SOC 1101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: The Postmodern Condition, John Calvin, Religious Symbolism

• School: University of Ottawa
• Department: Sociology
• Course: SOC 1101
• Professor: Halyna Mokrushyna

Document Summary

Religion: system of beliefs, symbols, and rituals, based on some sacred or supernatural realm, that guides human behaviour, gives meaning to life, and unites believers into a community. Religion is essential to the maintenance of society. Found in all societies because it met basic human needs and served important societal functions. Religion is an example of an ideology: a systematic view of the way the world ought to be. As an ideology, it does several things: supports the status quo, offers legitimacy to the ruling class, promotes strife between groups and societies. Religion is the (cid:862)opiate of the (cid:373)asses(cid:863: max weber: The protestants ethic and the spirit of capitalism (1904-1905): the protestant. Reformation (especially calvinism) provided a religious ethic that served as one factor in the development of capitalism. The religious teachings of john calvin: the damned and the saved. Those who have faith, perform good works, and achieve economic success are more likely to go to heaven.