The Similarities and Differences between Belief Systems and Ideologies Flashcards
The nature of belief systems and ideologies
What is the definition of a belief system?
A system in which members of the group share a commitment to a set of beliefs and values that systematically defines a way of perceiving the social, cultural, physical and psychological world. Belief systems can be categorised as religious and non-religious. Both have rituals, symbols, stories, traditions and customs.
What is the definition of a ideology?
An organised collection or body of ideas that reflects the beliefs, values and interests of a group, system, institution or nation. In general use, the term refers to the body of doctrine, myth and symbols held by the group that guides individual and group actions.
What are the Similarities between Ideologies and belief systems?
Founded on a set of beliefs and values
Symbols that unify people with particular values
Provide sense of purpose and explain ways of perceiving the world
Level of hierarchy - levels of adherents who are passionate
Function at micro, meso, and marco
Concerned with creating the best societies and futures possible
Form of moral judgement
They often dictate how adherents should live their lives, interact with others, and approach societal issues → higher levels of commitment and sacrifice
Make use of doctrines and rules
beliefs and ideologies can be good/bad, based on evidence or not, positive/negative, depending on a person’s perspective
Important people in hierarchy
Both require belief in something
Produce a worldview
Both influence all levels of society
Both unify people together
Have some sort of text that they follow
Created for the people by the people
Appoint leadership
Nature and values dominate reliability, honesty, commitment, consistency, loyalty
What are the differences between Ideologies and belief systems?
Ideologies are not always religious
Ideologies are impersonal and are derived from theory
Ideologies aim to make a global societal change
Ideologies don’t have a belief in a greater being/deity
Ideologies have a more contemporary focus
beliefs more personal - usually centres around an individual’s own relationship with their faith
Belief systems a a full mindset and commitment, whereas ideologies reflects an interest of an individual
Belief systems tend to focus more on traditional values whereas Ideologies reflect contemporary values, and can be political
Belief systems can include religious belief systems which often answer existential questions such as life after death. Whereas, ideologies do not.
characteristics of belief systems: personal commitment, independent existence, long lifespan, boundaries are undefined
Belief systems required commitment to a set of beliefs
Belief systems are an institution
most belief systems, unlike ideologies, are based on acknowledgement of a presence greater than the human experience (usually gods), and of transcendence
beliefs systems: word “systems” indicates these are more organised systems, whereas an ideology is less organised, more ingrained
conditions of an ideology: concerns a significant number of people, coherent system, enacts change (proactive response)
ideologies often linked to power and change within society
What are characteristics of a belief system?
A belief system has an existence independent of the believer. A believer is likely only exposed to a small part of the belief system.
The lifespan of the belief is longer than that of a believer
They are concerned in part with the existence or non-existence of certain conceptual entities eg. a god.
The elements of a belief system are not consensual.
The boundaries of the belief system are often undefined.
Belief systems are often concerned with representations of alternative worlds eg. what the world is and what is should/could be
They often have evaluative components eg. a set of definitions that characterise things as either good or bad.
Beliefs can be held with varying degrees of certitude.
What are characteristics of a Ideology?
The ideas concerned must be shared by a significant number of people
The ideas must form some kind of coherent system
The ideas must connect in some way to the use of power in society
An ideology is proactive and will dictate what your actions or policies are.
