Chapter 13
Religion
Chapter Outline
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The Nature of Religion
Magic
Major Types of Religion
A Sociological Approach to Religion
Organization of Religious Life
Aspects of American Religion
Major Religions in the United States
The Nature of Religion
Religion:
 A system of beliefs, practices, and values
shared by a group of people.
 Defines the sacred.
 Helps explain life.
 Offers salvation from the problems of
human existence.
The Elements of Religion
All religions contain certain shared
elements:
 Ritual and prayer
 Emotion
 Belief
 Organization
Magic
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Magic is an active attempt to coerce spirits or to
control supernatural forces.
Magic is used to manipulate and control matters
that seem to be beyond human control and that
may involve danger and uncertainty.
In most instances, religion serves to unify a
group of believers, whereas magic is designed
to help the individual who uses it.
Mana is a diffuse, nonpersonalized force that
acts through anything that lives or moves.
Four Major Types of
Religions
1.
2.
Supernaturalism - Postulates the
existence of nonpersonalized
supernatural forces that can influence
human events.
Animism - The belief in inanimate,
personalized spirits or ghosts of
ancestors that actively work to influence
human affairs.
Four Major Types of
Religions
3.
4.
Theism - The belief in divine beings—
gods and goddesses—who shape
human affairs.
Abstract ideals - Focus on the
achievement of personal awareness and
a higher state of consciousness through
correct ways of thinking and behaving,
rather than by manipulating spirits or
worshipping gods.
Question
1.
In animistic religions, shamans are able to
cure illness because they:
A. use powerful medicines.
B. manipulate the populace to believe in
their power.
C. have developed a working knowledge of
natural medicines.
D. have a special relationship with the
spirits that cause illness.
Answer: D
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In animistic religions, shamans are able to
cure illness because they have a special
relationship with the spirits that cause
illness.
Major Religions of the
World—2000
Religion
Number
% of Total
Christians
1,999,564,000
33
Roman Catholic 1,057,328,000
17.5
Protestants
342,002,000
5.6
Orthodox
215,129,000
3.7
Anglican
79,650,000
1.3
Unaffiliated
Christians
111,125,000
1.8
Major Religions of the
World—2000
Religion
Number
% of Total
Baha’
7,106,000
0.1
Buddhists
353,794,000
6.0
Chinese folkreligionists
359,982,000
5.9
Ethnic religionists
228,367,000
3.8
Major Religions of the
World—2000
Religion
Number
% of Total
Muslims
1,188,243,000
19.6
Hindus
811,336,000
13.3
Jews
14,434,000
0.2
Sikhs
23,258,000
0.4
Nonreligious
768,159,000
12.7
Atheists
150,090,000
2.5
Question
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What is your current religious affiliation?
A. Protestant
B. Catholic
C. Jewish
D. None
E. Other
Polytheism
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Belief in a number of gods.
Each god or goddess usually has
particular spheres of influence such as
childbirth, rain, or war.
There is generally one who is more
powerful than the rest and oversees the
others’ activities.
Monotheism
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The belief in the existence of a single god.
Three religions are known to be
monotheistic:
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Judaism
Christianity
Islam
The Functionalist
Perspective
Four categories of religious function:
 Satisfying individual needs.
 Promoting social cohesion.
 Providing a worldview.
 Helping to adapt to society.
Society, Religion, and the
Individual: A Functionalist View
Question
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Do you believe that the Bible is the
actual word of God, to be taken literally
word for word?
A. Yes
B. No
The Conflict Theory
Perspective
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Marx saw religion as a tool the upper classes
used to dominate the lower classes.
The lower classes were distracted from social
change by the promise of happiness through
religion.
They would receive their reward in heaven, and
so had no reason to improve their condition in
this world.
Organization of Religious Life
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Universal church
Includes all the members of a society
within one united moral community.
Ecclesia
A church that shares the same ethical
system as the secular society and has
come to represent and promote the
interest of the society at large.
Organization of Religious Life
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Denomination
Tends to limit its membership to a particular
class, ethnic group, or religious group, or at
least to have its leadership positions dominated
by members of such a group.
Sect
A small group that adheres strictly to religious
doctrine that often includes unconventional
beliefs or forms of worship.
Millenarian Movements
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Typically prophesy the end of the world,
the destruction of all evil people and their
works, and the saving of the just.
Question
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Which of the following is not a
denomination?
A. Judaism
B. Catholicism
C. Lutheranism
D. Hinduism
Answer: D
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Hinduism is not a denomination.
Question
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How do sects differ from denominations?
A. Sects are more tolerant of other
religious groups.
B. Sects participate less in secular
society.
C. They have beliefs that are more
conventional.
D. All of these choices are correct.
Answer: B
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Sects differ from denominations in that
they participate less in secular society.
American Religiosity
United States
France
Netherlands
Great Britain
Germany
Canada
People in the United States Are:
Too
Not Religious
Religious
Enough
21
58
61
26
57
25
39
28
39
31
35
38
American Religiosity
People in the United States Are:
Too
Religious
Not Religious
Enough
India
32
57
Spain
31
40
Russia
27
38
Poland
6
56
Jordan
*
95
Question
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How important would you say religion is
in your own life?
A. Very important
B. Fairly important
C. Not very important
D. No opinion
American Believers
Category
Percentage Who Believe In
God
Heaven
Miracles
Angels
Hell
The Devil
Ghosts
92%
85
82
78
74
71
34
Witches
24