1. Religion

2. Religion as a Social Institution
Set of institutionalized beliefs and practices that deal with the meaning of life
Beliefs and actions related to the supernatural
Relieves anxiety when the world doesn’t make sense

3. Elements of Religion Religious Beliefs:
Define the supernatural/divine order, clarify humans’ role
Organize perceptions of the world
Create a guide for behavior

4. Elements of Religion Religious Beliefs:
Myth: Narrative stories about supernatural forces or beings
Serve to express core beliefs and teach morality
Transmit information about survival and conservation
Doctrine: Direct statements about religious beliefs
Written, formal

5. Elements of Religion Religious Rituals:
Formal enactments of religious beliefs
Activities have symbolic meanings

6. Elements of Religion
Religious Rituals:
Periodic rituals

7. Elements of Religion Religious Rituals: Periodic rituals
Life-cycle rituals
Separation
Transition
Reintegration

8. Elements of Religion Religious Rituals: Periodic rituals
Life-cycle rituals
Separation
Transition
Reintegration
Pilgrimage

9. Elements of Religion Religious Rituals: Periodic rituals
Life-cycle rituals
Separation
Transition
Reintegration
Pilgrimage
Rituals of inversion

10. Elements of Religion Religious Rituals: Periodic rituals
Life-cycle rituals
Separation
Transition
Reintegration
Pilgrimage
Rituals of inversion
Sacrifice

11. Elements of Religion Subjective Experiences:
Arise out of rituals and beliefs
Religion provides framework to interpret inner states

12. Elements of Religion Community:
Shared beliefs, rituals, experiences create a community of believers

13. An Evolutionary Model of Religion
Magic  Religion  Science
Magic: People’s attempt to compel supernatural forces/beings to act in certain ways
Imitative magic:
Contagious magic:
Arose out of need for explanation; esp. difference between living and dead
Animism:

14. A Functionalist Theory of Religion
Durkheim: Societies distinguish between
Sacred: That which is holy, inspires awe, must be treated with respect
Profane: Ordinary, everyday things that may be treated casually

15. A Functionalist Theory of Religion
Totem: Sacred emblem that members of a group treat with reverence
To Durkheim, totems were symbols of deity and symbols of society
Experiences we categorize as religious are responses to social forces
Role of science vs. role of religion

16. A Conflict Theory of Religion
Marx:
Religion serves the interests of the ruling elite
Masks the exploitation of the workers and the class inequality of capitalism
Alienation

17. Religion as an Agent of Social Change
Weber:
Calvinism:
Doctrine of Predestination
Worldly Asceticism

18. Types of Religious Organizations
Established church
Organization that claims unique legitimacy
Has positive relationship with society

19. Types of Religious Organizations
Sect
Organization that claims unique legitimacy
Stands apart from society

20. Types of Religious Organizations
Denomination
Organization that accepts legitimacy of other religions
Has positive relationship with society

21. Types of Religious Organizations
Cult
Organization that accepts legitimacy of other religions
Has negative relationship with society

22. Dilemmas of Institutionalization
Mixed motivations
Symbol systems
Organization
Letter vs. spirit of religious law
Conversion vs. coercion