Sociology of ReligionSociology of Religion

Religious universalsReligious universals– Churches, Sects and CultsChurches, Sects and Cults

Religion in the world todayReligion in the world today– Why is the U.S. so religious in comparison to other Why is the U.S. so religious in comparison to other

developed societies?developed societies?– Sex DifferencesSex Differences

Why do people join a religion?Why do people join a religion?– Religious capitalReligious capital– Social networksSocial networks

Effects of religionEffects of religion– The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of CapitalismThe Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism– Does religion make you happier?Does religion make you happier?– Does religion make you healthier?Does religion make you healthier?– Religion and violenceReligion and violence

Religious universalsReligious universals

Religion is found in all human Religion is found in all human societiessocieties

In simple societies, religions tend In simple societies, religions tend to be to be polytheisticpolytheistic– have many gods, spirits or other have many gods, spirits or other

supernatural beingssupernatural beings

The spirit No Face meets a young girl in the Japanese movie “Spirited Away.” Beliefs in spirits are common in pre-industrial societies.

In more developed societies, In more developed societies, religions tend to be monotheisticreligions tend to be monotheistic– Have beliefs in one god or spiritHave beliefs in one god or spirit– Religion in agrarian societies tends Religion in agrarian societies tends

to be monotheisticto be monotheistic– Islam, Judaism and Christianity are Islam, Judaism and Christianity are

products of agrarian societiesproducts of agrarian societies

In more developed societies, In more developed societies, religion is more complex and is religion is more complex and is often bureaucratizedoften bureaucratized

There are hierarchies of priests or There are hierarchies of priests or religious leadersreligious leaders

Most religions are characterized Most religions are characterized by the four “Ms”by the four “Ms”– MagicMagic– MembershipMembership– MoralityMorality– MysticismMysticism

MagicMagic

This refers to beliefs in spirits and This refers to beliefs in spirits and gods who intervene in human gods who intervene in human affairs.affairs.

MembershipMembership

A religion requires participation in A religion requires participation in the rituals of the religion e.g. the rituals of the religion e.g. attending and/or participating in attending and/or participating in ceremonies, servicesceremonies, services

MoralityMorality

To be a part of a religion requires To be a part of a religion requires following certain rules about following certain rules about behaviorbehavior

MysticismMysticism

All religions involve mysticism to All religions involve mysticism to some extentsome extent

Mysticism is contact with the Mysticism is contact with the divinedivine

Churches, sects and Churches, sects and cultscults Churches are established religious Churches are established religious

organizations of a societyorganizations of a society Sects are more informal religious Sects are more informal religious

organizations that are still part of organizations that are still part of the mainstream religionthe mainstream religion– stress the emotional content of religionstress the emotional content of religion

Cults are new religious movementsCults are new religious movements

Members of the polygamist sect, Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS), leave a courthouse. These women were residents of the Yearning for Zion Ranch in Eldorado County, Texas.

Many religions start out as cults Many religions start out as cults or sects, but end up as churchesor sects, but end up as churches– E.g. Christianity – began as a sect of E.g. Christianity – began as a sect of

Judaism, became a cult in Rome, Judaism, became a cult in Rome, and now is a mainstream church in and now is a mainstream church in many societies.many societies.

Secularization Secularization hypothesishypothesis The secularization hypothesis The secularization hypothesis

suggests that as societies suggests that as societies industrialize and become more industrialize and become more complex, religion diminishes in complex, religion diminishes in importance.importance.

Evidence that the hypothesis is Evidence that the hypothesis is correctcorrect

The U.S. is the most religious of The U.S. is the most religious of the developed societies.the developed societies.

Vast majority of Americans also Vast majority of Americans also self identify themselves as self identify themselves as religiousreligious

Few Americans (15%) say they Few Americans (15%) say they have no religion have no religion

Within the U.S., people are more Within the U.S., people are more religious in the south and the religious in the south and the midwestmidwest

People are less religious in New People are less religious in New England and the Pacific England and the Pacific Northwest.Northwest.

No religion population No religion population by stateby state

Why is the U.S. so Why is the U.S. so religious compared to religious compared to other developed other developed societies?societies?

One theory of why this is so is the One theory of why this is so is the “religious economies” theory“religious economies” theory

Suggests that religion is strong in Suggests that religion is strong in the U.S. because there are many the U.S. because there are many competing religions.competing religions.

Religions compete to meet Religions compete to meet people’s spiritual needspeople’s spiritual needs

In European countries, there is In European countries, there is usually a state-sponsored church usually a state-sponsored church that may not always offer what that may not always offer what people want, so fewer people are people want, so fewer people are religiousreligious

Sex differences in Sex differences in religionreligion Around the world, women are Around the world, women are

more likely than men to be more likely than men to be religious.religious.

Why is this so?Why is this so? One explanation is that men are One explanation is that men are

more likely to take risks, and not more likely to take risks, and not being religious may be considered being religious may be considered a “risk”a “risk”

Why do people join a Why do people join a religion?religion? One reason is because their One reason is because their

families belong to the religionfamilies belong to the religion– Often referred to as “religious Often referred to as “religious

capital”capital”– People know people in the religion People know people in the religion

and are familiar with the doctrines, and are familiar with the doctrines, traditions, rituals etc. of the religiontraditions, rituals etc. of the religion

Another reason is because people Another reason is because people have friends who have already have friends who have already joined the religionjoined the religion– Social networks are an important Social networks are an important

way people join new religionsway people join new religions

Effects of ReligionEffects of Religion

In his essay “The Protestant Ethic and In his essay “The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism,” Weber argued the Spirit of Capitalism,” Weber argued that Protestantism was important for that Protestantism was important for promoting the beginning the capitalismpromoting the beginning the capitalism

Protestant behaviors such as hard Protestant behaviors such as hard work, thrift, honesty and the avoidance work, thrift, honesty and the avoidance of luxury helped capitalism by of luxury helped capitalism by promoting commerce and providing promoting commerce and providing savings for investment.savings for investment.

Religion and happinessReligion and happiness

Studies suggest that religious Studies suggest that religious people are happier than non-people are happier than non-religious peoplereligious people

Religion and healthReligion and health

Studies also suggest that religious Studies also suggest that religious people are healthier.people are healthier.

Religion and violenceReligion and violence

Throughout history, a great deal Throughout history, a great deal of violence has been perpetuated of violence has been perpetuated in the name of religion.in the name of religion.

Does religion promote violence?Does religion promote violence? No – but some leaders have used No – but some leaders have used

religious beliefs to encourage religious beliefs to encourage violent behavior.violent behavior.