6.1 Flashcards
animism
refers to the idea that things in the world – nature, trees, rocks, rivers, etc – have active animate spirits
theism
more typically associated with religion in our society – the idea that powerful supernatural beings influence or shape events in the physical world
monotheism
one belief in a single entity or deity
polytheism
belief in a collection of different deities or supernatural beings
Who believed that all religion focuses on differentiating between the sacred and the profane?
Durkheim
the sacred:
that which is beyond our reach
the profane:
the material, the finite
what is the problem of meaning?
is there a meaning to life? a purpose? where do we fit into the universe? is the earth the center of the universe? why are we here? what should we do?
how do we solve the “problem of meaning”?
often in terms of our religious beliefs religion works to explain those forces for us
religion provides answers to the dilemmas & mysteries of life through:
symbols + collective representation
what is a symbol?
something that represents a thought or idea
what is collective representation?
abstractions, ideas that are so persuasive that they are common sense; we all understand them
social action:
the rituals and ceremonies that we participate in which serve to provide social action
ritual:
a repeated process or action that has meaning
how is religion related to social structure?
religion is organized into clear hierarchies with certain roles and statuses
