Chapter 14 Outline NCAT SU Desmond Kilgo 4/26/12 Sociology 100

Chapter 14 Outline What is Religion? Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Weber define religion as encompassing human responses that meaning to the ultimate and inescapable problems of existence. Durkheim believed that all religion s are true in their own fashion, as the all address the problems of human existence. Durkheim- Those who study religion must first rid themselves of all preconceived notions of what religion should be. Essential Features of Religion 3 Essential Characteristics of Religion a) Beliefs about the sacred and profane b) Rituals c) Community of worshippers Sacred is anything entitled to veneration or religious respect by association with divinity or divine things; holy Sacramental, Prophetic and Mystical Religions a) A sacramental religion is one which emphasizes or focuses upon the idea that the divine is thought to be present in some fashion in physical objects in the presence of believers and the mystery-laden ceremonies which believers participate in. Indeed, contact and communication with the divine is sought principally through those objects and ceremonies. b) A Prophetic Religion is strongly associated with Revealed Religion and there are times when the two terms may be used interchangeably, but the aren't exactly the same. In a prophetic religion, the role of prophets over and above the actual divine revelations is given a special status. The prophets exist to guide and warn society when it stumbles - thus, they are thought to play an ongoing and dynamic role which the static text of a revelation cannot readily achieve. c) Mystical Religion is one in which the sacred is sought in states of being that, at their peak, can exclude all

awareness of ones existence, sensations, thoughts, and surroundings. Beliefs About the Profane Profane- a term describing everything that is not sacred, including things that are opposed to the sacred and things that stand apart from the sacred. Rituals- rules that govern how people must behave in presence of the sacred to achieve and acceptable state of being. Church- a group whose members hold the same beliefs about the sacred and the profane, who behave in the same way in the presence of the sacred, and who gather in body or spirit. Ecclesiae- A professionally trained religious organization governed by hierarchy of leaders that claims everyone in society as a member. Denominations- A hierarchal religious organization led by a professionally trained clergy in a society in which church and state are usually separate. Sect- A small community of believers led by a lay of ministry; it has no formal hierarchy or official governing body, to oversee its various religious gatherings and activities. Established Sects- groups that have left denominations or ecclesiae and have existed long enough to acquire a large following and widespread respectability. Cults- Are very small, loosely organized religious groups, usually founded by a charismatic leader who attracts people by virtue of his or her personal qualities. Civil Religion- Institutionalized set of beliefs about a nations past, present, and future and a corresponding set of rituals that take on a sacred quality and elicit feelings of patriotism. The Functionalist Perspective Maintains that religion serves vital social functions for the individual and for the group.

 On the individual level, people embrace religion in the face of uncertainty. Society as the Object of Worship The variety of religious responses is endless, because people play a functional role in determining what is sacred and how they should act in its presence. The Conflict Perspective Conflict theorist focus on ways in which people use religion to repress, constrain and exploit others. Liberation Theory - a religious movement based on the idea that organized religions have a responsibility to demand social justice for the marginalized people of the world, especially landless peasants and the urban poor, and to take an active role at the grassroots levels to bring about political and economic justice. Secularization- is a process by which religious influences on thought and behavior are reduced. Fundamentalism- a belief in the timelessness of sacred writings and a belief that such writings apply to all kinds of envrionnments

References: Ferrante, Joan. Sociology: A Global Perspective, Enhanced Seventh Edition.