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Religion

John J. Macionis
&
Drew Hurley
Santa Fe Community College

For Use With:
John J. Macionis, Sociology, 6th ed., Prentice-Hall, 1997

Major Topics

Religion: Basic Concepts
Functions of Religion
Types of Religion
Forms of Religious Organization
Religosity
Religion and Social Change
World Religions
Religious Trends In the U.S.

Religion: Basic Concepts:

Profane
Sacred
Ritual
Belief
Faith

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Societal Functions of Religion
Ongoing structural interdependence
Support for political institutions
Religious Mission
Community Service (Charity)
Education
Leadership
Next Page

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Individual Functions of Religion

Meaning, Reference and Value
Identification
Sanctification and Social Support
Social Control and Social Change
Next Page

Constructing The Sacred: Symbolic-Interaction Analysis

Inequality and Religion: Social-Conflict Analysis

Types of Religions

Religious Boundaries
Sacred versus Profane
Ritual and Catechism
Institutional Autonomy

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Simple Supernaturalism: Mana (Blessings & curses), Spirit Forces, Superstitions
Animism: Identification with Animal spirits, Magic, Shamanism
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Theism: Polytheism, Monotheism, Deism, Pantheism
Abstract Ideals: Taoism, Philosophical Ethics, Theosophies

Major Forms of Western Religious Organization

Ecclesia
Denomination
Sect
Cult

Characteristics of an Ecclesia

Claims membership of everyone in society

Has powerful bureaucracy of trained officials
Supports government authorities
Is supported by Government authorities
Is integrated into all institutions
Consistently sanctions community activities
Birth in society conveys religious membership
Has substantial holding of property
Maintains an orthodox theology

Characteristics of a Denomination

Actively maintains a separation of church and state
No one Denomination claims a membership of a majority of society

Often expresses criticism/support for political authorities/activities Draws members from several contiguous social classes
Has a bureaucratic organization with trained officials and clergy
Members tend to be born into the faith, but new members are accepted
Recruitment of new members is usually directed at uncommitted
Denominations usually respect and cooperate with each others
Established Denominations usually accrue substantial property and wealth
Theologies differ substantially between Denominations; not within them
Orthodoxy of Theology is highly influenced by social class
Denominations typically believe, 'Once saved, always save.'

Characteristics of a Sect

Either split off from a Denomination or evolved from a Cult
Little or no formal training for officials and clergy

Leaders must be 'called'
Members are primarily recruited by conversion
New members are asked to show proof of conversion by actions
Members are usually drawn from alienated segments of society
Conversion activities are directed at 15-35 age group
Worship emphasizes emotion, spontaniety, and participation
Beliefs emphasize a few key doctrines; not rituals or systematic theology
They are usually hostile toward political authorities
Most Sects evolve into Denominations or die out
With Denominational status, they gain respectability and lose their fervor and alienation

Characteristics of a Cult

A Cult is very loosely organized
A Cult possesses very few coherent doctrines

Central focus of membership is a personal relationship with a charismatic leader
Participation and affirmation are required
Conversion activities are directed at young (15-35) and socially vulnerable
Activities are designed to reinforce commitment to group
Situational control is often used to manipulate members' participation
Members see the Leader as God's agent on earth
Members see their spiritual destiny through the Leader
After the death/retirement of the Leader, the Cult evolves into a Sect or dies out

Dimensions of Religosity

What we think:

Personal Beliefs
Compartmentalized Values, Articles of Faith, and Intellectual Integration

What we do: Rational Behavioral consistency
Ethics or Hypocrisy

How we feel:

Personal Integrity
Guilt and Shame or Blessedness

Religion and Social Change

Processes of Change:

Social Stratification and Religious Affiliation
Marx's Influence: False consciousness, Self determination, and Liberation Theology

Religion as an agent for:
Government
Business
Social Reform

Religion and Patriarchy:

Does God favor Men?

Bishop Barbara Harris

Religious Movements:

Millenarian Movements
Religious Nationalistic Movements (i.e., Fascism)

Purposes of Religion

Individual purposes:

Make the wicked righteous
Make the ignorant learned
Make strangers friends
Enable Individuals to be at peace with themselves
Enable Individuals to share peace with others

Societal purposes:

Grounding of cultural values
Religious and social integration
Social cohesion

World Religions

Christianity
Two divisions: Catholic and Protestant
Monotheistic
1.9 billion world members
Strong Influence on industrialization
Substantial wealth and property
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Islam

Monotheistic
1.1 billion world members
Fastest growing Religion
Some Sects are extremely fanatical
Next Page

Hinduism
Mixed form of Religion
World's oldest current Religion
500 million world members
Emphasizes a life of care
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Buddhism

Emphasizes Enlightenment
Based on Life of Siddharta Gautama
330 million world members

Confucianism

Emphasizes Moral Living
Based on life of K'ung Fu-tzu
Stresses balance and symmetry
200 million world members

Judaism
Religion associated with Old Testament Bible
Stresses God's covenant with the 'chosen people'
20 million world members
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Religiosity In Global Perspective

Survey Question: 'Do you gain comfort and support from religion?'

Nation ................................... % Yes

Ireland ................................. 83%
United States ...................... 79%
Mexico ............................... 77%
Canada .............................. 62%
Great Britain ...................... 45%
Japan ................................. 41%
Norway .............................. 36%
Sweden .............................. 27%

World Values Survey, 1994

Religion in the United States

Religious Indentification in U.S., 1994

Religion ............................... % Preference
Protestant Denominations ...................... 59.3%
Baptist ................................................... 20.6%
Methodist ................................................. 9.4%
Luthern ...................................................... 6.7%
Presbyterian ............................................. 4.8%
Espicopalian ............................................. 2.2%
Other & No Denomination ....................... 15.6%

Roman Catholic .................................. 25.4%

Jewish .................................................... 2.0%

Other & No Response .............................. 4.2%
No Religion .............................................. 9.2%

Religion and Social Class
Religion, Ethnicity and Race

Fire at the Branch Davidian Compound

Religion in a changing Society
Secularization
Civil Religion
Rev. Malcolm X
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Religious Revival
Membership gains in most Denominations

The Changing Face of Religion: A Report From Great Britain

Pecent of Change In British Church Memberships, 1985-1990

Religion ................................ Change
Christian Fundamentalist ......... +28%
Sikh ....................................... +22%
Jehovah's Witnesses ............... +19%
Orthodox ................................ +19%
Muslim ................................... +16%
Mormom ................................ +12%
Hindu ..................................... +8%
Jewish ..................................... -.9%
Prebyterian ............................ -1.5%
Anglican ................................. -7.5%
Roman Catholic ...................... -8%

Religious Fundamentalism

Fundamentalists:

Interpret the Scriptures literally

Do Not accept Religious pluralism

Pursure the personal experience of God's presence

Oppose 'Secular Humanism'

Endorse conservative political goals

The Electronic Church

Does Science Threaten Religion?

Looking Ahead: Religion in the Twenty-First Century

Pacem in Terris

Send Comments or Questions To:
drewhurl@sprynet.com

Credits

Produced at Bits & Bytes Farm, 1997
Program Designed and created by:
Drew Hurley
Santa Fe Community College
3000 NW 83rd Street
Gainesville, FL 32606

ClipArt provided by:
Imageline, Inc.
401 East Main Street, Suite 100
Richmond, VA 23219

Photo provided by:
Black Star News Service
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Washington, DC 20111

19: Religion

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