Religions and Beilefs Sociology paper 2

Religion belief systems

A belief in supernatural being and that conditions on earth are influenced by supernatural beings

Science belief system

aspire to be free from beliefs ideologies or values. Claims to be objective and true

Ideology belief system

A set of beliefs of principals which support the interests of a particular social group

Substantive definition of religion

Argues there must be something supernatural that controls events on earth

Substantive definition evaluation

Exclusive definition Beacuse it excludes a lot of other beliefs which some people might count as religious.

What religion doesn’t have a god

Buddhism

Functional definition of religion

Argues that if the beliefs have functions such as bringing people together and making them feel good it’s a religion (inclusive religion)

Example of functional religion

A football chant

Social constructionist definition of religion

Focused on beta religion means to each individual person so it takes a micro approach

Science definition

Those who believe in science want to find out facts that are based on empirical evidence.

When did science increase

In modern times scientists started to question religious beliefs and scientific beliefs replaced religious ones

Key characteristics of science

Evidence can be seen, objective, no personal opinions, cause and effect relationships, reliable data

What does popper believe in

It is an open belief system as it characterised as scientific knowledge being true until falsified

Why did Kuhn believe in

Believed that science operated in paradigms (set of beliefs) until a scientific revolution happened

Ideology definition

Set of things people follow

Ruling class ideology

The belief that they will always be rich

Patriarchal ideology

Men are superior to women

Features of a church

Clear hierarchy

Claim monopoly of truth

Linked to state

Positive and tolerant to wider society

Mostly middle class

Features of denomination

Accepting of all people

No links to the state

Some level of commitment (alcohol)

Tolerant of other religions

Does not claim monopoly of truth

Appeals to people who feel disillusioned from mainstream churches

features of sect

Everyone equal, one charismatic leader strong commitment

Hostile towards other religions

Claims monopoly of truth

Appeals to marginalised groups, or successful affluent groups who feel something missing

Features of a cult

No hierarchy

No links to state

Mostly attracts middle class

Very tolerant of wider society people can have multiple beliefs

Focuses on self fulfilment and success

What do traditional Marxist believe about religion

Religion is an ISA which reproduces and legitimises the capitalist system

Althusser ISA

institutions that spread ruling class ideas and values

Example of ISA

Religions, education, media

Althusser RSA

Institutions that control people through force or threat of it

Examples of RSA

Police, army, courts

Religion as an instrument of oppression

Religion justifies inequality in society by suggesting that the existing social order is god given

Religion cushions the effects of oppression (opium of the people)

Opium dulls pain like religion eased the pain of the working classes oppression

Religion false class consciousness

The working class are unaware of their oppression so don’t do anything to change it

How does religion cushion the effects of oppression

The promise of a better afterlife

The idea that suffering is seen as virtuous, the poor will be rewarded on judgement day

Hope of supernatural intervention to ease there struggles

Lenin spiritual gin

Religion is like gin as it intoxicates and confuses the working class keeping them in their subordinate positions

Traditional Marxist evaluation functionalist

Functionalists would argue that traditional Marxist ignore the positive functions of religion such as value consensus and social solidarity

Criticism of traditional Marxist

society today is much more secular meaning religion has little influence

There was still a religion in communist societies meaning it must have other functions that reproducing capitalism

Neo Marxist view of religion

Religion can be used to overthrow the capitalist system

Neo Marxist Gramsci double edged sword

Religion can be used by oppressed classes to challenge ruling class ideology

Religion ca maintain ruling class control but also help working class fight back

Liberation theology

The idea religious beliefs and texts can used to justify revolution and inspire the oppressed

Examples of liberation theology Desmond Tutu

Used Christianity to challenge racist system of apartheid

Liberation theology examples MLK

used Christian teachings of justice and equality to fight racial segregation

How many attended church in 1851

40%

How many attended church in 2005

6.3%

Disengagement Wilson

Church is no longer involved in important areas of social life such as politics

People only enter religion for marriage and baptism

Disengagement Wilson evaluation

Parsons states it’s a good thing as churches can focus more effectively on providing moral goals for society to achieve

Disneyfication Lyon

Religion has been disneyfied and packaged as a product and marketed for sale in spiritual supermarkets

Disneyfication Lyon evaluation

Growth of religious media and the electronic church is evidence against secularisation

Technological and scientific worldview Bruce

Scientific explanations have greatly reduced the scope for religion

The growth of technology has replaced religious Or supernatural explanations

Technological and scientific worldview Bruce evaluation

Religious explanations do still survive in areas where technological and scientific explanations are less effective

We may pray for help if we suffering from a illness that science has no cure for

Secularisation from within Bruce

American religion has adjusted to the modern world

Changed from seeking salvation in heaven to seeking personal improvement in this world

Secularisation from within roof and McKinney evaluation

Bruce ignored the growth of conservative religions who have serious commitment to religious teachings

The decline of metanarratives and rise of spiritual shopping Lyotard

Religion has lost its power to influence how people explain the world is postmodern societies

People less willing to be told what to do by religious organisations

The decline of metanarratives and rude of spiritual shopping leger

There has been as decline in traditional religion caused by cultural amnesia religion is no longer handed down from generations

The decline of metanarratives and rise of spiritual shopping evaluations

Religion is now individualised and still has an influence on society’s values it’s just not a large collective identity

God and globalisation in India Nanda

While globalisation has brought rapid economic growth to India 85% are still religious

Weber Protestant ethic Calvinism

Ascetic lifestyle- forgos life’s pleasures such as drinking and dancing

Encourages devotion to work

Simple lifestyle in which money was not wasted on luxuries

What did Calvinism lead to

Led to capitalism as all there money is reinvested into business

Features of fundamentalism Giddens

Reinforcement of traditional faith

They feel threatened by western cultures

Aggression towards those who don’t agree with their beliefs

When does davie state fundamentalism occurs

When those who hold traditional values and beliefs feel threatened by modernity

Fundamentalist evaluations

While they detest modernity they se modern methods to express and spread ideas

Eg televangelism

Postmodernity

Brings freedom of choice uncertainty and a heightened awareness of risk leading to people being attracted to fundamentalism to feel secure

Resistant identity Castells

A defensive reaction of those who feel threatened and retreat into fundamentalist communities

Project identity castells

The response of those who are forward looking and engage with social movements such as feminism

Haynes criticism

Argues we should not focus narrowly on the idea that Islamic fundamentalism is a reaction against globalisation

Instead caused by failure of local governments to deliver on their promise to improve standard of living

Reasons for growth in new religious movements

Response to relative deprivation

People feel poor in comparison to others

NRM offers hope for improvement individually and within a persons life as opposed church which offers promise of improvement individually and within afterlife

Reasons for growth in NRM

Wallis status frustration

NRM offer young people status when they feel frustrated or a tension between the goals of society and their ability to achieve them

This frustration may wear off as people move into adulthood

Reasons for growth in NRM

Response to being marginalised Weber

Sects explain why people are oppressed in society whereas churches do not

Theodicy of disprivileged

Reasons for growth in NRM

Emphasis on individualism heelas

Appeal of NRMs lies in the fact they focus on more individual needs than traditional religion

Reasons for growth in NRM

Response to changes in lifestyle and search for spiritual in a secular work drane

spread of secular ideals has bed to people to find alternatives to traditional practice people want to fill their spiritual void

Reasons for growth in NRM

a response to social change Wilson

the rapid social change and collapse of social norms can be destabilising leading to people seeking the strict rules in NRMs

Reasons for growth of NRM

Too feel more successful Heelas

Middle class people who find something missing in their lives despite their success. They seek ways of reconnecting with their inner selves to improve their success

Reasons for growth in NRM

Filling the vacuum lyotard

There has been a loss of metanarratives leading to a crisis of meaning in which NRM emerge to fill the vacuum of meaning

Reasons for growth in NRM

Identity creation Heelas

Postmodern society has become a pick in mix society and there more people turn to NRMs as a clearer source of identity

Religion as cultural defence

Bruce

Religion serves to unite a community against an external threat

Examples of religion as cultural defence

Poland

While Poland was under a communist rule the Catholic Church acted as a cultural defence it supported trade unions which helped bring about the end of the communist rule

Examples of religion as a cultural defence

Iran

When the democratic government was overthrown by a pro western regime Islam became the main five of resistance and a revolution led to creation of Islamic republic which enforced sharia law

The ageing effect

Voas and Crockett

As people get older they naturally become more interested in religion as a source of comfort and support

The generational effect

Voas and Crockett

Due to secularisation children as less likely to be socialised into religion by their parents

Evaluation for generational effect

This is christocentric as whole religiosity in Christianity is low this is not true for Islam where young people are more likely than older people to identity as Muslim

Religious organisations and hierarchies

Women are either left out of hierarchies or at the bottom

Religious organisations and hierarchies evaluation

The Church of England allows women to be priests

Teaching and roles women in religion

Walby

argues women’s denial of power is reflected in religious teaching which encourage women to fulfil the domestic housewife role

Teaching and roles in religion evaluation

Woodhead

For some women religion provides a clear role and status in the family

veiling Aldridge

Veiling of women strips women of their identity leaves them invisible

Veiling evaluation

many Muslim women wear the veil as a symbol of liberation it allows them to enter the public sphere while avoiding male gaze

Women religion sexual pleasure

Alderidge

Sexual pleasure for women is condemned and sexuality for non reproductive purposes is prohibited which resulted in genital mutilation in some religions

Why are women more religious than men

Gendered socialisation Bruce

Notes that men and females are socialised differently females encouraged to develop emotional and nurturing side meaning they are encouraged more to consider and be involved with issues of morality

Why are women more religious

Poverty

Women are more likely to lack power and status. Therefore use religion as a coping mechanism

Why are women more religious

Women out of employment

Women usually have more time for religious activities

However women have broken the glass celling into employment

African Caribbean Pentecostal Christianity

Many encountered racism in established churches and found them boring compared to Pentecostal services therefore established there own churches in Britain

Cultural transition

Religion can ease the transition into a new culture for example churches became community centres

How many working age adults in ethic minorities are living in low income households

2/3

Religious disengagement

Wilson against secularisation

Increase in faith schools

Religious pluralism

Wilson

There are many different and competing religious who claim the monopoly of truth

Desacralisation and rationalisation

Wilson

When religious beliefs become less important and science prevails

Secularisation of religious institutions

Churches themselves have moved from purely spiritual to community based centres

Kendal project

Researchers used the town Kendal to test the spiritual revolution thesis

What is the spiritual revolution thesis

A significant growth in NAM spirituality

Methodology used in Kendal project

Head counts

Questionnaires

Finding of the Kendal project

7.9% of kendals population went to church

Only 0.9 participated in NAM with spiritual connection

Conclusion of Kendal project study

NAM are not the dominant religion but if they continue to grow at the same rate they will be in 20-30 years

Strengths of the Kendal project

Used headcount’s so people cannot exaggerate attendance

Weaknesses of the Kendal project

Only studied a small town so not representative