Chapter 17
Religion
Chapter Outline
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Defining Religion
The Significance of Religion in U.S. Society
Forms of Religion
Sociological Theories of Religion
Globalization: World Religions and Religious
Diversity
Diversity and Religious Belief
Chapter Outline
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Race and Religion
Ethnicity and Religion
Religious Organizations
Becoming Religious
Social and Political Attitudes: The Impact of
Religion
Religion and Social Change
Defining Elements of Religion
1.
2.
3.
Religion is institutionalized.
Religion is a feature of groups.
Religions are based on beliefs that are
considered sacred, as distinguished from
profane.
Defining Elements of Religion
4.
5.
6.
Religion establishes values and moral
proscriptions for behavior.
Religion establishes norms for behavior.
Religion provides answers to questions of
ultimate meaning, as distinguished from
secular beliefs.
Religion in U.S. Society
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The U.S. is one of the most religious societies
in the world.
2/3 of Americans think religion can solve all or
most of society’s problems.
37% percent of the population describe
themselves as “born again”.
82% of Americans believe in life after death.
Religions in the U.S.
Percentage of people in the U.S. who identify as:
 Protestant - 57%
 Catholic - 24%
 Jewish - 2 %
 People with diverse religions - 8%
 No religious identification - 8%
Durkheim: The Functions of
Religion
Religion is functional for society:
 Reaffirms the social bonds between people.
 Creates social cohesion and integration
through religious rituals.
 Binds individuals to society by establishing a
collective consciousness.
Weber: The Protestant Ethic and
the Spirit of Capitalism
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The Protestant faith supported the
development of capitalism.
Material wealth meant one was favored by
God, motivating Protestants to work to confirm
their salvation.
Value judgments about those who haven’t
succeeded can be traced to influence of
religion.
Marx: Religion, Social Conflict, and
Oppression
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Religion legitimates the social order and
supports the ideas of the ruling class.
Oppressed people develop religion to soothe
them and it prevents them from rising up
against oppression.
Religion can be the basis for social change or
social continuity.
Sociological Theories of Religion:
Functionalism
Religion and the Social
Order
An integrative force in society.
Religious Beliefs
Promote order by a sense of collective
consciousness.
Religious Practices and
Rituals
Reinforce a sense of social belonging
Sociological Theories of Religion:
Conflict Theory
Religion and the
Social Order
Reflects inequality in society.
Religious Beliefs
Can provide legitimation for
oppressive social conditions.
Religious Practices
and Rituals
Define in-groups and out-groups,
thereby defining group boundaries.
Sociological Theories of Religion:
Symbolic Interaction
Religion and the
Social Order
Is socially constructed and emerges with
social and historical change.
Religious Beliefs
Socially constructed and subject to
interpretation; can also be learned through
religious conversion.
Religious Practices
and Rituals
Symbolic activities that provide definitions of
group and individual identity.
Three Types of Religious
Organizations
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Churches - formal organizations that are seen
by society as primary and legitimate religious
institutions.
Sects - groups that have broken off from an
established church.
Cults - religious groups devoted to a specific
cause or a leader with charisma.
Religion and Social Change
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Evangelical groups linked to conservative
political causes have influenced national
elections.
Religion has had an important part in the civil
rights movement and feminism.