Chapter 15 - Religion Flashcards
a system of beliefs, values, and practices concerning what a person hold sacred or considers to be spiritually significant
religion
refers to the conviction or sensations that we are connect to “the divine” (prayer/meditation)
religious experience
specific ideas members of a particular faith hold to be true (Jesus, reincarnation)
religious beliefs
behaviors or practiced that are either required or expected of the members of a particular group (bar mitzvah/confessions)
religious rituals
What is the most important and controversial claim in the sociology of religion
that Protestant work ethic led to the development of capitalism
which perspective views religion and society as equally dependent on each other for existence, value and significance
functionalism
which perspective views religion as an institution that helps maintain patterns of social inequality
conflict theory
theory that proposes that people are self-interested and make rational choices to maximize positive outcomes and minimize negative
Rational Choice Theory (RCT)
which perspective views religion as sacred solely because individuals regard it as such
symbolic interactionism
new religious movements that are often characterized as small, secretive and highly controlling of members. may have a charismatic leader
cults
an offshoot of a larger religious group that has distinct beliefs and practices that deviate from that group
sect
sects that do not grow into denominations and instead fall halfway between sect and denomination
established sects
a large, mainstream religious organization, but it does not claim to be official or state sponsored
denomination
a congregational religious group hat almost all members of a society belong to. considered nationally recognized or official and holds a religious monopoly
ecclesia
religion based on belief in a single deity
monotheism
religion based on belief in multiple deities
polytheistic
religion that believes in the divinity of nonhuman beings, like animals, plants, and objects of the natural world
animism
religion that believes in a divine connection between humans and other natural beings
totemism
nonbelievers, who do not believe in a divine being
atheists
the use of a church to promote social change via the political arena
Liberation Theology
a Christian Church that has a very large congregation averaging more than 2,000 people who attend regular weekly services
megachurch
