Chapter 10 Flashcards
Explain what belief systems are and identify their components.
Belief systems are sets of interconnected beliefs that are shared by groups of people. They consist of claims about the nature of reality, ethical and moral claims, and technologies.
Describe religious patterns in Canada and identify the implications of religiosity for individuals and for society.
The largest religious group in the world is Christianity, and the second is Islam, however, it is predicted that by 2025, Islam will be the largest. In Canada, Catholicism is the most common religious affiliation; with recent immigration patterns, a variety of Eastern Religions are becoming more predominant. Religious affiliation and attendance have declined over the past several decades, but religion continues to play a role in most Canadians’ lives. Religiosity has positive implications for individuals in terms of physical and mental health, social capital, performance in school, and more. At a societal level, religiosity is associated with both positive outcomes (ex. philanthropic and charitable work) and negative outcomes (ex. isolation, conflict, war).
Compare and contrast key sociological theories of religion.
Functional approaches emphasize the social aspects of religion, the function it serves, and its implication for individuals and for society. Sociological theorizing about religion is as old as the discipline of sociology itself. Diverse feminist perspectives share a foundation in analyzing the oppression of women in religion.
Identify the different ways that sociologists perceive the nature of scientific “truth” and explain the role of feminist perspectives in the sociological study of science.
Some sociologists perceive scientific knowledge as a distinct form of knowledge based on an objective truth, based in turn on the normative structure of science. Others perceive scientific knowledge as socially constructed, as are all other forms of knowledge. Feminist perspectives analyze the position of women in science, the need to tie science with social and political action, and “new” ways of doing science.
Compare and contrast theoretical views of the role of education in modern society within contemporary debates about education.
Functionalist views identify ways in which schools teach members of society to become law-abiding, productive members of the workforce. Critical perspectives point out ways in which educational practices and processes serve to perpetuate inequality and reproduce the existing social order through the hidden curriculum, streaming, and credentialism. Interactionists are interested in how educational practices such as labelling influence individuals based on teacher expectations.
