Tocqueville - Religion

Question 1

Tocqueville on religion in the age of public opinion

Answer 1

secondary role to play in America, but this role will guarantee its survival
doesn’t seem to agree with secularization, rather with its persistence
atomized society: individualism – forgets collective interests + how to combine
greater self confidence in their own opinions

Question 2

Tocqueville on religion in the age of public opinion

Answer 2

empiricist: instead of deferring to other people’s thought, relies more on personal experience, believes empiricism can explain everything
quite scientific with knowledge
pg. 430: easily led to conclusion that everything can be explained – like Weber
Americans ready to deny everything they can understand
Invincible distaste for supernatural

Question 3

Oddly, religion is compatible with rationality

Answer 3

in old Europe: ppl think religion – institution that help prop up inequality
in America: religion doesn’t carry same connotation because it doesn’t come from feudal past
religion doesn’t have same anti-enlightenment, has a diff pedigree, diff connotations

Question 4

No one starts from scratch: cognitive – shut off

Answer 4

we all depend on preexisting ideas
we’d be incapable of functioning if we don’t have taken for granted past ideas + traditions
public opinion: common sense idea, morals, shared ideas, not challenged
provides fundamental notions that help people survive, provides guidance

Question 5

No one starts from scratch: cognitive – shut off

Answer 5

public opinion + religion compatible – religion is included in public opinion
John Duey: habit – symbolic interactionist – so long as they work
Moments of crisis that we become more rational
Taken for granted ways of behaving shaped by public opinion
Religious beliefs part of public opinion

Question 6

Institutional: Church had more power – role in rule, education

Answer 6

greater separation of political institutions + religious institutions
religion doesn’t trespass over boundaries
not opposed to democracy
has been segregated + dependent on public opinion
religion is needed for guidance (cognitive), segregation will ensure its survival
variation frames sociological questions

Question 7

Institutional: Church had more power – role in rule, education

Answer 7

variation frames sociological questions
arguing on variation of its survival: religion is segregated – more likely to survive, betw feudal past vs. egalitarian
strength of religious beliefs betw men + women
public opinion somewhat marginalized women: conditioned religious experience
See variations in egalitarian societies
Explain variations in independent variables