religious views Flashcards
define religion
a set of beliefs and practices, usually acknowledgement of a higher being or power by which people order the conduct of their lives both practically and spiritually
who was richard dawkins
noted atheist and evolutionist, states that religious faith is essentially childish
RD: what is religious faith as immature as
believing in santa and the tooth fairy
RD: what does richard dawkins believe
religion is irrational, involves blind trust in the absence of evidence
doesn’t believe in a soul
we are purely a product of our genes, no different to any other plant or animal
RD: what does good science say
we should adopt the explanation that sufficiently explains the info in its simplest form
who created Marxism
Karl Marx
what does Marxism believe
proposes that religion reflects society, and to criticise religion is to criticise society
what is religion in Karl Marx’s opinion
the product of men, those in power
sign of the oppressed creature
M: what’s religion good for
diverting peoples attention away from their miseries
M: what does he recognise religion for
promoting stability, within society but perpetuating inequality
M: what does religion do to reality
distorts it, encourages belief that supernatural beings control events and theres nothing humans can do about it
M: how can true happiness be achieved
exploited shaking off their oppression and practicing their freedom
what does functionalism focus on
how religion contributes to the cohesion of society
F: the 3 b’s
belonging, beliefs, behaviour
F: why is religiosity hard to measure
problems with way data is collected
stats lack validity
many people belong without believing and vice versa
extent to which people show religious behaviour doesn’t show how religious they are
F: what does it define religion by
what it offers its followers, the functions it fulfills e.g. belonging to a community, beliefs about life and informs about behaviour
F: who founded functionalism
Durkheim
F: what does religion have the power to do
shape collective beliefs
F: functions of religion
emotional support provides security brings people together provides guidelines for how we acts creates social harmony relieves tension, recreates stability provides meaning and purpose to life promotes social cohesion and sense of belonging provides social control and support for government
societal factors
materialism consumerism secularism family dynamics immigration wealth media
materialism
tendency to consider material possessions and physical comfort as more important than spiritual values
excessive desire to acquire and consume material goods
personality traits of materialsm
envy
non-generosity
possessiveness
consumerism
a social and economic order and ideology encouraging the acquisition of goods and services in ever-increasing amounts as a mean of creating meaning and purpose
what do opponents of consumerism argue
that many luxuries and unnecessary consumer products act as a social mechanism to judge socioeconomic status
why is consumerism a danger for catholic spirituality
can transform catholicism into a mere thing to be consumed
secularism
separation of religion from state, leaving religious people to freely practice their religion provided they don’t infringe on the freedom of others
secularism: equality before the law
no privileges or penalties for faith
no belief specifically protected
religious inequality not binding on wider society
blasphemy and apostasy non-punishable
secularism: religious identity doesn’t justify
special tax exemption
preaching religion in state schools
inserting religious values into common law
unelected religious leaders as legislators
denying jobs on religiousgrounds
family dynamics
religion a childs raised with they generally inherit
parents feel morally obligated to educate about religion
if child disagrees with familys religion causes conflict
family a special religious vocation
immigration
colonisation of australia brought protestant faith
white australia policy (1901) increased number of catholics, anglicans and protestants
post WWII baby boom increase in displaced europeans more catholics also more churches
since 1971 number of Australians associated with other religions risen from 0.1 million to 1.5 million
wealth
generally wealthier people lose faith, more materialistic
as australia gains wealth, more people lost religion
1966 16.6% of people no religion, 2011 22.3%
congo 1% non religious
media
brings attention to religious events
issues raised in media can challenge religious teachings
can distract people from relationship with God
can mock religion
