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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