Soc 100 - Religion Flashcards
How political scientists look at political institutions vs sociologists…
Political scientists may interpret political institutions on their own terms, by the way they work, whilst political sociologists look at the integration of state and society, and the ways political arrangements relate to social power structures�.
Value-free or Value-neutral
Sociologists examine people’s deeply-held values and beliefs; describe these values, and try not to judge whether they’re true or false, good or bad.Weber’s concept of charismatic authority explains why people might support someone like Hitler – as sociologists, we can understand and explain it, even if we personally disapprove�.-When examining beliefs, sociologists are interested in how these beliefs have broad social consequences – not in whether they’re true or false beliefs�.
Theology
Systematic philosophical study of gods, including whether or not they exist, what their nature is.May include metaphysical or moral arguments�.
Sociology of Religion
Examines social impact of religion, by seeing how many people belong to religions, and how this affects their behaviour.Doesn’t prove/disprove existence of God�.
What does it mean to say that the question of the existence of any god is a metaphysical question?
there can be no evidence sufficient to prove or disprove existence of any divine power. (There may always be another explanation.)Even if we discover historical origins of any religion, that doesn’t make it ‘untrue’ – any more than social/historical emergence of scientific theories undermines their validity.Sociology cannot ‘prove’ or ‘disprove’ religion�.
Rites + Rituals
Collective practices, e.g. worship, in which people engage in religion together�
Beliefs
The ideas, values, and metaphysical claims that any religion makes about its gods�
Organizations
Religious institutions, often with authority over those claiming to be part of religion�
How do sociologists define religion?
Don’t agree. Broad concept: sociologists differ on precise definition.-religion difficult to define: sociologists point to different elements, so hard to come up with coherent theory�.
Sacred vs Profane
Sacred: Set apart from daily life: they should not be treated lightlyConsidered ‘holy,’ & treated as if they have mystical power�.Profane: Objects of everyday use.Cannot come into contact with sacred objects, so they don’t make them ‘unclean.’
How does Emile Durkheim argue what religions are defined by?
Emile Durkheim argues that religions are defined by the fact that they categorise all objects in society as ‘sacred’ or ‘profane.’Other characteristics (e.g. belief in a god) are not shared by all religions everywhere.Durkheim found sacred/profane distinction even in what he saw as ‘simplest’ religions: Australian ‘totemism’ in tribes�.-Ubiquity of this distinction makes it the hallmark of religious life�.
Describe Durkheim’s “Tribal Totems”:
each group has its own symbolic representation, which is sacred to it alone.People in a specific tribe may be forbidden to eat the animal that represents their tribe.-Individuals in tribe may wear some symbolic representation of the shared totem: they mark their allegiance to the tribe�
How does the sacred/profane distinction extend to people?
people: the group is defined as ‘those with access to sacred things.’Thus, for Durkheim, in worshipping totems, society is in effect worshipping itself. Functionalist view: religion helps ensure social solidarity�.
Negative vs Positive Rites
Negative: Rites of initiation, designed for ritual purification, before new members can join religion� (hazing…)Positive: Shared celebrations (feasts, worship), in which believers come together as one�
For Durkheim, how are religious rites the most important aspect of religion? Who is usually allowed to participate?
because these are when members of religion come together in formalised performances of religious beliefs.May include church services, retelling of ancient legends�.-Only those who have been formally admitted to religion may participate. Therefore, even membership is ritualised: you are admitted to group in formal ceremony�.
Collective Effervescence
Ecstatic feeling of joy, almost of intoxication, which some believers feel in shared worship.Durkheim attributes it to sense of losing your individuality in the community�.-People may suspend individual morality and behave ‘irrationally’ whilst in such situations�-He speculates that this consists of a dissolution of your normal self: you are lost in society.Rejoicing comes from being made aware of society as a whole�
