Religion and Society Lecture Notes

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers the etymological origins and sociological definitions of 'Society' and 'Religion' as presented in the lecture notes.

Societé

The 12th Century French word meaning "company" from which the term "Society" originated.

Societas

The Latin word derived from the noun "socius," meaning comrade, friend, or ally, which serves as the root for the term society.

Socialis

The adjectival form of "socius" used to describe a bond or interaction between parties that are friendly or at least cordial.

Religio

The Latin root for "Religion" which originally meant obligation or bond.

Religare

The Latin verb, likely meaning "to tie back tight," from which religion developed its specialized sense of a bond between human beings and the gods.

Max Weber's definition of Religion

A belief in the supernatural or superior that cannot be explained scientifically; these beliefs are accepted by a society as true without proof and passed between generations.

Durkheim's definition of Religion

A set of beliefs and practices which unite into one single moral community called a Church all those who adhere to them.

Social Integration

The contribution religion provides to society by providing functions such as encouraging social cohesion and a collective conscience.

R. Forester's definition of Religion

Our human response to being alive and having to die; practiced to find answers to questions about life after death and the relation between God and man.

Cunningham et al.'s definition of Religion

Ways of viewing the world through a notion of sacred reality, made manifest in human experience, producing long-lasting ways of thinking, feeling, and acting regarding the ordering of existence.

Traditional African Religious Practices

A range of practices including ancestral worship, beliefs in magic, witchcraft, divination, secret societies, and indigenous medicine aimed at creating unity and solidarity.