Key Definitions and Theories Flashcards
A contested term with multiple definitions and interpretations.
Highly political in nature.
Religion
Functional Definitions of Religion:
Religion brings people together.
Emile Durkheim
Functional Definitions of Religion:
“Religion is the opium of the people.” It is a distraction from human liberation.
Karl Marx
Functional Definitions of Religion:
Religion stifles psychological development.
Sigmund Freud
Functional Definitions of Religion:
Religion is a system of symbols which acts to establish powerful, pervasive, and long-lasting moods and motivations in people by formulating conceptions of a general order of existence and clothing these conceptions with such an aura of factuality that the moods and motivations seem uniquely realistic
Clifford Geertz
Studying Religion Today:
(social systems)
Sociological
Studying Religion Today:
(cultural systems)
Anthropological
Studying Religion Today:
(psychoanalytical, social-psychological, neuro-psychological)
Psychological
Studying Religion Today:
(dimensions of religion)
Phenomenological
Studying Religion Today:
(feminist, post-colonial, race, class, LGBTQ+)
Critical-Political
Studying Religion Today:
(movements and events)
Historical
Studying Religion Today:
(religion as a political force)
Political
A definition created for a period of time, knowing it is imperfect. In the case of religion, it refers to systems of discourse, practices, communities, and institutions drawing on human and suprahuman power to provide access to ultimate meaning.
Stipulative Definition
What are the key components of religion, according to Kline’s definition?
- Discourse
- Practices
- Communities and Institutions
- Suprahuman
- Ultimate meaning
What does “suprahuman” refer to in the context of religion?
It refers to abilities and modes of existence that are greater than human.
What does “ultimate meaning” refer to in religion?
It is the concept that helps provide answers to questions about the meaning of life.
What is the difference between “We” vs “I” in the context of relationships and transactions?
“We” refers to relationships, which are collective, ongoing, and about mutual connections.
“I” refers to transactions, which are individual and focused on the exchange of resources.
____________ : identifies certain changes in society, self-understanding, and worldviews that fundamentally changed the human experience, such as alienation, bureaucracy, commodification of things, disenchantment of the world, individualism, nationalism, and secularization
“Characteristics” approach to defining Modernity
What is a key feature of modernity, according to Charles Taylor?
The “malaise of modernity,” which includes individualism and the loss of a higher sense of purpose.
What does Alexis de Tocqueville mean by “petits et vulgaires plaisirs”?
It refers to the “petty and vulgar pleasures” that people tend to seek in the democratic age, reflecting a loss of higher purpose or something worth dying for.
______________: is the rationality used to calculate the most efficient application of means to achieve a goal, focusing on maximum efficiency and cost-output ratio, often at the expense of social relationships and care.
instrumental reason
What did Karl Marx and Max Weber contribute to the understanding of modernity?
Karl Marx discussed the alienation of the worker in modern society.
Max Weber discussed the “iron cage” concept, where individuals are trapped by the rationalization and bureaucracy of modern life.
____________: It refers to a society where the government provides for citizens’ needs, leading to a loss of freedom and individual control, as people become passive and focused on private life rather than political participation.
soft despotism, according to Alexis de Tocqueville
