SOCIOL 101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 25: Unchurched, Opiate
16 Jun 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
Sociology 101
Lecture 25
Religion as cultural universal
- 85% of world population has religious belief
- sociologists interested in
- social impacts of religion on person and institution
- not in proving or disapproving beliefs/experiences
Sociology of religion
- first studied by Emile Durkheim
- religion
- unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things
- sacred
- elements beyond everyday life that inspire awe, respect fear
- profane
- ordinary and commonplace
Two major areas of study
- examine substantive beliefs
- understand norms and values of different faiths
- examine social functions of religion
- provide social support
- reinforce social norms
Type of religious organizations
- denomination
- large, organized religion not officially linked to government
- ecclesia
- religious organization that claims to include most/all members of society and is
recognized as national/official religion
- ex. Buddhism - Thailand
- ex. Islam - Saudi Arabia
- new religious movement/cult
- small, secretive religious group that represents either new religion or innovation
of existing faith
- sect
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
85% of world population has religious belief sociologists interested in social impacts of religion on person and institution. Sociology of religion first studied by emile durkheim religion. Unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things sacred. Elements beyond everyday life that inspire awe, respect fear. Understand norms and values of different faiths. Denomination large, organized religion not officially linked to government. Ecclesia religious organization that claims to include most/all members of society and is recognized as national/official religion. New religious movement/cult small, secretive religious group that represents either new religion or innovation of existing faith. Sect small religious group that broke away from some other religious organization to renew what it considers original version of faith. Conflict religion as potential obstacle to structural social change. Max"s view of religion as opiate religion reinforces existing powers of dominance religion as potential source of structural social change liberation theology.
