SOC100H5 Chapter Notes - Chapter 10: Symbolic Interactionism, Social Inequality, Liquid Oxygen

• School: UTM
• Department: Sociology
• Course: SOC100H5
• Professor: Nathan Innocente

Document Summary

Religion offers believers immortality, the promise of better times to come, and the security of benevolent spirits who watch over believers: it provides meaning and purpose in a world that might otherwise seem cruel and senseless. William james argued that the motivation for religion may be psychological. Lo1 classical approaches in the sociology of religion. Collective effervescence: things like the stanley cup finals excite us by making us feel part of something larger than us. Collective conscience: the common sentiments and values that people share as a result of living together. Profane: refers to the secular everyday world. Sacred: refers to the religious transcendent world. Rituals: set practices designed to connect people to the sacred. Durkheim says that there is a lower suicide rate when social solidarity increases: these events include like christmas, and sports events as well. Durkheim"s theory of religion is a functionalist account: it offers useful insights into the role of religion in society.