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Ch. 19 Religion and Society

Ch. 19 Religion and Society. Religion: Basic Concepts. Religion is a social institution involving beliefs and practices based on recognizing the sacred. Sacred: what people set apart as extraordinary, inspiring awe and reverence Profane: ordinary elements of life

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Ch. 19 Religion and Society

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  1. Ch. 19 Religion and Society

  2. Religion: Basic Concepts Religion is a social institution involving beliefs and practices based on recognizing the sacred. • Sacred: what people set apart as extraordinary, inspiring awe and reverence • Profane: ordinary elements of life • Ritual: formal ceremonial behaviour • Faith: belief anchored in conviction rather than scientific evidence • Estimated10,000 distinct religions worldwide

  3. The Global Religious Landscape(Pew Research 2012 http://www.pewforum.org/2012/12/18/global-religious-landscape-exec/) • more than 8 in 10 people (80%) identify with a religious group • 1 in 6 people around the globe (1.1 billion, or 16%) have no religious affiliation • unaffiliated the third-largest religious group worldwide, behind Christians and Muslims • Christians most evenly dispersed globally • Median age varies by religious group: • Muslim (23); Hindus (26); Christians (30); unaffiliated (34); Buddhists (34); Jews (36) How Religion Spread around the World

  4. Who is God? • Who is God? Youtube clip from The Story of God with Morgan Freeman, National Geographic Channel 2018 • Watch the entire series The Story of God on National Geographic TV http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/the-story-of-god-with-morgan-freeman/

  5. Is Religion Important? • A Leger Marketing poll in 2012 found that less than half of Canadians say religion in important in their lives, two-thirds of the population say they believe in God • Regional, gender and age differences • Prairies highest, Quebec lowest • Women more than men, and older more than younger say religion is a “force in their lives” • (Source: http://news.nationalpost.com/holy-post/religion-not-important-to-most-canadians-although-majority-believe-in-god-poll)

  6. Functions of Religion: Structural-Functional Analysis Functions of religion: • Social cohesion • Social control • Political leaders ask for blessing • Providing meaning and purpose • Marks life course transitions, e.g., weddings and funerals Critique: Religion generates social conflict and provokes violence

  7. Constructing the Sacred: Symbolic-Interaction Analysis Religion is socially constructed • Difference between sacred and profane is sharpened with rituals • Defining oneself within the “cosmic frame of reference” gives sense of security and permanence Critique: Ignores link to inequality and conflict

  8. Inequality and Religion: Social-Conflict Analysis Religion serves hierarchy by… • Legitimizing the status quo and diverting people from inequalities to better world to come • Marx: “opium of the people” Critique: religion can promote change: • Helped abolish slavery and promoted civil rights • Supports progressive causes

  9. Religion and Social Change Max Weber: Protestantism and Capitalism • Calvinists sought signs of salvation • Worked hard and gained assets, but • Reinvested instead of spending them • Thought economic success showed God’s favour • This became the foundation of capitalism

  10. Religious Organizations • Church: a type of religious organization well integrated into the larger community • State church: is formally allied with the state • Denomination: independent of the state • Sect: stands apart from the larger society • Charisma: extraordinary personal qualities • New religious movement: movement to renew an existing church • Cult: largely outside the cultural traditions

  11. Religion in History • Animism: belief that elements of the natural world are conscious life forms that affect humanity is found among hunter gatherers • Concept of single divine power responsible for creation emerged with pastoral and horticultural societies • Industrial revolution and science led to differentiation: science for how the world works and religion for why we and it exists • Current debate: creationism vs. Darwinism • Should both be taught in schools? The five major world religions - John Bellaimey

  12. Christianity • More than 2 billion followers globally (31.5%) • 85% of Canadians and Americans • Christianity originated as a cult • Monotheism: belief in a single divine power • Polytheism: belief in many gods • Jesus is considered divine and was crucified making the cross a central symbol • Takes many forms: Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, Orthodox, and others

  13. Islam • 1.3 billion followers worldwide (23.2%) • Muslims are found predominantly in the Middle East, Asia, and North Africa ((in Canada, 2% of population) • Islam is the word of God as revealed to the prophet Muhammad, born in Mecca about 570. • The Qur’an: submission to Allah as path to inner peace • Five Pillars of Islam: • Recognize Allah as the one true God • Ritual prayer • Giving alms to the poor • Fasting during Ramadan • Making a pilgrimage to Mecca

  14. Judaism • 15 million followers and a national majority in Israel but only .2% globally • Belief: covenant exists between God and the Jewish people • emphasizes moral behaviourin world not salvation • Three main denominations • Orthodox: very traditional • Reform Judaism: more churchlike • Conservative Judaism: the middle ground • Anti-Semitism: prejudice and discrimination against Jews a global issue.

  15. Hinduism • Oldest of all religions with 800 Million followers • Found mostly in South Asia and Africa • Not linked to one person and no sacred writings • Principles: • DHARMA moral responsibilities • KARMA refers to belief in spiritual progress through REINCARNATION, cycle of birth and rebirth • MOKSHA: state of spiritual perfection

  16. Buddhism • 325 million followers, almost all Asians (5% of global population) • Resembles Hinduism in doctrine • Inspired by Siddhartha Gautama, who achieved enlightenment, NIRVANA, and became a Buddha • Life involves suffering • Use meditation to move beyond selfish concerns and desires

  17. Confucianism • 100s of millions of Chinese are influenced by it • Confucius instructed his followers to engage in the world according to a strict code of moral conduct • JEN: subordination of self to moral principle • No sense of sacred, rather a sense of disciplined living

  18. Religion in Canada • Roman Catholic: 43.6% • Protestant: 29.2% • “No Religion”: 17% • Muslim: 2%, • Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, Sikh: 1% each Religiosity: the importance of religion in life • 84% believe in God; • 20% attend services weekly

  19. Decrease in Religious Affiliation • According to a Pew Research Poll (June, 2018) • Young adults (18-39) are less religious in almost every nation than are older adults (40+) • Canada has the biggest difference globally between younger and older: 49% of adults under 40 vs. 77% of older adults are affiliated are affiliated • Pew also notes that “the few countries where young adults are more religious than their elders all have something in common: a recent history of violent conflicts leading to civilian deaths”.

  20. Religion in a Changing Society • Fundamentalism: conservative doctrine that opposes intellectualism and worldly accommodation in favour of restoring traditional otherworldly religion • Interprets texts literally • Rejects religious pluralism • Pursues the personal experience of God’s presence • Opposes “secular humanism” • Endorses conservative political goals • Is not as strong in Canada as in the U.S. and elsewhere

  21. Religion in a Changing Society • Secularization: historical decline in importance of the supernatural and sacred • Civil religion: quasi-religious loyalty to a secular society, or one’s way of life • Spirituality without formal religion: “New Age” believe in higher power and spirits • Religious revival: membership and church going has plummeted over the last decades, but conservative religious organizations have benefited

  22. Fastest Growing Religions • Muslims have the highest growth rate at 70% by 2060 • Partly because younger mean age) • Followed by Christians and Hindus • Buddhism will decline (lower fertility and older mean age) • Religiously unaffiliated will shrink as %of global population • https://www.pewforum.org/2017/04/05/the-changing-global-religious-landscape/

  23. Pew Polls (2017) predict:

  24. Religion in 2050(Pew-Templeton Global Religious Futures Report http://www.globalreligiousfutures.org)

  25. Religious Typology Quiz (Pew Research 2018) • https://www.pewforum.org/quiz/religious-typology/ • Question: Will religion remain a major institution in society of the future?

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