SOC 019 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Ninian Smart

• School: University of Vermont
• Department: Sociology
• Course: SOC 019
• Professor: Matsumoto

Document Summary

Insider"s viewpoint: the idea that one furthers their understanding when being part of a religion. Outsider"s viewpoint: supposes that no religious commitment is needed to be able to understand a religion. Analyze: look at the components and break everything apart in order to understand them individually. Synthesize: use one"s understanding of the individual components to generate a new understanding of the larger concept. Ninian smart: scottish scholar of religion (focused on hinduism but interested in the worldwide phenomenon of religion). Ritual: what one does with their body to interact with their god(s) or sacred objects. Doctrine/philosophy: the ideas/beliefs and underlying truths of the religions. For many americans, if you believe in these philosophies then you are considered part of that religion. Legal/ethical: the way one is to live their life. Social/institutional: hierarchy set in place by the religion. Experiential/emotion: qualitatively different than other experiences or emotions.