Sociology 1020 Lecture 11: Religion
10 Jan 2017
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Document Summary
People come to share common sentiments and values, which then form a collective conscience that is larger than the individual. Historically the study of religion was done sociologically. Collective conscience: comprises the common sentiments and values that people share as a result of living together. Profane: refers to the secular, everyday world. Sacred: refers to the religious, transcendent world. Rituals: public practise designed to connect people to the sacred. Overemphasizes religion"s role in maintaining social cohesion. Ignores the fact that when religion does increase social cohesion, it often reinforces social inequality. In the protestant ethic and spirit of capitalism, weber made a connection between the rise of capitalism and the meanings people attached to religious ideas. Calvinism was rooted int he need to prove intense worldly activity through displays of industry, punctuality, and frugality in everyday life. These values are paralleled in the development of early capitalism and the rise of industry.
