beings to act in certain ways
Imitative magic:
Contagious magic:
Arose out of need for explanation; esp.
difference between living and dead
Animism:
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A Functionalist Theory of Religion
Durkheim: Societies distinguish between
Sacred: That which is holy, inspires awe, must
be treated with respect
Profane: Ordinary, everyday things that may
be treated casually
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A Functionalist Theory of Religion
Totem: Sacred emblem that members of a
group treat with reverence
To Durkheim, totems were symbols of deity
and symbols of society
Experiences we categorize as religious are
responses to social forces
Role of science vs. role of religion
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A Conflict Theory of Religion
Marx:
Religion serves the interests of the ruling elite
Masks the exploitation of the workers and the
class inequality of capitalism
Alienation
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Religion as an Agent of Social Change
Weber:
Calvinism:
Doctrine of Predestination
Worldly Asceticism
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Types of Religious Organizations
Established church
Organization that claims unique legitimacy
Has positive relationship with society
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Types of Religious Organizations
Sect
Organization that claims unique legitimacy
Stands apart from society
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Types of Religious Organizations
Denomination
Organization that accepts legitimacy of other
religions
Has positive relationship with society
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Types of Religious Organizations
Cult
Organization that accepts legitimacy of other
religions
Has negative relationship with society
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Dilemmas of Institutionalization
Mixed motivations
Symbol systems
Organization
Letter vs. spirit of religious law
Conversion vs. coercion
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