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Religion (Definitions (Exclusive Definition (All religions make a…
Religion
Definitions
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Definitions in use
Social constructionist. Rather than assuming what could be counted as religious practice, let’s investigate situations in which people make reference to religion.
Inclusive Definition
Religion is a system of beliefs followed by a group of people who struggle with the ultimate problems of life.
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Marx
• Views religion as serving the ruling class
• An opium of the masses – like heroin, numbs the pain
• Teaching acceptance of shit and suppression of revolting in exchange for heaven
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Durkheim
• Views religion as promoting social cohesion
• Totem – sacred object, regraded with respect and surrounded by ritual activities.
• E.g. Church, sacred because it symbolises the group
• The object of worship is society itself
• Collective effervescence – sense of group solidarity during collective ceremonies
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Religious Orgs
Howard Becker
A sect which has 'cooled down' and become an institutionalised body rather than an active protest group.
E.g. Calvinism and Methists today - formerly sects
Most loosely knit and transient of all religious organisations, composed of those who reject what they see as the values of wider society, can maintain other religious connections.
E.g. Transcendental meditation or Spiritualism or Astrology
Weber & Troeltsch
A large, well-established, formal bureaucratic structure, hierarchy of religious officials, tend to represent the conservative face of religion, and integrated into the institutional order of society.
E.g. Catholic Church or Church of England
Smaller, withdrawn from society, less organised grouping of committed believers, set up in protest of churches, few or no officials but may have charismatic leaders.
E.g. Branch Dividians (David Koresh)
NRM
Refer to the broad range of religious and spiritual groups, cults and sects that have emerged in Western countries alongside the larger mainstream religions.
Members: converted, well-educated, middle class
World Refecting
Critical of the outside world, demand significant lifestyle changes, exclusive, adhere to strict ethical codes and withdraw from activity in the outside world.
Come under intense scrutiny by state authorities, media and public because extreme sects attract great concern.
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World Accomo
Emphasise the importance of inner religious life over more worldly concerns, most like traditional religions.
Seek to reclaim the spiritual purity that they believe had been lost in traditional religious settings.
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World Affirming
More akin to self-help or therapy groups than to conventional religious groups., lack rituals, churches and formal theologies, turning their focus on members' spiritual well-being.
Seek to enhance follower's abilities to succeed in wider society by unlocking potential.
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Why
- An outcome of rapid social change instilling moral panic?
- A response to the process of liberalisation and secularisation within society and even within traditional churches?
Weber
• Views religion as revolutionary (world religions)
• Religion not necessarily a conservative force
• Religiously inspired movements have produced dramatic social transformations
• E.g. Protestant work ethic in West = Capitalism
Critique
Weber’s outlook on religion undermine Marx’s view that religion is an opium of the masses. Partially supporting Durkheim’s view of religion because uprisings bring minority groups together to fight for change
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Introduction
Definitions: Inclusive, exclusive and in use; Classical theorists: Marx, Durkheim and Weber; Religious Orgs: Church, Sect, Denomination and Cult; NRMs: world affirming, rejecting and accommodating; and, Secularisation.
Conclusion
- Long-term trend = traditional religion has declined in most Western countries.
- Religious and spiritual belief may remain powerful even if people don't choose to worship formally.
- Secularisation can't be measured via membership in mainstream churches alone.
- So, little evidence of secularisation in non-Western societies.
- Goes against predictions of Marx, Durkheim and Weber
- May be that secularisation is taking place we just haven't found a way to measure it yet.
- On the other hand, we may never grow away from religion, it may be that it's integral to society.