religion Flashcards
Durkheim’s view on religion?
Sacred vs. Profane
Sacred
Unites people through shared, practices, symbols and experiences
Profane
Represents the everyday aspects of life that are not imbued with special significance
Social conditions for the sacred?
- Belief in the sacred
- Practices (rituals) centering around the sacred
- Moral community (church) results from belief in sacred and practices
Functions of religion?
1) Social cohesion
2) Social control
3) Provides meaning and purpose
How did Durkheim view Religion?
As a social construct that reflects and strengthens society
Marx – How did Marx’s View Religion?
As a human-made way to deal with the inequalities and struggles in the world
Collective conscience - Durkheim
A set of shared beliefs and values that binds a society together. “more than a sum of its individual parts”
Collective effervescence- Durkheim
Energy & enthusiasm that stems from being apart of a larger group
Who says, “man makes religion, religion does not make man”?
Marx
Exploitation and religion
Teaches people to accept suffering as part of a divine plan instead of challenging unfair social systems.
Workers are alienated from…
1) Products of labour
2) One another and society as a whole
3) Individual self
What is Liberation Theology?
A Christian movement about using faith to inspire action against poverty and injustice.
When and where did Liberation Theology emerge?
Latin America (1960s)
What are the two parts of Liberation?
Spiritual Liberation & Historical Liberation
What is spiritual liberation?
Freeing people’s souls by spreading faith and hope
What is historical liberation?
Fighting to change society by addressing real-world problems like poverty and injustices
Who created the Protestant Ethic and Spirit of Capitalism?
Max Weber
What is the Protestant Ethic and Spirit of Capitalism?
It explains why capitalism first developed in parts of Europe -> where protestant Christianity was strong
Spirit of Capitalism is an attitude that values:
Hard work, thrift and reinvesting
What is Calvinism?
Calvinists believed in predestination. God had already decided who goes to heaven or hell
How did Calvinism lead to Capitalism?
They focused on hard work, discipline and reinvestment which led to the accumulation of wealth & growth of business
What are the basic types of religious organizations?
Church and Sects
What is the The Troeltsch Church-Sect Typology?
Made to categorize religious organizations based on their size, structure, and relationship to society.
Which religious organization is this:
- Well-integrated with society
- Large, well-established, formal
- Can be born into
Church
What are the two subtypes of Church
State church: official religion of country
Denomination: People choose to join
Which religious organization is this:
- Smaller, more-exclusive, less formal
- Often conflicts with norms, values
- Actively recruits members
- Breaks off from denominations
Sect
What is a cult?
- At great odds with society
- Secretive
- Charismatic leaders
- Entirely new beliefs and practices
Religion becomes less important/influential in peoples lives and society
Secularization
What are some features of the
Canadian Religious Landscape?
Secularization, a variety of religions, religious freedom
What is Religious Revitalization?
Attracting new members to their religious community
