1. Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2007 Chapter 17 Religion In Conflict and Order: Understanding Society, 11 th edition This multimedia product and its contents are protected under copyright law. The following are prohibited by law: any public performance or display, including transmission of any image over a network; preparation of any derivative work, including the extraction, in whole or in part, of any images; any rental, lease, or lending of the program.

2. Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2007 Sociological Study of Religion Sociologists study religion for two fundamental reasons –Religion is a ubiquitous phenomenon that has tremendous impact on human behavior. –Sociologists study religion because of its influence on society and society’s influence on religion.

3. Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2007 What is Religion? Religion is a social construction. Religion deals with the ultimate of human concerns—the meaning of life and death. There is an emphasis on human conduct. There is a distinction between the sacred and the secular.

4. Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2007 What is Religion? Because the sacred is held in awe, there are beliefs to express and reinforce proper attitudes among believers about the sacred. Rituals consist of symbolic actions that reinforce the collective remembering of the group’s shared meanings. An essential ingredient of religion is the existence of a community of believers.

5. Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2007 Classical Sociology’s Differing Interpretations of Religion Religion from the Order Perspective of Emile Durkheim –As people meet to affirm common beliefs and values, they are bound together in a moral community.

6. Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2007 Classical Sociology’s Differing Interpretations of Religion Religion from the Conflict Perspective of Karl Marx –Religion inhibits societal change by making social arrangements seem right and inevitable. –Religion promotes the status quo. –Religion is the ultimate tool to promote false consciousness.

7. Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2007 Classical Sociology’s Differing Interpretations of Religion Max Weber’s view of Religion and Social Change –Religious ideology serves as the catalyst for economic change. –Weber’s analysis of the relationship between Calvinist ideology and the rise of capitalism demonstrates this.

8. Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2007 Some Distinctive Features of U.S. Religion Civil Religion is the belief that “God and country” are one. Although most people in the U.S. identify with Christianity, there is a wide variety of religious belief in the U.S. Religious Organizations –Church –Sect –Cults

9. Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2007 Class, Race, Gender, Sexuality, and Religion The Relationship between Social Class and Religion –The lower the social class, the greater the probability of belonging to a religious sect. –There is a relationship between social class and denomination. –The higher the social class of the member, the greater his or her involvement and influence in the local church.

10. Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2007 Class, Race, Gender, Sexuality, and Religion Religious groups hold beliefs or behave in ways that support the racial, gender, and sexuality norms of society.

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12. Religious Trends Decline in the Mainline Denominations –The reasons for the decline in the mainline denominations are not altogether clear. –These churches are often bureaucratic and impersonal. –Their beliefs are pluralistic.

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14. Religious Trends Rise of Christian Fundamentalism –Emphasis on converting other people to their faith –Emphasis on community –Offer the truth –Instance that society has made wrong choices and that we must go back to laws and customs based on biblical truths –Evangelicals appeal directly to youth and young adults –Some of these churches have become huge

15. Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2007 Religion from the Order and Conflict Perspectives From the Order Perspective –Emphasis is placed on the solidarity functions of religion, which is seen as good. From the Conflict Perspective –Religious beliefs have negative consequences because they sanctify the status quo. –Religion legitimates the interests of the powerful while also justifying the existence of inequality.