Beliefs In Society

Question 1

Religiosity

Answer 1

The quality of being religious, pious and devoted. Sociologically it refers to the significance of religion within society

Question 2

Polythesism

Answer 2

The belief in more than one god

Question 3

Values

Answer 3

A cultures standard for discerning what is good and just in society. They tend to be deeply embedded and critical for transmitting and teaching beliefs

Question 4

Sects

Answer 4

A small part of a larger religious group that in comparison often has many unorthodox political and/or religious views

Question 5

Paradigms

Answer 5

A particular and accepted set of thoughts and assumptions about the way things are and the way research should be done - 3 main types concluded as structural functionalism, conflict theory and symbolic interactionism

Question 6

Toteism

Answer 6

A kinship based on peoples sharing of a common totem which is a real or mythical ancestor, creature or object that serves as a symbol for a group

Question 7

Atheism

Answer 7

Similar to secularisation - a lack of belief in the existence of deities or supernatural forces

Question 8

Cults

Answer 8

Described to possess belief systems that do not usually involve a God or in the oneness of God. The opposite of polytheism

Question 9

Falsification

Answer 9

A deductive reasoning as opposed to the inductive reasoning which is the method that positivist sociologists e.g. Durkheim used

Question 10

Secularisation

Answer 10

The transformation of a society from close identification with a range of religious values and institutions toward non-religious values and atheist institutions

Question 11

Animism

Answer 11

The belief that spirits, apparitions, angels or demons inhabit the earth. Either positively or negatively these spirits interact with and/ or influence humans in a variety of ways

Question 12

Fundamentalism

Answer 12

Almond (2003) defined fundamentalism as a pattern of religious militancy led by self styled true believers and identified their cause as being directly opposed go increasing secularisation. While Anthony Giddens sees it as a fearful response to globalisation

Question 13

Beliefs

Answer 13

The tenets or convictions that people hold to be true. Individuals in a society have specific beliefs but also share collectivistic values. Americans believe in the American dream but underlying this belief is the American value that wealth is good and important

Question 14

Spirituality

Answer 14

Individual and group efforts to find meaning for existence within or independent of organised religion. Without assessing the validity of specific religious beliefs or practices sociologists study the relationships amongst religion, the economy and other societal dimensions cultures and movements

Question 15

New religous movement

Answer 15

Since the 1960s there has been a growth in new religious organisations which are regularly referred to as quasi-religious movements. As more and more groups emerged some sociologists felt the term sect and cult was no longer adequate enough to describe these recent movements and so surfaced this phrase

Question 16

Social change

Answer 16

The alteration of mechanisms within the social structure typified by changes in cultural symbols, rules of behaviour, social organisations or value systems

Question 17

Rituals

Answer 17

A formalised and symbolic mode of behaviour in which the members of a group or community regularly engage

Question 18

Religious pluralism

Answer 18

A value a cultural or religious ideology which positively welcomes the encounter of religions .Its often characterised as an attitude of openness between associates or different religions. Religious pluralism often presupposes religious diversity but religious diversity doesn’t guarantee religious pluralism

Question 19

Denomination

Answer 19

A specific religious group which has slightly different beliefs from other groups within the same faith. An example of a denomination is Catholicism as a category of christianity

Question 20

Anomie

Answer 20

Emile Durkheim (1893) - meaning normalness - a social condition in which there us a disintegration p/ disappearance of the norms and values that were previously commonplace in a particular society