Ch 13. (pt.2) Religion

Question 1

Profane

Answer 1

Included as an ordinary part of everyday life

Question 2

Sacred

Answer 2

set apart as extraordinary, inspiring awe and reverence

Question 3

Religion

Answer 3

a social institution involving beliefs and practices based on recognizing the sacred

Question 4

Faith

Answer 4

belief based on conviction rather than on scientific evidence

Question 5

Structural-Functional Theory: (Durkheim) (3)

Answer 5

1. Establishing Social Cohesion (religion unites people)
2. Providing Social Control (religion can be used to back up political systems)
3. Providing Meaning and Purpose

Question 6

Totem

Answer 6

an object in the natural world collectively defined as sacred

Question 7

Symbolic-Interaction Theory: (Berger)

Answer 7

• Religion is socially constructed for people to sharpen the difference between the sacred and the profane.
• Religion is a social construction that in turn gives meaning and purpose in life. Our ideas about religion are socially constructed and interpreted

Question 8

Social-Conflict Theory: (Marx)

Answer 8

Religion supports social inequality. Working for political change may mean opposing the church and by implication, opposing God as well. Accept social problems in the world by waiting for a “better world to come” Religion is also very divisive, and a source of tension in society

Question 9

Feminist Theory on Religion

Answer 9

All the world’s major religions are patriarchal.

Question 10

Church

Answer 10

a religious organization well integrated into larger society

Question 11

State Church

Answer 11

a church formally linked to the state

Question 12

Denomination

Answer 12

a church, independent of the state, that recognized religious pluralism.

Question 13

Sect

Answer 13

a religious organization that stands apart from the larger society (example: Amish, Hutterite colonies) – usually follows those who display charisma

Question 14

Cult

Answer 14

a religious organization that is largely outside of society’s cultural traditions

Question 15

Animism

Answer 15

the belief that elements of the natural world are conscious life forms that affect humanity (early hunters and gatherers embraced animism)

Question 16

Religion in Canada stats (3)

Answer 16

1. The fastest growing group and biggest group in Canada of religious groups are “no religion”
2. The number of people identifying as a Christian in Canada is decreasing from 75% to now almost below 50%
3. 40% of immigrants identify as Christian, 40% as other religions, and 20% as non-religious. If it wasn’t for immigration, the percentage of Christians in Canada would be decreasing much more rapidly.

Question 17

Religious Nones: Why the Rise? (4)

Answer 17

1. There is more social acceptance to having no religious affiliation.
2. Christian Right & Fundamentalism (especially USA) “if these political stances reflect religion, then I don’t want to be associated with that”
3. Apostacy: you were raised in a religious tradition, and now you walk away
4. Low(er) religious socialization: religious nones who have children raise their children as religious nones.

Question 18

Religiosity

Answer 18

the importance of religion in a person’s life.

(67% of Canadians believe in a higher power but only 20% report to attend religious services other than wedding and funerals.)

Question 19

Social Class regarding religion

Answer 19

Those who have higher educational attainment are less likely to report religion affiliation.

Question 20

Race and Religion

Answer 20

Compared with people born in Canada, immigrants have higher religiosity.

Question 21

Secularization

Answer 21

the historical decline in the importance of the supernatural and the sacred

Question 22

New Age Religious Movement (6)

Answer 22

1. Seekers believe in a higher power
2. Seekers believe we are all connected
3. Seekers believe in the spirit world
4. Seekers want to experience the spirit world
5. Seekers pursue transcendence
6. Some seekers pursue political change

Question 23

Fundamentalism

Answer 23

a conservative religious doctrine that opposes intellectualism and worldly accommodation in favour of restoring traditional, otherworldly religion

Question 24

Fundamentalists traits (5)

Answer 24

1. Take the words of sacred texts literally
2. Reject religious pluralism
3. Pursue the personal experience of God’s presence
4. Oppose “secular humanism”
5. Many endorse conservative political goals