SOC313H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Educational Sciences, Jonathan Haidt, Erik Erikson
Document Summary
Religion is a complex phenomenon for sociologists to study. Much of the complexity stems from what aspects of religion we choose to emphasize. 2 definitions of religion: substantice definitions: what religion is, functional definitions: what religion does. However we can further distinguish between: 2) spirituality: a set of beliefs that through shared values , organized religion: a set of social institutions, groups buildings and resources. Intrinsic religiousness: the importance an individual gives to the personal meaning of religion. Extrinsic religiousness: consists of involvement in religion whereby individuals find comfort in social connections and social networks based out of their religion. Beliefs about god/divine being: divine support (closeness to god), divine control, images of god) Beliefs about sin, life after death, and literalism of religious texts. For durkheim, religion expresses a collective consciousness: a shared sentiment and a shared way of understanding the world. Everyday clothes, food, ways of speaking and behaving, etc)
