SOCY1050 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Abrahamic Religions, Totem, Social Forces
Lecture 10 - Religion
What is religion?
cultural system of commonly held beliefs and rituals that provides a sense of ultimate
meaning and purpose by creating an idea of reality that is sacred, all encompassing,
and supernatural
Three sociological characteristics:
1. It is a form of culture
2. has beliefs that take the form of ritualised culture
3. provides purpose and meaning to peoples lives
people have had religious beliefs since the beginning of recorded history
every known culture has had some form of religious belief
form of knowledge based on faith rather than empirical evidence
has a profound effect on human behaviour
Sociology is focused on:
the social effects of religion, rather than whether beliefs are true or false
human practices of religion
social organisation + institutional effects of religion
social solidarity and controls that religion imposes
conflict, power and change
the appeal of religion in the face of other social forces
World Religions:
totemism and animism: based on kinship groups
Ritual activities centred around totems
belief in a multitude of spirits, indivisible from the natural world
Pantheistic, or polytheistic
Judaism, Christianity and Islam (Big Three Abrahamic Religions):
Monotheistic
Judaism = oldest: >3000 years old
jewish people stateless until after the second world war
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Christianity emerged from Judaism following the life of Jesus Christ
Catholicism = worlds largest + wealthiest religion, power centred in the Pope
other Christian faiths emerged following the Reformation
Islam: emerged from the teachings of the Prophet Mohammed in the 7th century
religion with little hierarchy: focused on the individual and God
one billion adherents
worlds fastest growing religion
Hinduism
oldest religion: >6000 years old
polytheistic - v. diverse and complex
Reincarnation a central belief and means of social order
e.g. caste system in India
demonstrates how religion can impose social control
Religions of the East
Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism
no god/s - set of ethics and values that guide existence
Religious Fundamentalism
strict adherence to a set of beliefs
literal interpretation of scripture
no room for contrasting views
belief they are the chosen ones
relatively new concept - based in politics
militant defence of traditional morality
duty to proselytise (recruit others into the belief)
exists in all major religions
Usually has a political element
a product of its social context
Classic Sociology and Religion
Marx, Durkheim and Weber
were all atheists
took an outsiders view of religion
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
What is religion? cultural system of commonly held beliefs and rituals that provides a sense of ultimate meaning and purpose by creating an idea of reality that is sacred, all encompassing, and supernatural. World religions: totemism and animism: based on kinship groups. Ritual activities centred around totems belief in a multitude of spirits, indivisible from the natural world. Judaism, christianity and islam ((cid:1684)big three(cid:1685) abrahamic religions): Judaism = oldest: >3000 years old jewish people stateless until after the second world war. Christianity emerged from judaism following the life of jesus christ. Catholicism = world(cid:1685)s largest + wealthiest religion, power centred in the pope other christian faiths emerged following the reformation. Islam: emerged from the teachings of the prophet mohammed in the 7th century religion with little hierarchy: focused on the individual and god one billion adherents world(cid:1685)s fastest growing religion. Hinduism oldest religion: >6000 years old polytheistic - v. diverse and complex.
