Religion Flashcards
Animism
Animism
This means the belief in spirits. This is the earliest know form of religion.
In this form of religion, people wanted to know what was the difference between people that were alive and those who were dead.
In this form of religion, people wanted to know the meaning of the human shapes that they had in dreams and visions.
To account for these phenomena, they invented ‘the soul’. This soul leaves the body temporarily during dreams, and permanently in death.
The aspect of the spirit spread in time from humans to social and natural environments.
Thus religion was there to make sense of death.
Naturism
This means the belief that the forces of nature have supernatural powers.
It rose from the need to explain the effects that nature had on man’s emotions.
Man personified nature, thus the ‘force’ of the wind became the ‘spirit’ of the wind, etc.
Where animism seeks the origin of religion in people’s intellectual needs, naturism seeks it in man’s emotional needs.
Naturism is human’s response to the effects of the power and wonder of nature upon his emotions.
Thus there has been an evolution form animism (many spirits) to monotheism (one God). There are 5 stages……
Functionalist Perspective (Durkheim)
DURKHEIM
*He divided society into two camps, the sacred and the profane.
*It is a unified system of beliefs and practices related to the sacred things, that is to say, things set apart and forbidden.
*Sacred things are merely symbols, so they may be any object, a rock, tree, etc.
*To understand the role of religion in society, the relationship between sacred symbols and that which they represent must be understood.
Functionalist Perspective (Totemism)
Totemism
*This is the simplest and most rudimentary form of religion. Each clan had a totem, a sign of the clan (usually an animal or plant). But it was more than the clan’s identity. It is a sacred symbol.
*It is the outward and visible form of the totemic principle or God.
*It is at once the symbol of God and of the society, so Durkheim concludes that means that God and society are one and the same thing.
*By worshipping God, people are actually worshipping society. Society is the real object of religious veneration.
*How does humanity come to worship society??? Sacred things are considered superior in dignity and power to profane things and particularly to man. In relation to the totem, humans share the same relationship, being inferior and dependent.
*The relationship between humanity and sacred things is exactly that of humanity and society. Society is more important and powerful than the individual. Primitive man comes to view society as sacred because he is utterly dependent on it.
*Religion is the primary tool for maintaining the ‘collective conscience’ which is necessary for society to exist and be maintained. Otherwise, there would be no order, control and cooperation.
*The attitudes directed towards the sacred are the same as that directed to society, namely power and authority.
*In worshipping society, people are in fact recognizing their dependence on this all-important social group.
*Durkheim shows the importance of collective worship. The drama and reverence of the rituals reinforce the common bond and view-point in the community. In the highly emotionally charged atmosphere, the integration of society is strengthened. Members express, communicate and understand the moral bonds which unite them.
Functionalist Perspective (Malinoski)
*Anxiety and tension disrupt the life of social groups. Situations that create the social tensions are birth, marriage, puberty and death.
*In all societies, these life cycles are surrounded by religious rituals.
*Death (the most disruptive)- ceremony expresses the belief in immortality, which denies the fact of death, mourning lends support to grievers. This checks the emotions and reduces and controls the anxiety that may disrupt society.
*Death is socially disruptive as it removes a member from society, the service unites people and reinforces social solidarity.
*This can also be seen in events such as fishing where there is a high amount of uncertainty. Because there is fear of a bad catch or a storm, there is usually a religious ceremony surrounding fishing ventures of coastal tribes. Thus, they reduce anxiety relating to events that are not totally controlled by man.
Functionalist Perspective (Parsons)
PARSONS
*Religion gives the guidelines to human conduct. E.g. The 10 commandments. Many norms and values of society are incorporated into religious beliefs.
*This restriction and consensus are necessary for there to be order and stability in society.
*Religious beliefs also give meaning to life ( pre-mature death, drought etc.) This is all done by God to test your faith. It is to give meaning to events that can cause hurt, loss or frustration.
CRITIQUE
Functionalists ignore the occasions when religion can be a divisive force in society. Eg, the history of Christianity.
Marxism
MARXISM
*To Marx, religion was “the sigh of the oppressed creature, the sentiment as a heartless word and the soul of a soulless condition. It is the opium of the people.” It acts as an opiate to dull the pain produced by oppression. It does nothing to solve the problem. It stupifies its adherents rather than lead them to self-fufillment or happiness.
Religion dulls the pain in 4 ways:
1. It promises paradise in life after death. The view of heaven makes them more willing to accept their predicament on earth.
2. It offers hope of supernatural intervention to solve the problems that burden the oppressed on earth.
3. It makes a virtue of suffering produced by oppression.
It justifies the social order and a person’s position in it.
Religion and Social Control
*Religion is not simply a cushion for the effects of oppression, to Marx, it is also the instrument of that oppression. It acts as a mechanism of social control, maintaining the existing system of exploitation and reinforcing class relationships.
*It keeps people in their place. It discourages people from wanting and actively pursuing change and a better life for themselves and their families.
*From time immorial, the church and state have gone hand in hand.
E.g. Caste system in India, Slavery of Africans, Medieval Europe, Egyptian Pharoahs
Materialist Theory
MATERIALIST THEORY
Turner
*The poor in medieval times had no concern with religion. Their primary concern was survival. The rich and propertied were the once concerned with religion.
*Wealth and power have always been determined by the ownership of land and property.
*Usually a system of “Primogeniture” was used. The eldest son inherited everything in order to keep all the land together and maintain the family’s wealth.
*Premarital promiscuity and adultery both weakened the production of a legitimate heir. Marriage and legitimacy of kids were then propped-up and defended by the church. *The legitimacy of the heir was of paramount significance to the system.
*Thus, according to Turner, “religion was the function of controlling the sexuality of the body in order to secure regular transmission of property via the family.” Without religion it would not have been possible to keep wealth concentrated under the system. *Premarital promiscuity and adultery both put the system at risk, thus the church stepped- in and supported the institution of marriage which included legitimate children.
*Also there was a surplus of younger sons who did not inherit the lands. In military feudalism, the heir might be sent to battle (crusades) and be killed. Again, the church stepped-in the assist the wealthy land lords. The religious monasteries provided an acceptable solution. In this way there was a back-up of heirs, and they would not run the risk of impregnation anyone.
*In these times, individual and family property is much less important for the maintenance of ruling class power. So religion has lost the one vital function that it held for the ruling class. This can be seen in the rising rates of promiscuity and illegitimate children. Note that the extent of these trends is only in part due to the breakdown of religion in society.
Max Weber
MAX WEBER
The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism
Weber demonstrates in his work that Calvinist protestantism preceded the development of capitalism.
*17th century capitalism developed initially in areas where this religion was influential.
*While other areas of the world had the necessary pre-requisites, they lacked the spark, the impetus, the religion that encouraged and facilitated the development of capitalism.
*They believed (the Calvinists) that only a distinct elite group of the ‘elect’ can get into heaven, no one else. Because they did not know who the ‘elect’ was, they calculated that it must be those who lived a “good life” on earth. The interpretation they put on the doctrine of predetermination contributed to them becoming the first capitalists.
Protestant Ethic 17th century
*The ethic was ascetic. It encouraged abstinence from life’s pleasures, an austere life style and rigorous self-discipline.
*The individual must work diligently, save most of it and spend very little, in-fact, only what is necessary for normal living.
*Since one’s calling meant that he had not lost face with God, making money was then a good indicator of who was “chosen”.
*Because they made a lot of money and spent very little, re-investment being the only avenue)…here lay the foundations of capitalism.
*Little sleep, no sexual pleasures (except for procreation), little sports and recreation. *That was their way of life. Nothing that could direct attention for diligent work and industry was tolerated.
The Spirit of Capitalism
*The Spirit of capitalism was found in the ethic of ascetic Protestantism. There had been no shortage in history of those who sought money and profit. Traditionally they speculated, risked et…that is however against the spirit of capitalism. They have also spent their wealth on lavish items and personal satisfaction. That is also a no-no. Labour made enough for the people to eat. They had no reason to work harder other than for more leisure or free time.
*The ascetic Protestant had a different attitude towards wealth…it was ‘the pursuit of profit and forever renewed profit’.
*The spirit of capitalism is a set of ideals, ethics and values that underlay its practice.
*Standardization of production and division of labour were encouraged by Protestantism …these are the two major features of the capitalist industry.
*The Protestant’s ‘uniformity of life’ helps the capitalist standardization of production, and the emphasis on the ‘importance of a fixed calling’ provided an ethical justification for the modern division of labour.
Religious Organisations
ndividual religious practice are not of primary importance to the sociologist, he is interested in mainly in organized religious groups because they have a greater influence on the working of society.
Many members of society express their religious beliefs through organizations and these organizations tend to shape their beliefs. Social factors influence the types of organizations that are created, who join them, and how they develop. Eg. The Islamic movement of the 1960s in the USA ( Malcolm X.). At the same time these organizations may themselves affect society.
The CHURCH
*refers to a large organization
*Don’t have to demonstrate or prove your faith to join (baptism is common)
*May proclaim to be universal, but actually excludes some minorities
*Stabilizes and determines social and political order so the upper classes are more likely to join though the membership comes from all quarters of society
*Closely related to the State. Eg. Roman Catholics in the middle Ages had functions of education, politics, and other social functions; like the Lord and vassel in feudalim
*Church tends to be ideologically conservative, thus supporting the status quo
*Keeps people in line and quells the thought of rebellion
*Does not tolerate challenges to its authority
*Have been know to oppose the state ( Liberal theology in Latin America)
*In modern Industrial society, the church is more accommodating, they allow other religions to prosper
More religious organisations
The DENOMINATION
*Doesn’t have the universal appeal to society
*Membership from all classes of society
*Many denominations can exist in anyone society
*US has no recognized church, but many denominations
*Doesn’t claim monopoly on religious truth
*Usually conservative, accepts the norms and values of society, with marginal differences
*Tends to place restrictions on its members (drinking, smoking)
*New members freely admitted and a hierarchy of paid officials
*Were usually sects once
The SECT
*Characteristics almost diametrically opposed to the Church
*Smaller and more integrated than other religious organizations
*Draws members from lower classes of society and they oppose the State
*Non-conservative, calling for social change. Little, if any regard for the law
*Members usually have little life outside the sect
*Tend to be fanatical and ‘deeply’ committed to the values of the sect
*May be excommunicated if they stray from the norms of the sect
*Membership is voluntary, done by adults willing to abandon the ‘materialistic’ world
*Believe they have a monopoly over the truth
*Single ‘charismatic’ leader rules over them ( Jim Jones, David Koresh)
*Need to demonstrate their faith…confessions, rituals etc
Note: These characteristics vary in degree among different sects
