Religion Sociology

Religion

A system of beliefs and practices around sacred things that unites adherents into a moral community. (Durkheim, functionalist)

Sacred

Extraordinary things endowed with special status, often used for worship, inspiring feelings of awe and wonder.

Profane

The things of mundane, everyday life.

The Noble Eightfold Path

A key concept in Buddhism outlining the path to enlightenment, divided into three categories: Wisdom (Right Understanding+Right Thought) , Ethical Conduct (Right Speech+Right Action+ Right Livelihood), and Mental Discipline (Right Effort+Right Mindset+ Right Concentration).

Collective Effervescence

The intense experience during rituals where individuals lose their sense of individuality

Secularization Theory

The theory that religion would decline in importance, influenced by rationality, science, and pluralism.

Reflexive Spirituality

A contemporary religious movement that emphasizes seeking meaning and profound thought in religion rather than absolute truths. no tension between science and faith

Evangelical Protestant

Christians who believe the Bible is without error, salvation only through Jesus Christ, emphasize personal conversion (born again), and think others must also be converted.

Verstehen

understanding or interpretation, studying society by placing yourself into others shoes and figuring out their thoughts and emotions

Functionalism (Durkheim's view)

The perspective that religion serves a purpose in society, providing social solidarity and a sense of something greater than oneself.

Conflict Theory (Marx's view)

The view that religion is used to maintain social control and perpetuate social inequalities.

Pluralism

The presence and coexistence of multiple distinct religious groups within one society.

Sufism

Islamic mysticism that emphasizes the immanence of God and the divine in everything.

Zikr

A practice in Sufism involving the remembrance of God, often through repetitive recitation.

Protestant Ethic

The idea that Protestant values, especially in relation to work and morality, contributed to the development of capitalism.

Things religion share in common

creation myths, explanations of when you die, rules/guidelines, “golden rule“

Biggest religions in the world

31% Christian, 24% Muslims, 16% Unaffiliated, 15% Hindi, 7% Buddhist, 6% Folk, 0.8% Others, 0.2% Jews