INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY A Canadian Focus Ninth Edition

Chapter 11 Religion Introduction Religion in Canada Weekly attendance has declined, but most people still believe God exists More identify with Roman Catholicism than with other religions Increases in number of Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs 16% now say “No Religion” Table 11.1 Table 11.2 Studying Religious Life Challenges: Religious experience is considered unique, but sociologists study only the consequences of the claims, not their truth Substantive definitions study what religion is Functionalist definitions study what it does Religion is a system of beliefs and practices about transcendent things, beyond ordinary things Measuring Religiosity A multidimensional approach to religious life: Experiential: contact with supernatural? Ritualistic: participation in rites Devotional: participation in praying Belief: agreement with doctrines Knowledge: understanding of beliefs Consequential: effects on everyday life Communal: association with other members Particularistic: the one way to salvation However it is measured, people exaggerate religiosity. Marx: Religion and Ideology Religion serves to justify the rule of one class over another – hierarchy was seen as divinely ordained Beliefs are comforting illusions: opium of the people Distractions from oppression Christianity is a clear example of how religion served the interest of the ruling class Focus on the next life, people don't think about their current position in this world Marxism can also be applied to Hinduism Durkheim: Religion and Social Solidarity Religion is not an unnecessary illusion; it promotes social solidarity. Society itself inspires religious convictions. The most distinctive thing is the division of life into: Sacred: things set apart and treated with awe Profane: ordinary things By participating in religious action, people contact Collective conscience: collective wisdom Collective effervescence: enthusiastic energy of a crowd Weber: Protestantism and the Rise of Capitalism Religion helped bring about modernity. More Protestants were in business than Catholics Protestants adopted an ascetic, diligent and non-materialistic approach, to their vocation to fulfil their secular tasks and this fuelled the spirit of capitalism. Luther: All people have a calling, an occupation assigned to them by God Calvinism had a doctrine of predestination, doing well became a sign of God’s favour. (cont’d) Weber: Protestantism and the Rise of Capitalism (cont’d) Protestants were driven to find solace in some covert sign of their salvation Uncertainty of one’s destiny was agony Early Protestants lead humble and industrious lives, saved money & worked hard Reinvested their profits/money in their businesses Cycle of saving and reinvesting was pivotal in the rise of capitalism Understanding Forms of Religious Life Many studies dealt with how religion affects our lives: prejudice, mental health, sex, politics, etc. Recent studies have been about new movements, e.g., Unification Church, Wicca, and other cults, and mass suicides and murders. Types: Church: organizations into which people are born universal church (Catholic) ecclesia national church (Anglican) denomination (Baptist) (cont’d) Understanding Forms of Religious Life (cont’d) Sect: organizations to which people convert as a result of emotional experience (Jehovah’s Witness, an established sect, and Worldwide Church of God) Cult: a closed religious system Birth and transformation of religious movements continually occurs. In different parts of the world, a group could be a sect, a denomination, or ecclesia. Secularization & The Theory of Religious Economics Process by which sectors of society are removed from the domination of religious institutions. The Theory of Religious Economics: The new theory of religion Religions should be viewed as business firms Have a product to sell, need to attract members, etc. Marketing a supernatural product (cont’d) Theory of Religious Economics (cont’d) Market Compensators Reward must be of immense value Difficult to evaluate if the specific strategy will lead to the reward Religion has immense rewards and impossible to disprove strategy Priest/Minister Sales staff Market their product Religion and Identity Religion as part of an ethnic identity Catholicism as part of the Irish identity in the 1800s: Rising support for Irish nationalism and independence Idea that “being Catholic” was central to the Irish identity Thinking Further about Religion in Canada In English Canada, ties with Britain made Anglican and Presbyterian Churches dominant with elites. Levels of regular practice have declined In Quebec, the Roman Catholic Church ruled until the Quebec state extended its responsibilities. Now attendance has declined greatly Fewer Canadians are religious than Americans, but Canadians are more truly religious. (cont’d) Thinking Further about Religion in Canada (cont’d) Invisible religion is practised by many people: Pervasive, non-institutionalized Highly individualistic spirituality Canadians inhabit an environment of Denominations Invisible religion Religion in the 21st Century No change in 130 years in proportion of Catholics in Canadian population No change in proportion of Canadians that believe in God and an afterlife Increase in proportion of American population that are part of a conservative form of Christianity (cont’d) Religion in the 21st Century (cont’d) Emphasis is on revivalism and innovation. Shift in religious consciousness to Individualism: what can be done for me Religious experience: people want to be moved Pragmatic approach to authority and practice Greater tolerance for other systems, and their beliefs and practices are integrated: syncretism Holistic approach Suspicion of institutionalization Click to edit Master title style Click to edit Master subtitle style * * *