Chapter 4 & 6: Institutions In Society

Question 1

What is religion?

Answer 1

• Is the belief in & reverence for a supernatural power recognized as the creator & governor of the universe.
• Every religion encompasses a range of practices, including sermons & ritual etc.

Question 2

There are 2 components of religion:

Answer 2

1. Function system
2. Sacred substance.

Question 3

What are the understanding of religion’s roots?

Answer 3

• The word religion comes from the Latin religion.
• fear of the supernatural.
• Some scholars argue that this may stem from religare.
• to bind together.
• Religion- social cohesion & “glue” of society.
• Durkheim & Weber paid special attention to religion.
• Does religion only have positive influences on society?
• Marx thought that religion was “the opium of the people.”
• Do you think there has been changes to religious practices through the generations?

Question 4

What are the 5 developments of South Africa’s diverse religions?

Answer 4

1. Indigenous beliefs
2. Religions introduced through immigration
3. Missionary activities
4. Binary tensions
5. Dynamic relationship

Question 5

What are the 5 sociological perspectives on religion?

Answer 5

1. Study religion is a social phenomenon
2. Focus on the social forces which formed religion
3. Believe religion is an important function of society
4. Are interested in all social forms of religion
5. View religion as an institution which is integral to society.

Question 6

What are the 3 components of religion in current society?

Answer 6

1. A need for society
2. Renewed interest in moral guidance
3. Revalued as cultural resource.

Question 7

What is fundamentalism?

Answer 7

Religious movement or POV that strictly holds to non- negotiable principles & is hostile to alternative views.

Question 8

In favoring secularisation, Auguste Comte, believed that human history passes through 3 consecutive stages:

Answer 8

• the first is the theological state where religious beliefs would be important.
• the second is the metaphysical stage where philosophy is dominant.
• is the final positivist stage science will be the leading principle.

Question 9

What is religious fundamentalism?

Answer 9

A learned disposition & is dependent on the insight of privileged interpreters who thereby have considerable power in religious & non- religious matters.

Question 10

What is the structural perspective?

Answer 10

Any view, approach or perspective in the social sciences which prioritizes social structure over individual cation or agency; structures can be identified lying behind appearances of social reality.

Question 11

What is the functionalist perspective?

Answer 11

Theoretical framework in which society is viewed as composed of various parts, each with a function that, when fulfilled, contributes to society’s equilibrium.

Question 12

What is the functionalist perspective of religion in society?

Answer 12

• religion can promote a sense of social cohesion & belonging.
• religion strengthens society’s norms & values.
• Religion gives meaning to human life.
• Religion gives family life special meaning.

Question 13

What is the dysfunctional effect that religion has in society?

Answer 13

• Religion can encourage the subordination of women to men.
• Religion can make it difficult to resolve political conflicts.
• Religion can prevent change.

Question 14

What is the conflict perspective?

Answer 14

The view that society is characterized by fundamentally antagonistic & opposing socio- economic classes; the continual dynamic tension between tension between major social groups is considered as the source of social change.

Question 15

Explain the structuralist/ functionalist perspective:

Answer 15

• worshipping society itself.
• coping mechanism for stress.
• providing answers to ultimate issues.
• functional or dysfunctional effect.

Question 16

Explain the conflict perspective:

Answer 16

• alienation is to central religious practice.
• opiate of the masses- alleviates the pain of daily living (suffering is a virtue).
• religion distorts reality accept status quo.
• a tool for oppression, control & exploitation.
• critique- religion can’t contribute to change. Is this true?

Question 17

Explain the interpretative perspective:

Answer 17

• socially constructed belief system.
• focusing on the relationship between religion & social change.
• sinners and grace- determining what people do/ don’t do.
• Calvinism- predestination (God decides all and we hope we are right- no real evidence).
• Protestants- asceticism (acts now done for the idea of heaven- final goal).

Question 18

What is the monotheist?

Answer 18

Worshipping one God.

Question 19

What is polytheist religion?

Answer 19

Worshipping more than one God.

Question 20

What are the 8 common elements of religion?

Answer 20

1. Belief system
2. Community
3. Myths
4. Rituals
5. Ethics
6. Characteristics emotional experiences
7. Material expression
8. Sacredness

Question 21

Describe the church as religious organization:

Answer 21

• churches are organizations with a strong intellectual & teaching tradition.
• the church usually represents the country’s official religion & has a close relationship with the government.
• it doesn’t tolerate challenges & therefore guards its monopoly on religious truth.

Question 22

Describe cults as a religious organization:

Answer 22

• the beliefs that members of a cult are vague & members tolerate individualistic beliefs.
• the cult has a charismatic leader & a loose organizational structure.
• their goal is to present the adherents of this religious formation with a spiritual experience.

Question 23

What are the 3 kinds of cults?

Answer 23

1. Countercultural cults
2. Personal- growth cults
3. Neo Christian cults.

Question 24

Describe sects as a religious organization:

Answer 24

• Sects are generally small organizations that reject aspects of the established religion.
• they call for a return to purity- unblemished moral conduct.
• they believe God is present and active in members lives.

Question 25

What is religious participation?

Answer 25

Must be distinguished from fewer preference & membership.

Question 26

What are the 5 dimensions of religiosity of such an attempt proposed by Charles Glock & Rodney Stark?

Answer 26

1. Ideological dimension
2. Ritualistic dimension
3. Intellectual dimension
4. Experiential dimension
5. Consequential dimension

Question 27

What are the different types of family?

Answer 27

1. Nuclear family
2. Extended family
3. Assisted family
4. Modified extended family
5. Surrogate families
6. Single- parent family
7. Joint family.

Question 28

What are the 5 households?

Answer 28

1. Family household
2. Non- family household
3. Single- person household
4. Stretched household
5. Child- headed household.

Question 29

What are the 5 general types of society:

Answer 29

1. Hunter- and- gathering
2. “Primitive” horticultural
3. Advanced horticultural
4. Agrarian
5. Industrial.

Question 30

What are the 5 family theories:

Answer 30

1. Structural functionalism
2. Conflict theory
3. Feminist theories
4. Rational choice & social exchange theory
5. Life course approach.

Question 31

What are the 5 intergenerational relations:

Answer 31

1. Childhood & youth
2. Parenting
3. Motherhood
4. Fatherhood
5. Grand parenthood.

Question 32

What are the 7 joining & dissolving families & households:

Answer 32

1. Serial monogamy
2. Nuptuality
3. Polygamy
4. Polyandry
5. Single- parent households
6. Heteronormativity & families
7. How are families/ households dissolved?

Question 33

What are the 4 levels of domestic violence?

Answer 33

1. Micro level
2. Meso level
3. Macro level
4. Multidimensional models.

Question 34

What happens at the micro level of domestic violence?

Answer 34

• focus on individual family members.
• assumed psychopathology at individual level.
• mental illness, alcoholism & hormonal imbalances.

Question 35

What happens at the meso level of domestic violence?

Answer 35

• focus on relationships between family members.
• socio- psychological models
• traumatic binding theory & the resource theory.

Question 36

What happens at the macro level of domestic violence?

Answer 36

• focus on larger structural aspects within society.
• socio cultural models.
• culture of violence theory & patriarchal- feminist theory.

Question 37

What happens at the multi- dimensional level of domestic violence?

Answer 37

• focus on micro, meso & macro levels.
• try to incorporate elements of all 3 levels.
• general systems theory & ecological theory.

Question 38

What happens at the multi- dimensional level of domestic violence?

Answer 38

• focus on micro, meso & macro levels.
• try to incorporate elements of all 3 levels.
• general systems theory & ecological theory.

Question 39

What is gender based violence?

Answer 39

Violence directed against a person because of that person’s gender or violence that affects persons of a particular gender disproportionately.

Question 40

What are the 4 types of child abuse?

Answer 40

1. Neglect
2. Physical
3. Sexual
4. Emotional

Question 41

What are the 8 elements of how violence affects children?

Answer 41

1. Intimidation
2. Isolation
3. Emotional abuse
4. Physical & mental affects
5. Sexual stereotyping
6. Threats
7. Using children
8. Sexual abuse.