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Sociology 112 > Religion > Flashcards

Religion Flashcards

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1
Q

Religion

A

A set of organized beliefs about the supernatural or spiritual worlds that guides behaviour and joins people into communities of believers

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2
Q

What is the key concept to religion? Define it

A

Faith; A belief system based on conviction that does not require objective evidence to substantiate its claims (believing in God with out first-handed evidence)

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3
Q

Tylor argues that religion evolved through stages; the first stage is ?

A

Animism - Belief that all things possess a spirit

  • living things (plants, animal, people)
  • inanimate objects (mountains, rivers)
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4
Q

The second stage according to Tylor’s stages of religion is ?

A

Polytheism - Belief in many gods or supernatural beings

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5
Q

What are the two types of polytheism?

A

1) Diffuse polytheism - all gods are equal

2) Hierarchal polytheism - the gods are ranked according to importance

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6
Q

The third stage according to Tylor’s stages of religion is ?

A

Monotheism - Belief in a single, all powerful and all knowing god (LDS, Catholics)

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7
Q

If Tylor were still alive, which religion would he believe to be the most evolved?

A

The civil religion since patriotism does not rely on the concept of a god or supernatural being

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8
Q

Civil religion

A

A system in which sacred symbols are integrated into the broader society regardless of their individual religious affiliations

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9
Q

Types of Religious Groups:

New Religious Movement “cult”

A

An informal group without defined structure that relies on a charismatic leader;

  • generally emerges around authoritarian and charismatic leaders who suppress rational thought to isolate members from the larger society
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10
Q

What is a charismatic leader?

A

Someone that is believed to possess qualities that can be seen as supernatural
- Develop a special bond of trust and love with followers that reinforces loyalty and obedience

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11
Q

Types of Religious Groups:

Sect

A

A small religious body, with exclusive or voluntary membership, that is aloof from or hostile to the larger society

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12
Q

How do Sects form?

A
  • Emerges after the dead of the founding member of a new religious movement
  • Formed after a group breaks away from a larger religious group (a church) - when they no longer believe it is practicing the true religion as it was once conceived
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13
Q

Types of Religious Groups:

Church

A

An institution that brings together a moral community of believers in formal worship and integrates itself within the larger secular (not religious) world
- Bureaucratic characteristics

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14
Q

Religious pluralism

A

A system in which many religions coexist and often compete with one another for members
- Churches are most prevalent in societies with a high degree of religious pluralism

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15
Q

Ecclesia

A

A system in which a church and the state have a formalized relationship

  • Largest, most formal and most powerful of all religious organizations
  • Catholic church in Italy, Islam in Iran, Lutheran Church in Sweden
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16
Q

Denomination

A

Self-governing but has an official and recognized relationship with a larger church
- Neither promotes nor demotes the status quo, rather coexists within the larger society

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17
Q

What are Weber’s proposed 3 main orientations of religion?

A

1) World of nature = animals, fish, plants, rivers
2) Other people = subhumans, inferiors
3) The body = human body is something ‘special’

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18
Q

Mysticism

A

Weber’s term for religions that seek HARMONY with the natural world, other people, and the human body

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19
Q

Asceticism

A

Weber’s term for religions that seek MASTERY over the natural world, other people, and the human body

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20
Q

Inner-worldly

A

An orientation that focuses on the tangible world and our own creature comforts and aspirations
- Tangible (wealth)

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21
Q

Other-worldly

A

An orientation that focuses on separation from the everyday world and finding spiritual enlightenment
- Priest, pasteurs, etc.

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22
Q

For Mysticism (harmony) which religions are Inner-worldly? Other-worldly?

A 
Inner = Hinduism, Taoism, Confucianism
Other = Buddhism, Sufism
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23
Q

For Asceticism (mastery) which religions are Inner-worldly? Other-worldly?

A 
Inner = Calvinism
Other = Catholicism, Islam, Orthodox, Judaism
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24
Q

Agnosticism

A

Believe that it is impossible to know whether god exists, but do not deny the possibility

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25
Q

Atheism

A

Denies the existence of any god, supernatural beings or force

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26
Q

Christianity

A
  • World’s largest religion
  • Over 2 million membership
  • All believe Jesus is the son of God, but not all believe in the Trinity
  • Different Sects, denominations with varying beliefs
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27
Q

Islam

A
  • Over 1.5 billion adherents
  • 622 CE
  • 2nd largest religion
  • Sacred text is Quran and Hadith
  • Muhammad (greatest of God’s messenger)
  • Leaders are called imams
  • Pray 5 times a day
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28
Q

Theocracy (Islam)

A

A form of government in which a god or other supernatural being is seen as the supreme civil ruler

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29
Q

What are the two groups of Islams?

A

1) Sunni = believes that the first four caliphs rightfully took Muhammad’s place as the leaders of the Muslims
2) Shiite = believe hat only the heirs of the fourth caliph, Ali, are the legitimate successors of Muhammad

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30
Q

What are the 5 pillars of Islam?

A
  • Shahadah = faith in one God and Muhammad
  • Salat = Praying 5 times a day
  • Sawm = Fasting during Ramadan (Holy month)
  • Zakat = giving to the poor
  • Hajj = performing a pilgrimage to the holy place Mecca
31
Q

Judaism

A
  • 14.5 million adherents
  • one of the oldest and one of the smallest religion
  • Spiritual lineage to biblical figure of Abraham
  • Sacred text is Toran with 613 injunctions
32
Q

How are Orthodox Jews identified?

A

By their dress and hair styles (most traditional)

33
Q

Hinduism

A
  • Oldest and 3rd largest
  • 3500 BCE
  • No single leader or belief system
  • No bureaucratic structure
  • Over 900 million adherents
  • No sacred text
34
Q

Dharma (Hinduism)

A

The moral responsibilities and guidelines that define an entire way of life

35
Q

Samsara (Hinduism)

A

Reincarnation where the soul undergoes a series of births and deaths

36
Q

Moksha (Hinduism)

A

A state of spiritual perfection

37
Q

Buddhism

A
  • 500 million proponents
  • 500 BCE by Siddhartha Gautama
  • Religious leaders = Monks
  • Sacred texts are Tripitaka and Sutras
38
Q

Nirvana (Buddhism)

A

State of spiritual perfection

- reincarnation cycle ends

39
Q

Karma (Buddhism)

A

The belief in cause and effect in life

40
Q

What do Buddhists believe that differs from Hindus?

A

People can break the cycle of rebirth no matter what class they are born into by living righteously, meditation, etc.

41
Q

Confucianism

A
  • 6 million followers
  • Originated from the writing of Confucius
  • Foundations for life of perfect goodness
  • Based on self-discipline & meditation
42
Q

What are the two important virtues of Confucianism?

A

1) Jen

2) Li

43
Q

Jen (Confucianism)

A

Virtue of possessing a benevolent and humanitarian attitude

44
Q

Li (Confucianism)

A

Desire to maintain proper relationships and rituals that enhances the life of the individual, the family, and state

45
Q

Which 3 religions believe in strict adherence to moral codes of behaviour as the path to achieving happiness instead of a god?

A

Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism

46
Q

Jehovah’s witnesses

A
  • Founded in 1870
  • over 7 million in 239 lands
  • Do NOT believe in the Trinity
  • only 144 000 go to heaven
  • Paradise on a restored earth for the righteous
  • God’s name is Jehova
  • Jesus was killed on a stick/pole
47
Q

Restorationist belief system (Jehovah’s)

A

Assert that contemporary Christianity no longer reflects its foundational ideas (SECT)

48
Q

Sikhism

A
  • Founded over 500 years ago
  • 24 million followers (Sikhs= learners)
  • Single all powerful God with no gender
  • Heaven and hell are not separate places attained after death
49
Q

What do Sikhs carry to demonstrate and confirm their faith? (symbolic articles)

A

1) Kesh = uncut hair
2) Kanga = a comb
3) Kara = a steel bracelet
4) Kachera = an undergarment
5) Kirpan = a ceremonial sword

50
Q

Fundamentalism (not a religion)

A

A movement designed to revitalize faith by returning to traditional religious practices

  • Recovery of golden age
  • Defensive reaction to perceived threat
  • Rejects functionalists view of religious adaptation
  • Complex & diverse
  • do not participate in political activism
51
Q

Why do Sociologists study religion?

A

They do not try to assess the validity of religious beliefs, They are interested on its effects on society

52
Q

World Religions:
Largest?
2nd largest?

A

1) Christianity

2) Islam

53
Q

__% of Canadians believe in a God
__% of Canadians attend church
__% of Canadians feel peace with having a religion

A

78% of Canadians believe in a God
23% of Canadians attend church
62% of Canadians feel peace with having a religion

54
Q

Top 3 Religious Identifications in Canada in 2001

A 
#1 = Catholics
#2 = Protestant
#3 = no religion
55
Q

Why has there been a significant decline in the number of Protestants and Catholics in Canada?

A

Because of immigration

56
Q

What is the view of Functionalists on Religion?

A

Religion serves as a social glue that binds people together

57
Q

In which two ways does the Functionalist Durkheim separate the world?

A

1) Profane = elements of the everyday world that do not inspire or motivate
2) Sacred = things that are set apart, ritualized, and at times inspire emotional reactions

58
Q

Totem (Durkheim)

A

An object that has special significance and meaning for a group of believers

59
Q

Collective conscience (Durkheim)

A

Religion is an extension of society and functions to join members of the group according to shared meanings and world views

60
Q

Collective effervescence (Durkheim)

A

When a social group achieves a new and dynamic expression of the group’s will and can motivate rapid change in the social structure

61
Q

According to Durkheim what are the 5 major functions of religion?

A

1) Social Cohesion & belonging
2) Social identity
3) Social control
4) Provides meaning & purpose
5) Social service function

62
Q

What are the 3 primary assumptions of Conflict Theorists on Religion?

A

1) Religion is socially constructed and built upon economic relationships
2) Religion diminishes feelings of frustration resulting from the forces of alienation
3) Religion is used by the social, political, and economic elite as a form of control

63
Q

Predestination (Marx- Conflict Theory)

A

The doctrine that God alone chooses who is saved

64
Q

Calling(Marx- Conflict Theory)

A

One’s work, believed to be an expression of God’s will, particularly if that work brings financial success

65
Q

Liberation Theology (Marx- Conflict Theory)

A

A movement by religious fundamentalists who advocate a literal interpretation of the Bible to promote greater social equality

66
Q

How do Symbolic Interactionism Theorists view religion?

A

As an important source of rituals and symbols that help to define people’s perceptions of their social world

  • Symbols are a reference point to help people define themselves (cross, etc.)
  • They do not evaluate the structure of the religion
67
Q

How do rituals help reinforce group membership?

A

1) Remind those participating
2) Social bonding = all doing it together
3) Regulating moral behaviour = fasting, praying
3) Empowerment= brings us closer to God

68
Q

How do Feminist Theorists view religion?

A

Religion and inequality are linked through gender

  • women have lower status in all religions
  • all religions are patriarchal
  • Monotheistic religions have a male God
69
Q

What interests Feminists about religion? (4)

A
  • Worship
  • Regulations of women’s bodies
  • Inequalities
  • Organizational structure
70
Q

What is the criticism about the Feminist religious view?

A

We cannot equate religion with the oppression of women

71
Q

How do Post-Modern Theorists view religion?

A
  • There is an absence of absolutes
  • acknowledge and value a multiplicity of diverse interpretations of truth, being, and ways of seeing
  • power mechanisms selectively elevate certain propositions or hypotheses to the status of ‘truth’
72
Q

Secularization

A

The process by which developed societies move away from explanations based on religion to ones based on science, rationality and logic

73
Q

What are the biggest changes in the future of religion?

A
  • Shift in the way people relate to religion
  • Increase in agnostics
  • Need to attract younger people in order to survive
  • Need to deal with increasing tensions

Sociology 112 (10 decks)

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