The Sociology of Religion

Religion is a serious phenomenon

‘Faith’ or ‘Religion’ ?

• Faith is ‘an orientation of the self’ - faith relates to the internal conviction, associated beliefs, attitudes;

• ‘Religion’ relates to the formal expression of the internal conviction (normally socially expressed)

Sociologically speaking, what is religion?

– A social institution that develops in history

– It relates in some way to the supernatural

– Religion is a group phenomenon that is concerned with

responses to existential questions (i.e big questions!)

– Just as religion moulds individual action, so it is in turn

developed by events

– It develops over time

Religiosity

• How religious a society is, looking at, for example, beliefs and practices

Durkheim (1912) a classical sociologist

• A unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things, that is to say, things set apart and forbidden – beliefs and practices which unite into one single moral community called a Church, all those who adhere to them.

Source: Aldridge, 2004, pg 8

Sacredness

• You are in awe of it• It is special and powerful• Different religions have different scared

things• Durkheim believed that sharing scared

things unites people

Sacred examples

• Buddhist – a noble person, begging bowl, mandala, incense burner, singing bowl, etc

• Christian – bible, cross, holy water, rosary and some buildings

Jewish - Yarmulke or Kipa, Tallit & Tzitzit

• Sikhism - the Guru Granth Sahib (the Holy book)

• Muslin - the Quaran, the Ka’aba and black stone

• Hindu - the cow, bindi, tilak, yantra

Contemporary Definitions

• Inclusive

• Exclusive

Inclusive – Functional and necessary to society – It considers what religion does for its followers

and guides them– Believes that beliefs about forces that shapes

human destiny , what shapes man– Avoid referring to supernatural, transcendental

or other worldly powers– It unites beliefs and practices

Inclusive• Strengths

– To think beyond major religions e.g. Christianity– Inclusive, less likely to be ethnocentric– encourages analysis if what purpose religion is

within a culture• Weakness

– some sociologists find it to broad– includes too much, stretching the definition to include

everyone and everything. – Bruce sees reference to World Cup is that religion is

losing its significance

Exclusive definition

• Substantive – they say what religion is• Refers to beliefs practices and institutions

that advocate powers or beings not of this world

• Superhuman/supernatural• Restrictive and exclude links to football

teams or celebrities

Exclusive• Strengths

– Sociologists favour them– Closer to what we understand religion to be– Excludes secular activities

• Weakness– Definitions may be to narrow– It only applies to some religions in some social

contexts– Advantages & Disadvantages of being a religion

• Aldrifge 2004 – Tax concessions, Social acceptance

WHAT IS A SOCIAL INSTITUTION?

• ‘Stable sets of statuses, roles, groups and organisations…[that] provide the foundation for addressing fundamental social needs’ (Newman, D. M. (2000) Sociology. Exploring the architecture of everyday life.

• ‘holding society together…by providing ordered and structured ways of doing things that continue over long periods of time…[and tend to] perpetuate social inequality’ Penny Jaffray

The Social Functions of Religion

• Religion articulates a culture’s “beliefs” and conception of “the beyond.”

• Durkheim saw religion as worship of society, not as worship of a deity:– “…rites are a means through which a group

reaffirms itself.”– Religious rites strengthen commonly-held

attitudes.

Providing Emotional Support and Security for Believers

• Religion provides meaning in a natural world in which humans have little or no control over certain phenomena. Humans use religion to deal with:– Dependence– Powerlessness– Scarcity

• Religion offers a transcendental relationship with “the beyond,” which provides people with– New security– A firmer identity in this world (believers and

priests) and the next

Religion Provides Social Control

• As Durkheim implied, religion sacralizes the norms and values of established society, maintaining the dominance of group goals over individual wishes: Religion is a means of social control.

Religion Provides Mechanisms for Social Change.

• Religion has served a “prophetic” function in which absolute standards take precedence over “earthly” ones.

• Religious belief is thus used as justification for social protests, social movements, political revolutions, etc.

Religion Contributes to Individuals’ Identities

• Religion is an aspect of heritage, like ethnicity.

• Religion furnishes part of individuals’ understanding of who and what they are: eg, “I am Catholic” or “I am Muslim.”

Religion is a Factor in directing the Individual’s Lifecourse

• Religion contributes to the developing identity of the individual: This is the maturation function of religion.

• Religions prescribe rites, privileges and responsibilities that are associated with life stages, as with the identity of “elder,” ceremonies for entry into “adulthood,” marriage, etc.

Marx, Durkheim, Weber

All three believed that religion in its traditional forms would die out

• Marx thought religion has a strong IDEOLOGICAL role – it teaches us not to question society – e.g. religion was often used to justify slavery.

• Durkheim identified that religion helps maintain SOCIAL COHESION/SOLIDARITY. Cohesive religious groups are often ones in conflict with other groups – name some

• Durkheim is also useful when talking about ceremony and ritual and values – define some

• Weber shows how religion can cause social change

Any of these “functions” might also be seen as “dysfunctional.”

For example, religion might recommend quietism, not social

protest; religion might instill immaturity, not personal

development.

Religion and Secular Society

• Generally, religion concerns the “sacred,” and secular society comprises the “profane.”

• However, there are important and enduring relationships between these two separate spheres.

• The religion-society link is expressed differently in different religious organizations.

Religions as Organizations• A church is a formal organization that shares features with

all formal organizations: it is bureaucratic in nature and integrated into the larger society.

• A sect is a form of religious organization that is non-bureaucratic and clearly distinct from the larger society.

• A cult is distinct not only from the larger society but from other religions as well- it does not emerge from pre-existing religious forms; it is completely new.