Sociology of religion can be summarized as follows:
1) Sociology of religion studies religious beliefs, practices, and organizations using sociological tools like surveys, interviews, and analysis of historical documents.
2) Early founders like Durkheim analyzed religion to distinguish sociology from other disciplines. Marx and Weber also studied the relationship between religion and social structure.
3) Contemporary debates center around issues like secularization, civil religion, and how religion operates in a globalized and multicultural world. Sociologists view religion both as a belief system and a social institution that shapes social action.
Sociology and Religion: Religion as a Social InstitutionRohan Byanjankar
The presentation covers: Definition of religion, components of religion, characteristics of religion, major religions of world, Views of Functionalist such as Durkheim, Views of Marx, Weberian Perspective; other related topics such as Religion and Suicide, Religion and Gender and so on.
Sociology and Religion: Religion as a Social InstitutionRohan Byanjankar
The presentation covers: Definition of religion, components of religion, characteristics of religion, major religions of world, Views of Functionalist such as Durkheim, Views of Marx, Weberian Perspective; other related topics such as Religion and Suicide, Religion and Gender and so on.
Muhammad Saud Kharal PhD in Social Science, Department of Sociology Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya Indonesia
Introduction to Sociology
How Sociologists View Society
history of sociology
The Father of Sociology
Sociological Theories or Perspectives
Functionalism
Conflict Theory
Symbolic Interaction Theory
FIGURE 15.1 Religions come in many forms, such as this large m.docxgreg1eden90113
FIGURE 15.1 Religions come in many forms, such as this large megachurch. (Credit: ToBeDaniel/Wikimedia
Commons)
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER OUTLINE
15.1 The Sociological Approach to Religion
15.2 World Religions
15.3 Religion in the United States
Why do sociologists study religion? For centuries, humankind has sought to understand and
explain the “meaning of life.” Many philosophers believe this contemplation and the desire to understand our
place in the universe are what differentiate humankind from other species. Religion, in one form or another,
has been found in all human societies since human societies first appeared. Archaeological digs have revealed
ritual objects, ceremonial burial sites, and other religious artifacts. Social conflict and even wars often result
from religious disputes. To understand a culture, sociologists must study its religion.
What is religion? Pioneer sociologist Émile Durkheim described it with the ethereal statement that it consists
of “things that surpass the limits of our knowledge” (1915). He went on to elaborate: Religion is “a unified
system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things, that is to say set apart and forbidden, beliefs and
practices which unite into one single moral community, called a church, all those who adhere to them” (1915).
Some people associate religion with places of worship (a synagogue or church), others with a practice
(confession or meditation), and still others with a concept that guides their daily lives (like dharma or sin). All
these people can agree that religion is a system of beliefs, values, and practices concerning what a person
holds sacred or considers to be spiritually significant.
Does religion bring fear, wonder, relief, explanation of the unknown or control over freedom and choice? How
do our religious perspectives affect our behavior? These are questions sociologists ask and are reasons they
study religion. What are peoples' conceptions of the profane and the sacred? How do religious ideas affect the
real-world reactions and choices of people in a society?
15Religion
Religion can also serve as a filter for examining other issues in society and other components of a culture. For
example, after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and later in during the rise and predominant of the
terrorist group ISIS, it became important for teachers, church leaders, and the media to educate Americans
about Islam to prevent stereotyping and to promote religious tolerance. Sociological tools and methods, such
as surveys, polls, interviews, and analysis of historical data, can be applied to the study of religion in a culture
to help us better understand the role religion plays in people’s lives and the way it influences society.
15.1 The Sociological Approach to Religion
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
By the end of this section, you should be able to:
• Discuss the historical view of religion from a sociological perspective
• Describe how the major sociological paradigms vie.
Muhammad Saud Kharal PhD in Social Science, Department of Sociology Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya Indonesia
Introduction to Sociology
How Sociologists View Society
history of sociology
The Father of Sociology
Sociological Theories or Perspectives
Functionalism
Conflict Theory
Symbolic Interaction Theory
FIGURE 15.1 Religions come in many forms, such as this large m.docxgreg1eden90113
FIGURE 15.1 Religions come in many forms, such as this large megachurch. (Credit: ToBeDaniel/Wikimedia
Commons)
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER OUTLINE
15.1 The Sociological Approach to Religion
15.2 World Religions
15.3 Religion in the United States
Why do sociologists study religion? For centuries, humankind has sought to understand and
explain the “meaning of life.” Many philosophers believe this contemplation and the desire to understand our
place in the universe are what differentiate humankind from other species. Religion, in one form or another,
has been found in all human societies since human societies first appeared. Archaeological digs have revealed
ritual objects, ceremonial burial sites, and other religious artifacts. Social conflict and even wars often result
from religious disputes. To understand a culture, sociologists must study its religion.
What is religion? Pioneer sociologist Émile Durkheim described it with the ethereal statement that it consists
of “things that surpass the limits of our knowledge” (1915). He went on to elaborate: Religion is “a unified
system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things, that is to say set apart and forbidden, beliefs and
practices which unite into one single moral community, called a church, all those who adhere to them” (1915).
Some people associate religion with places of worship (a synagogue or church), others with a practice
(confession or meditation), and still others with a concept that guides their daily lives (like dharma or sin). All
these people can agree that religion is a system of beliefs, values, and practices concerning what a person
holds sacred or considers to be spiritually significant.
Does religion bring fear, wonder, relief, explanation of the unknown or control over freedom and choice? How
do our religious perspectives affect our behavior? These are questions sociologists ask and are reasons they
study religion. What are peoples' conceptions of the profane and the sacred? How do religious ideas affect the
real-world reactions and choices of people in a society?
15Religion
Religion can also serve as a filter for examining other issues in society and other components of a culture. For
example, after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and later in during the rise and predominant of the
terrorist group ISIS, it became important for teachers, church leaders, and the media to educate Americans
about Islam to prevent stereotyping and to promote religious tolerance. Sociological tools and methods, such
as surveys, polls, interviews, and analysis of historical data, can be applied to the study of religion in a culture
to help us better understand the role religion plays in people’s lives and the way it influences society.
15.1 The Sociological Approach to Religion
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
By the end of this section, you should be able to:
• Discuss the historical view of religion from a sociological perspective
• Describe how the major sociological paradigms vie.
Essay 1 generally good content; but some issues with content as n.docxYASHU40
Essay 1: generally good content; but some issues with content as noted and some writing issues
Essay 2: good content, but writing issues in several places
Essay 3: good content, but lots of writing issues
Religion and Society
1. What is the “sociological perspective” and how does it impact the way we study religion? How is it different from non-social scientific (philosophical, theological) approaches to the study of religion? From other social scientific (psychological, anthropological) approaches?
The sociological perspective is a way of looking at religion that focuses on the human especially social aspects of religious belief and practice. It has two characteristics that separate it from non-scientific approaches to religion. It is empirical and objective. Sociologists usually try as much as possible to base their interpretations on empirical evidence. “They verify their images and explanations of social reality by experimental or experienced evidence. The objectivity in the sense that they do not attempt to evaluate accept or reject the content of religious beliefs .In the sociological perspective there is no religion that is superior to the other. One religion is not superior to another. Indeed the perspective does not presume the merits of religious over non-religious approaches. But if a religion has ideas on these subjects, it examines them and tries to understand them.
There are two central sociological perspectives which are: substantative and functional. Substantative tries to establish what religion is. It attempts to establish categories of religious content that qualify as religion and other categories specific as non-religion. Functional describes what religion does. It emphasizes what religion does for individual and social group. Accordingly religion is defined by the social functions it fulfills in the society
It emphasizes on the provision of meaning because the establishing of shared meaning is an essentially social event.
The sociological perspective impacts on the way we study religion in various ways. The aspects of the sociological perspective on religion may create elude a bad feeling to students who find their cherished beliefs and practices dispassionately treated as object of study as stipulated in (http://fasnafan.tripod.com/religion.pdf).Normal human beings due to their nature tend to feel bad when they find their religion becoming the subject of discussion and study. They feel that those people are abusing and disregarding their religion. It may be disturbing to have one’s own religion treated as comparable to other religions and not as superior or uniquely true.maybe maybe not---you need proof to make this claim--not just ideas
Also true, but awkward writingwhat the sociologist and the believer hold about a certain religion may be contradicting. What is central to the sociologist may be irrelevant and uninteresting to th ...
This version of the book is current as of: April 10, 2010. The current version of this book can be found at http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Introduction_to_Sociology
15 ReligionFigure 15.1 Religions come in many forms, such .docxaulasnilda
15 Religion
Figure 15.1 Religions come in many forms, such as this large megachurch. (Photo courtesy of ToBeDaniel/Wikimedia Commons)
Learning Objectives
15.1. The Sociological Approach to Religion
• Discuss the historical view of religion from a sociological perspective
• Understand how the major sociological paradigms view religion
15.2. World Religions
• Explain the differences between various types of religious organizations
• Understand classifications of religion, like animism, polytheism, monotheism, and atheism
• Describe several major world religions
15.3. Religion in the United States
• Give examples of religion as an agent of social change
• Describe current U.S. trends including megachurches and secularization
Introduction to Religion
Why do sociologists study religion? For centuries, humankind has sought to understand and explain the “meaning of life.”
Many philosophers believe this contemplation and the desire to understand our place in the universe are what differentiate
humankind from other species. Religion, in one form or another, has been found in all human societies since human
societies first appeared. Archaeological digs have revealed ritual objects, ceremonial burial sites, and other religious
artifacts. Social conflict and even wars often result from religious disputes. To understand a culture, sociologists must
study its religion.
What is religion? Pioneer sociologist Émile Durkheim described it with the ethereal statement that it consists of “things
that surpass the limits of our knowledge” (1915). He went on to elaborate: Religion is “a unified system of beliefs and
practices relative to sacred things, that is to say set apart and forbidden, beliefs and practices which unite into one single
moral community, called a church, all those who adhere to them” (1915). Some people associate religion with places of
worship (a synagogue or church), others with a practice (confession or meditation), and still others with a concept that
Chapter 15 | Religion 333
guides their daily lives (like dharma or sin). All these people can agree that religion is a system of beliefs, values, and
practices concerning what a person holds sacred or considers to be spiritually significant.
Does religion bring fear, wonder, relief, explanation of the unknown or control over freedom and choice? How do our
religious perspectives affect our behavior? These are questions sociologists ask and are reasons they study religion. What
are peoples' conceptions of the profane and the sacred? How do religious ideas affect the real-world reactions and choices
of people in a society?
Religion can also serve as a filter for examining other issues in society and other components of a culture. For example,
after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, it became important for teachers, church leaders, and the media to educate
Americans about Islam to prevent stereotyping and to promote religious tolerance. Sociological tools and methods, suc ...
Culture is the intricate fabric that weaves together the customs, beliefs, traditions, and values of a group of people. It serves as a lens through which individuals view the world, shaping their identities and influencing their interactions with others. Understanding culture involves delving into the practices of a community, learning about its history, language, art, music, cuisine, and social norms. By embracing cultural diversity and engaging in cross-cultural experiences, individuals gain insight into different perspectives, fostering empathy, tolerance, and respect for others. In a rapidly globalizing world, appreciating the rich tapestry of human cultures not only enriches our lives but also promotes unity and harmony among diverse societies.
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2. JASHORE UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY,BANLADESH
Written: Piyas Biswas
Edited & published: Md. Humayun kobir
Department : Agro product processing technology
3. Introduction
The word sociology was coined by
Auguste Comte – French Philosopher in
1839. He is consider as a father of
Sociology.Sociology is the youngest of all
the Social Sciences.The word Sociology is
derived from the Latin Word ‘Societus’
which means ‘society’ and the Greek
word ‘logos’ means ‘science or study or
advanced study’.Science of society or
study of society.
4. Definition of sociology
Sociology is the study of human behavior.
Sociology refers to social behavior, society,
patterns of social relationships, social
interaction, and culture that surrounds
everyday life.
L.F. Ward defines, “Sociology is the science of
society or of social phenomena”.
Ginsberg says, “Sociology is the study of
human interaction and interrelation of their
conditions and consequences”.
Emile Durkheim defines, “ Sociology as a
science of social institutions”.
5. Ogburn and Nimkoff defines, “Sociology
as the study of social life”.
Kimball Young defines, “Sociology deals
with the behaviour of men in groups”.
6. Definition of religion
Religion is a social-cultural system of
designated behaviors and practices, morals,
worldviews, texts, sanctified places,
prophecies, ethics, or organizations, that
relates humanity to supernatural,
transcendental, and spiritual element.
Emile Durkheim defined religion as "a unified
system of beliefs and practices relative to
sacred things, that is to say things set apart
and forbidden - beliefs and practices which
unite into one single moral community called
a church, all those who adhere to them.
7. Types of Religion
The major religions of the world (Hinduism,
Buddhism, Islam, Confucianism, Christianity,
Taoism, and Judaism) differ in many respects,
including how each religion is organized and
the belief system each upholds. Other
differences include the nature of belief in a
higher power, the history of how the world
and the religion began, and the use of
sacred texts and objects.
There are also some other types
religious.monotheism, which is a religion
based on belief in a single deity, to some
scholars.
8. Similarly, many Westerners view the multiple manifestations
of Hinduism’s godhead as polytheistic, which is a religion
based on belief in multiple deities, while Hindus might
describe those manifestations are a monotheistic parallel
to the Christian Trinity.
Some Japanese practice Shinto, which follows animism,
which is a religion that believes in the divinity of nonhuman
beings, like animals, plants, and objects of the natural
world, while people who practice totemism believe in a
divine connection between humans and other natural
being.
9. Relation between
religion and sociology
Social theorist Émile Durkheim defined religion as a
“unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred
things” (1915). Max Weber believed religion could be a
force for social change. ... Functionalism, conflict theory,
and interactionism all provide valuable ways for
sociologists to understand religion.
10. Religion is probably the strongest belief
system that has existed for thousands of
years. In many ways, it is a code of conduct,
a rule book that allows believers to function in
a non-primitive or cultured manner. The
earliest forms of religion were established to
facilitate social bonding.
In fact, it is also believed that religious
practices are adaptive and have emerged
to sustain survival and reproductive
advantages through gene selection or gene-
culture coevolution dynamics.
11. Sociology of religion
Sociology of religion is the study of the
beliefs, practices and organizational
forms of religion using the tools and
methods of the discipline of sociology.
This objective investigation may include
the use both of quantitative methods
(surveys, polls, demographic and census
analysis) and of qualitative approaches
(such as participant observation,
interviewing, and analysis of archival,
historical and documentary materials).
12. Modern sociology as an academic discipline began with
the analysis of religion in Émile Durkheim's 1897 study of
suicide rates among Catholic and Protestant populations,
a foundational work of social research which served to
distinguish sociology from other disciplines, such as
psychology.
The works of Karl Marx (1818-1883) and Max Weber (1864-
1920) emphasized the relationship between religion and
the economic or social structure of society.
13. Contemporary debates have centered
on issues such as secularization, civil
religion, and the cohesiveness of religion
in the context of globalization and
multiculturalism. Contemporary sociology
of religion may also encompass the
sociology of irreligion (for instance, in the
analysis of secular-humanist belief
systems).
14. Sociologists study religion as both a belief
system and a social institution. ... As a
social institution, religion is a pattern of
social action organized around the
beliefs and practices that people
develop to answer questions about the
meaning of existence
As an institution, religion persists over time
and has an organizational structure into
which members are socialized.
15. The sociology of religion is distinguished from the
philosophy of religion in that it does not set out to
assess the validity of religious beliefs.
Whereas the sociology of religion broadly differs from
theology in assuming indifference to the
supernatural, theorists tend to acknowledge socio-
cultural reification of religious practice.
16. The role of religion in
sociology
Religion serves several functions for society. These
include
(a) giving meaning and purpose to life,
(b) reinforcing social unity and stability,
(c) serving as an agent of social control of behavior,
(d) promoting physical and psychological well-
being, and
(e) motivating people to work for positive social
change
