Chapter 11:
Religion
What to Expect in This Chapter...

Defining Religion
– Elements of Religion
– Religion vs. Magic






Major Types of Religions
Functionalist and Conflict Perspectives
Types of Religious Organization
Aspects of American Religion
Major Religions in the United States
Social Correlates of Religious Affiliation
Journal

Given Morocco’s Islamic cultural
heritage and unique relationship with
the West, which elements of its culture
will adapt and which will remain
constant?
Defining Religion

Religion is “...the system of beliefs, practices and
...values shared by a group of people...”

Durkheim claimed that all religions divide the universe
into two categories:
– Sacred—those things that are set apart, holy; and knowable
only through extraordinary experience
– Profane—that which is ordinary; knowable through normal
empirical observation
For information about the science
of studying religion, visit the website of the
Society for Scientific Study of Religion
Elements of Religion
Religion vs. Magic
Religion
Magic
Worships the supernatural
Attempts to control
supernatural forces
Object of worship is a god
or gods
Does not worship a god or
gods
Religious experience an
end in itself
Ritual is a means to an end
Group oriented; experience Individually oriented;
designed to unify group
experience designed to
help individual user
Major Types of Religion:
Supernaturalism and Animism

Supernaturalism postulates the existence of
non-personalized supernatural forces that
influence human events
– These non-personalized forces are called mana,
which exist in certain objects
– Other objects have a religious taboo against
touching or even looking upon

Animism postulates personalized spirits
which inhabit people, animals or things
Major Types of Religion: Theism

Theism is a system of beliefs that
establish divine beings that shape
human affairs
– Polytheism is the belief in a number of
gods, each with their own sphere of
influence
– Monotheism is the belief in a single
supreme God.
– Only 3 religions are monotheistic:
Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
Journal- Social Change


After reading pages 541-546
How will modernization affect
Moroccan society
– Family (1 parent or 2 working, moving
away from extended family)
– Growing and declining economic sectors
– Growing and declining occupations
Functionalist Perspective on
Religion


Functionalists argue that because
religion is universal, there are functions
that it fulfills for society.
Sociologists identify 4 broad functions
of religion:
Group Work

5 Groups- Discuss the concept you are
assigned. Give definition of concept,
general examples & Moroccan examples
–
–
–
–
–
Satisfying individual needs
Providing social cohesion
Establishing worldviews
Adaptation and stabilization of society
Conflict theory perspectives
Conflict Perspective on
Religion

Marx understood religion as a tool that the
ruling class manipulated to control and
dominate the working class
– By focusing on religion and the afterlife, working
classes are distracted from their oppression by the
ruling class

Marx said,
“Religion is the sigh of the oppressed
creature, the soul of soulless conditions;
it is the opiate of the people”
Religious Organizations:
Relationship to Society
Group Work

5 Groups- Give definition of concept,
examples of where the type of relationship
between religious organizations and society
can be seen in general and in Islam.
–
–
–
–
–
The Universal Church
The Ecclesia
The Denomination
The Sect
Millenarian movements
The Universal Church




The universal church is a type of religious
organization that is almost indistinguishable
from society
An individual belongs to the universal church
by virgue of being a member of society
The universal church typically reinforces
existing social arrangements.
An example of the universal church is the
Hindu religion in India
The Ecclesia




The ecclesia (like the universal church)
shares the same ethical system as the
larger society
The ecclesia represents the interests of
the ruling class, and hence loses its
influence over the lower classes
Consequently, there may be sectarian
groups that emerge
Examples of the ecclesia include the
Catholic church in medieval Europe, the
Anglican church in England and Islam in
several Near East societies
The Denomination





The denomination is one of many religious
groups in a particular society
Tends to attract a particular social class
and/or ethnic group
Membership is typically voluntary and based
upon common beliefs and values
Examples include the various Protestant
denominations and Catholicism
Participate actively in society and cooperate
with other religious groups
The Sect



The sect is usually a smaller religious body that
adheres to unconventional beliefs or forms of
worship that differ from mainstream religious
practice
Sects generally reject some values of secular
society (materialism, entertainment, fashion)
Sects are less likely to be tolerant of other
religious groups
Millenarian Movements




Are like sects in that they are
usually in tension with the larger
society
Defined by their tendency to
prophecy the end of the world
Millenarian movements tend to
emerge during times of stress
Examples include the People’s
Temple and Heaven’s Gate—both
groups which committed mass
suicide in response to their beliefs
about the end of the world
Aspects of American Religion
Almost all Americans believe
in God and 90% express a
religious preference
People and society are
less influenced by
religion than ever before
Mainline religious groups
work together to project
unity and common direction
Causes of the Trends:
Some Opinions



Widespread belief- need for traditional
worldview even in the midst of social and
technological change.
Secularism- the inability to integrate
religious values with economic and social
values resulting in compartmentalizing.
Ecumenism- Declining religious influence in
public sphere causing groups to unify rather
than compete.
Trends in Morocco

Which of the following can be seen in
Morocco in the present or near future?
– Widespread belief
– Secularism (relationship between religion
and economic or political issues)
– Ecuminism (focus on unity or uniqueness
with other Islamic countries or groups)
– Other trends
Major Religions in the United
States
Protestantism



About 56% of Americans identify as Protestants
Protestantism is an extremely fragmented
category, made up of dozens of specific
denominations
Protestant denominations generally fall into
categories of liberal, moderate and conservative
– Conservative Protestants tend to identify as either
evangelical or fundamentalist
Catholicism



About 28% of Americans identify as Catholics
Catholics tend to be younger, on average, than
Protestants
Catholicism is strongly embraced by immigrant
populations
– 20% of Catholics are ethnic minorities


Catholics have traditionally been poorer and less
educated than Protestants. Since the 1960’s they
have been the equal of Protestants
About 75% of Catholics live in urban areas
Judaism


Jews comprise about 2% of the American population,
and getting smaller
Judaism is comprised of three broad groups:
– Orthodox Jews—observe Jewish tradition very closely
– Reform Jews—most liberal of Jewish groups; allow for major
reinterpretation of religious practice and custom
– Conservative Jews—less traditional than Orthodox Jews, but
not willing to make major modification in religious
observance

Jews are generally highly educated, though Reform
Jews are most inclined toward secular education
Islam

Estimates of the number of Muslims in the U.S.
is between 700,000 and 4 million—probably
about 1% of the population.
– About 25% of these are African American

There are an estimated 1 billion Muslims
throughout the world and growing rapidly
Religious Preferences of Americans
Catholic
27%
Baptist
19%
Methodist
9%
Jewish
3%
Other
Lutheran
4%
6%
Islam
Episcopalean
1%
2%
Orthodox
Presbyterian
1%
5%
Mormon
None Other Protestant
1%
17%
5%
Source: Gallup Poll Monthly, March, 1997
Social Correlates of Religious
Affiliation

Religious affiliation seems to be closely linked with
many important facets of people’s lives, including: