Sociology Beliefs in Society

Substantive Definitions

exclusive, must have particular features

Functional Definitions

looks at what functions a religion has for society, inclusive

Constructionist Definitions

looks at how religions are constructed and challenged, impossible to generalise

5 Features of a Religion

belief in sacred beings, sacred and profane, ritual acts, moral code with supernatural origins, prayer and other communication

Science as a Closed Belief System

Kuhn - it runs off paradigms

Science as an Open Belief System

Popper - it is open to challenge and falsification

Religion as an Open Belief System

Herberg - some religions have diluted their beliefs to maintain modern relevance

Self Sustaining Beliefs - Polanyi

denial of legitimacy, subsidiary explanations, circularity

Azande & Witchcraft - Evans-Pritchard

studied the Azande tribe and their closed belief system

Marxism - Gramsci, Marx, Althusser

religion is a tool for the ruling class to maintain and reproduce inequality

Postmodernism

there is no dominant ideology but a sharing power amongst them all

Manheim

all world views are ideologies that reflect theologians personal interests

Core Principles of Science

science is the pursuit of facts, it is objective, studies the impact of cause and effect based on reliable

Merton CUDOS norms

Communism, Universalism, Disinterestedness, Organised Scepticism

New Age Movements

spiritual rather than religious belief systems

Animism

a belief that spirits and ghosts can impact the natural world

Totemism

a form of animism, a symbol with sacred significance and supernatural powers

The Sacred & The Profane

Durkheim

Collective Consciousness

Durkheim - sacred symbols represent shared norms and values

Cognitive Functions

Durkheim - religion was the origin of concepts such as time, cause, reason, and science

Psychological Functions

Malinowski - helps ease stress in situations that are uncontrollable, and major life events

Religion as an Ideology

legitimates inequality, legitimates power of the ruling class, spiritual gin

Spiritual Gin

Lenin - religion keeps the w/c confused and in their place, r/c manipulates the masses keeping them in a mystical fog

Religion as a Product of Alienation

suffering as a test of faith, existential security, promise of an afterlife

Opium of the Masses

Marx - religion dulls the pain of reality and promises a better life after death, giving the w/c a false consciousness

Daly Feminism

there cannot be equality in religion until there is acceptance that God could be a woman…

De Beauvoir Feminism

religion tricks women into thinking they’re equal to men in the eyes of God, girls are socialised into worshipping a male God encouraging them to see men as superior

Armstrong Feminism

women are blocked from the top positions in church, “stained glass ceiling”

El Saadawi Feminism

religion itself is not patriarchal, but the cultures they appear in are. Islam isn’t patriarchal but Arab men interpret the Qur’an to support their patriarchal views

Woodhead Feminism

women use religion as a way to gain greater freedom and respect, hijab is a form of liberation

Organismic Deprivation - Stark & Bainbridge

women are more likely to suffer ill health and look to sects and cults for healing

Ethical Deprivation - Stark & Bainbridge

women tend to be more morally conservative and share the views held by sects and cults

Social Deprivation - Stark & Bainbridge

sects and cults tend to attract poorer groups, women are more likely to be in poverty than men

Lyotard - Monopoly of Truth

religion provides a meta narrative claiming to hold a monopoly on the truth, these claims are no longer acceptable as there is no such thing as an absolute truth

Lyon - Spiritual Shopping

emergence of a spiritual marketplace, people try out different religions to find what matches their personal beliefs

Pick and Mix Culture

postmodernity has enabled spiritual shoppers, people actively pick and choose religions based on suitability

Lyon - Disembedding

religion has become disembedded in postmodern society, it is no longer part of a countries culture to attend ritual acts

Durkheim - Religion as a Conservative Force

functionalist - it maintains social cohesion and stability, it is an agent of socialisation and maintains the status quo

Malinowski - Religion as a Conservative Force

functionalist - it provides explanations for the big questions in life, fulfils needs for emotional security and relieves social stress

Marx - Religion as a Conservative Force

it is an ideological state apparatus that maintains and legitimises ruling class power and ideology, “opium of the masses”

Feminism - Religion as a Conservative Force

it helps to maintain patriarchy by justifying, reinforcing, and reproducing inequality based on male domination and control of women

Calvinism Predestination

Calvin preached that God had already decided who would enter heaven, the decision was final and unchangeable, these people were “the elect”

Calvinism Divine Transcendence

no individual had the power to rival God or predict his wishes or will

Calvinism Vocation of Calling

Calvinists believed the only way to glorify God was to devote themselves to work to honour him

Calvinism and Capitalism

Calvinists devoted themselves to their work, and acquired wealth which they saw as a sign of God’s favour. they did not believe in spending their wealth

Weber on Calvinism and Capitalism

Calvinist beliefs led to the emergence of capitalism, the pursuit of profit was a spiritual goal

Social Protest - American Civil Rights Movement

MLK used Christian values and found a common ground. it was successful due to peace, negotiation, and shaming people using their religion

Social Protest - The New Christian Right

wanted to resist the modern changes to society such as homosexuality, divorce, abortion. they wanted society to reflect the Bible values. unsuccessful due to negative tone and polarising people

Social Protest - Millenarian Movements

believed society is evil and sinful, they wanted to destroy society and create a new, perfect world order. unsuccessful as they are world rejecting and fail to unite people, they’re seen as abnormal

Characteristics of Churches

large, open membership, universalist, conservative, world accommodating, abrahamic faiths - Roman Catholics

Characteristics of Denominations

medium, democratic, conservative, universalist, open membership, tolerant of others, world accommodating, - Sunni Muslims

Characteristics of Sects

small, radical in nature, withdrawn, closed membership, intolerant, world rejecting, reformists - jehovah’s witnesses

Characteristics of Cults

small, emphasise opportunity, open membership, tolerant, may not be religious, audience and client - scientology

Characteristics of New Religious Movements

small, religious, temporary membership, charismatic leader, monopoly of truth, world rejecting, accommodating & affirming - branch davidians

Characteristics of New Age Movements

small, the self is the final authority, spiritual in nature, world affirming - astrology, crystals

Lawes - Class

life-long theists are predominantly working class

Voas and Crockett - Age

the ageing effect, the generational effect

Mayo - Age

religion is becoming a personal choice as opposed to being socialised into religion

Arweck and Beckford - Age

parents are less likely to pass on their religious beliefs to their children

Giddens - Globalisation

there has been a recent rise in fundamentalism due to globalisation promoting cosmopolitan views