SOCA03Y3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Biblical Literalism, Asceticism, Protestant Work Ethic
SOCA03Y3 – LEC04 - Religion
Purpose of Religion
• Durkheim on Religion
o System of beliefs and practices related to sacred things
o Helps maintain order for smooth functioning of society
• Critiques of Functionalism
o Ignores dysfunctional aspect
o Some religions are very strict
o Sacred/profane overly rigid
o Competition with other identity sources
o Little room for agency
§ Some religions are too strict and have too many rules
• Marx on Religion
o “a spiritual response to a condition of alienation”
§ More industrialized and specialized jobs àalienated from the society
o Having a religion maintain inequality
o Religion will disappear after the revolution
• Critiques of Marx
o Ignores positive role of religion
o Some religions actively challenge inequality
o Textbook error: liberation theology is not a fundamentalist religion that
advocates biblical literalism. It brings together New Testament teaching with
critique and influence from Marxism
• Weber on Religion
o Focus on subjective meaning to individuals
o Mysticism-harmony
o Asceticism-mastery
11
SOCA03Y3 Full Course Notes
Verified Note
11 documents
Document Summary
Purpose of religion: durkheim on religion, system of beliefs and practices related to sacred things, helps maintain order for smooth functioning of society, critiques of functionalism. Ignores dysfunctional aspect: some religions are very strict, sacred/profane overly rigid, competition with other identity sources, little room for agency. Some religions are too strict and have too many rules: marx on religion, a spiritual response to a condition of alienation . More industrialized and specialized jobs alienated from the society: having a religion maintain inequality, religion will disappear after the revolution, critiques of marx. Ignores positive role of religion: some religions actively challenge inequality, textbook error: liberation theology is not a fundamentalist religion that advocates biblical literalism. It brings together new testament teaching with critique and influence from marxism: weber on religion, focus on subjective meaning to individuals, mysticism-harmony, asceticism-mastery. Define simplified categories to help us think about things.
