Chapter 10 - Religion and Education

Question 1

Religion and Education

Answer 1

Are powerful social institutions that provide people with a way to understand the world and their place in it.

These institutions implement what we call “our world view” - helps us make sense of our lives, give us meaning.

Question 2

Sociologist Interest in Religion

Answer 2

Sociologists are not interested in the validity of religious doctrine but in why societies have religion, what religion does for a society, and how religion and other social institutions intersect

Question 3

Durkheim (Functionalist) View on Religion (Including Sacred, Profane, Totems, and Rituals)

Answer 3

The function of religion is to reinforce SOCIAL SOLIDARITY: when people live together, they come to share common sentiments and values, which form a COLLECTIVE CONSCIENCE that is larger than the individual

• They share their place in the world, etc. This collective conscience goes beyond the individual.

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Sacred – those things that are set apart from everyday life, made special. Things that tend to inspire respect, reverence, a bit of fear.

Profane – everyday element of social experience.

• Ex: Normally, a piece of bread is just a piece of bread. But, in Christianity bread may represent the body of Christ and therefore become sacred.

Totems – ex: a cross is a totem as it has symbolic/sacred meaning.

Rituals – ex: prayer.

Question 4

Conflict Theorist view on Religion

Answer 4

We know that throughout history, religion has been as source of conflict, tension, animosity.

When reigion does promote cohesion, it typically does that at the expense of the lesser powerful members of that group.

Conflict theorist therefore can argue that religion promotes SOCIAL INEQUALITY

Question 5

The Opium of the People (Marx Conflict Theorist)

Answer 5

– religion functions much like a drug and so it allows people to TEMPORARY escape the misery of their lives. But in marx’s view it is nothing more than a distraction that diverts people away from the issue. People believe that something is good for them when it isn’t. To marx, religion is a tool used by the social elites to justify the status quo to stop people from challenging back.
Religious leaders often tell people that it doesn’t matter what is happening on earth, but what will come after (heaven). In marx’s view, that promotes that people shouldn’t be worried for what exists on earth and this keeps people passive and not willing to challenge inequality. Religion has been an important source for social change.

Question 6

Two Movements in Religion

Answer 6

TWO MOVEMENTS:

The social gospel – emerged in late 19 century to early 20 century. Basic idea is that applying Christian principles to social problems. A belief that Christians have a moral obligation to change things to make life better. It is about here and now and making life better for those on earth. Free health care, free education, employment insurance.

Liberation biolgy – emerging middle part of 20th century. Largely associated with cathloism (?). Using the church for political ends. Fighting against povety, discrimination, other forms of injustice. Goes beyond the original view of religion as in feeding the poor healing the sick, but more about bringing more fundamental social change.

The goals of these two are similar, both are after social justice.

Question 7

Weber view on Religion (Predestination and Protestant Ethic)

Answer 7

Sees religion shaped the development of capitalism.

Stressed the ways in which religion can contribute to social change and focused on how religion could help explain the rise of modern capitalism

The Protestant concept of PREDESTINATION led Weber to argue for the existence of a PROTESTANT ETHIC which dictates the importance of hard work and living frugally resulting in the accumulation of capital which was to be invested; he then argued that capitalism would flourish in predominately PROTESTANT COUNTRIES

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PREDESTINATION: people are predestined for heaven or hell but only God knows which. Before you are even born, your destiny is known but just not to you.

PROTESTANT ETHIC– working hard, reinvesting, saving money, etc.

In protetant countries, capitalism will develop strongly as that belief system results in the growth of capitalism. Weber found evidence to support this theory, but the relationship was much more modest than he predicted. Religion can promote change within society.

Question 8

Feminism on Religion

Answer 8

Feminist theorists have been critical of the absence and oppression of women in religion

Revisionists – problem is not religion itself, but how religion has been interpreted.

Reformists – solution is to get rid of the elements of a religious that are oppressive to women. About exposing and eliminating the sexist elements.

Revolutionaries – agrees with reformists, but also believes that they need to also bring in religious ideas and practices that promote greater gender equality. About making religion more appealing and friendly to women.

Rejectionists – most radical of the bunch. They argue there is no hope, religion is inherently sexist, so we must get rid of those religions that are sexist and we must replace those religions with those that promote women.

Question 9

Secularization

Answer 9

Decline in the power and prominence and influence of religion

Question 10

Religion in the Middle Ages

Answer 10

that period of time, the catholic church was immensely powerful and influenced what was going on in other social institutions (politics, education, etc) and it was the dominant institution.

We have a really powerful institution influencing other institutions.

But, we then predicted that science was going to replace religion as a guiding force In people’s lives (what we mean by secularization thesis)

Question 11

Secularization Thesis

Answer 11

Popular way of thinking up until the 1990s. At that point it became clear the influence of religion was not declining as much as people predicted and it was actually still powerful.

Question 12

Fundamentalism

Answer 12

The idea that is those who are fundamental in their beliefs -> conservative, traditional, tend to interpret religious doctrine really literal.

No tolerance for beliefs outside of their own. (The believe that religion is based on ones own personal understanding and relationship with the bible)

Question 13

Revised secularization thesis

Answer 13

The church is not a influenctial in terms of politics and economy but it does play a role in every day life and people still look for a meaning by using religion.

Question 14

Churches

Answer 14

Highly bureaucractized. They are recognized, established institutions inside society. Churches typically have a long and established history. Ex: Islam, Buddhism, Christianity.

Question 15

Churches can exist in TWO FORMS

Answer 15

ECCLESIA – state religions. A single religion that dominates. In a society with an ecclesia, there is very little tolerance for any other religions. Ex: Christian churches in medieval Europe.

PLURALISTIC – diversity of the church. All coexist, but does not mean there is never any tension between them.

Question 16

Sects

Answer 16

Are groups that usually form by breaking away from churches because of disagreement about church doctrine

Do tend to be smaller and less well established and less bureautised. Most case is that sect does not exist for very long, however sometimes they may exist for a long time.

Most likely have charismatic leaders

Question 17

Cults

Answer 17

Are comprised of small groups of people deeply committed to a religious vision that rejects mainstream culture and society

Rejected some aspect of mainstream society, they tend to be quite small and quite radical. May be very short lived, or have a well known history.

Most likely have charismatic leaders

Question 18

Religiosity

Answer 18

Can be measured in a variety of ways but appears to be primarily a life-cycle phenomenon

(e.g., religiosity is higher among pre-teens and seniors); overall, religiosity is a matter of obligation, opportunity, and need; other factors include socialization, region, and social inequality

Region – some places have higher religiosity than other regions.

Social inequality – In areas where there is higher social inequality, there is higher religiosity.

Need – if one is middle age faced with a terminal disease, then there might be a need in that person to look for a meaning of life through religion.

Issue of opportunity – some people don’t have the time for religious traditions.

Religion as an obligation – seniors tend to be higher in religiosity than any other age group. Seniors grew up when religion was more powerful and people tend to go to church. Seniors today are likely to be more religious than when we ourselves become seniors.

Extrenset (?) – the outward display of one’s religiosity.
Entrenset (?) – refers to person’s inner religiosity(?).

Question 19

Functionalist perspective of education highlights what MANIFEST and LATENT functions?

Answer 19

MANIFEST:

SORTING: we assume this is based strictly on merit and effort such that the most deserving students will excel (better education opportunities.)

TRAINING: For every program and grade level there are curriculums designed to teach students what to know.

SOCIALIZING– pass on culture and teach the norms and expectations of the culture.

LATENT:

ENCOURAGING THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SEPARATE YOUTH CULTURE: students concentrated in one spot for extended periods of spots -> separate youth culture is created during school.

SERVING AS “MARRIAGE MARKET”: students concentrated in one spot for extended periods of spots -> interacts with one another -> sees what they look for in a relationship -> dates.

ACTING AS CUSTODIAL SERVICE: – school functions as a baby sitting service as they are under the control of teachers and their parents will be free to work.

RESTRICTING JOB COMPETITION and SUPPORTING WAGE LEVELS: people in postsecondary will be restricted from being able to work full time and work in an adults job. Keeps them out of competition for the better job and supports the wage levels of those jobs.

PROMOTING SOCIAL CHANGE: students learn to think in new ways, to challenge the status quo, and that promotes them to initiate change and fight for change. An example would be fighting for gender equality.

Question 20

Conflict Perspective of Education

Answer 20

A conflict perspective highlights how schools unequally distribute educational benefits on the basis of class and race;

Functionalist assumption that schools sort individuals based on their merits. But, some students have disadvantages compared to others. Students who are middle and upper middle class tend to get better educational opportunities. Students who are advantaged outside of school are advantaged inside of school -> better education -> better job – better life.

Question 21

Conflict Perspective - Schools reproduce existing inequalities

Answer 21

Financial constraints – Post secondary education is expensive so this is not available to everyone due to its high price.

One-parent households – Children who are products of divorce may experience educational disadvantages as one parent raising them means less opportunities to ask for help, to bond with, etc.

Lack of cultural capital – Knowledge, attitude, taste are fostered in the university environment. These are what parents will pass to their children -> more likely to succeed. Student’s who have parents who did not attend university may lack these traits.

Streaming – How students are channelled based on their abilities, they have to take standardized tests that prioritize the skills and knowledge that is usually seen in the knowledge middle class students have. Students who do worse on these tests will stream into an education program that is not as difficult -> leads to not as good job.

Computers – Privileged people have more access to computers. Middle and upper class schools have well developed programs that are used quite effectively in their school programs. But, in a typical school in the city, there is less funding for such programs so the use of virtual classrooms are not used as an enhancement but rather a substitute to real teachers

Question 22

Conflict theorist Hidden curriculum and correspondence principle

Answer 22

the HIDDEN CURRICULUM which refers to the standards of behaviour that are deemed proper by society and are taught subtly in schools

the CORRESPONDENCE PRINCIPLE which refers to the tendency of schools to promote the values expected of individuals in each social class and to prepare students for the types of jobs typically held by members of their class

Question 23

Feminist Perspective on Education

Answer 23

Feminist believe that the educational experience is “gendered”

Gendered – different for males than for females.

Women were excluded from formal education. Women were not welcomed.

Women now out number men in law and medicine, also more women than men earn masters degrees, but more men than women are indoctrates.

Glass ceiling and glass elevator and pay equity continue to be an issue.

Question 24

Symbolic Interactionists on Education

Answer 24

Symbolic interactionists highlight the impact of negative stereotypes on the school performance of disadvantaged groups, referred to as the STEREOTYPE THREAT

In contrast, the concept of the TEACHER-EXPECTANCY effect highlights how teachers’ expectations impact disadvantaged and advantaged groups

In either case, expectations become a self-fulfilling prophecy

Question 25

The funding of post-secondary education has been steadily cut back resulting in…

Answer 25

Universities used to be funded by government, but the government is now cutting back, So, they must look for other ways to continue funding but these have an impact on how society functions.

Increases in TUTION and class size: We are paying more, but getting less due to the cutback.

Increases in PART TIME teachers: more professors are teaching on a part time basis and they have no job security. They don’t have the benefits of a full time professor.

Increases in PRIVATE corporate funding: Even though you are paying more, what you actually pay is a drop in the bucket of what the actual cost of operating a university are. This has implications in terms of research and infrastructure in universities. Researchers are looking more into private industries, but if they are funding your research agenda then they expect your research results to be beneficial for them.

Greater influence of a CORPORATE culture: Companies sees this as an investment and they expect to see result. Students are being seen as consumers and are adopting this attitude. Education is seen as a commodity and as something you want to buy. The problem is that we’re seeing a huge increase in grade inflation and cheating. Grade inflation= getting a higher mark than what you’ve earned because the mentality is to keep people enrolled.

Question 26

Credential Inflation

Answer 26

You have to get some kind of post secondary credential for a good job, but now the value is less as everyone is getting degrees. This is referred to as the CREDENTIAL INFLATION

Question 27

Credentialism Paradox

Answer 27

Credentialism paradox- because so many students are entering post secondary environments and graduating with degrees. Companies are now requiring applicants to apply with a degree however the job requirements don’t relate to the degree they earned.

Question 28

Is teaching a priority for teachers?

Answer 28

Professors are not trained to be teachers, they have doctrines from their research and they are trained as researchers. It’s not so much teaching that is priotized but research.