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Beliefs
Question | Answer |
---|---|
Define Animism | The belief that spirits and ghosts can impact this world |
Popper | Science has become the dominant belief system as it is an open belief system built on falsification and has provable concepts. What can not be proven is let go of. |
Kuhn | Science is actually a closed belief system that relies on paradigms- thus it is just a new form of religion. As those who do not follow the dominant beliefs are often marginalised or ridiculed as with in religion. |
Marxist views on ideologies | Beliefs, science and religion were developed by the r/c to control the w/c Legitmises the oppression and feeds into false class consciousness. |
Feminist views on ideologies | Beliefs, science and religion were developed by men to keep women in their 'place' They picture men as powerful and superior eg God is man and women miss out on Noble Prizes. |
Postmodernist views on ideologies | All ideologies are meant to explain a meta-narrative and give meaning to the world. However, they are dangerous as they prevent free will and thought. |
Durkheim (generally) | Religion forms part of secondary socialisation and helps form the collective consciousness to achieve social solidarity |
Durkiem's study | Second-hand study of Aboriginal people in Australia Found that their religion was based on Totemism - symbol represented the community/ higher power Thus by worshipping their God they were also worshipping society religion = collective conscious |
Malinowski | Religion has psychological functions. It can help people get over terrible life events such as deaths as funerals act as a 'rite of passage' |
bellah | Civil religion. (Americanism) Countries like America had a civil religion (linked to nationalism). Eg the American flag is everywhere and the pledge of allegiance is spoken in schools. This helps promote integration. |
Marx quote on relgion | Religion is "the opiate of the masses" |
Lenin Quote on religion | Religion is the "spiritual gin" that numbs the pain of oppression. |
How does Religion maintain captialism? | - inequality is God-given - Poverty is a test from God And thus people are more likely accept inequality |
Simone de Beauvoir | Religion successfully maintains gender inequality by tricking women into thinking they are equal in the eyes of God and that their suffering will be compensated for in the Afterlife. |
Armstrong | Women are often blocked from top positions in Churches. Eg in persona christi in Catholism. |
Weber | The growth of Calvinism awoke the 'spirit of capitalism' Before it was a sin for regular people to have money But within Calvinism people would distract themselves from the thought of Heaven by working real' hard= money but asceticism = no spend |
What are the beliefs of calvinsim? | Predestination - God had chosen a handful of folks to reach Heaven (the elect) Divine transcendence - noone can predict God's will/plan Asceticism - Followers should avoid pleasure so as not to distract themselves Devotion to work - make God happy |
Bruce on social change | Civil rights movement - used religion as an ideological resource and could access communities in church buildings/ sanctity. The New Christian Right - They get a lot of media coverage and criticism from mainstream Americans |
How many people in the UK regularly attended Church in 2015? | 4% |
What did Weber mean by Rationalisation? | Calvinism and the Enlightenment Era led to a "disenchantment of the world" as people not longer believed in mysticism and God's impact on the world so people looked for alternative, rational explanations. |
Define desacrilisation | The concept that due to rationalisation, the sacred qualities of religion are no longer believable as they cannot be proven |
What did Bruce mean by cultural defence? | This is the idea that people may not actually be religious but may hold on to religion in the face of marginalisation. It offers some protection |
What did Bruce mean by cultural transition? | People may still attend religious groups because of the community aspect to help people belong in a new place. |
Day | Believing in belonging people do not actually believe in Christianity but pretend to for the following reasons natal Christians - Christened Ethnic - immigrants who want to be part of culture Aspiratioal - social desirability bias |
Berger on secularisation | "Crisis of credibility" One of the reasons for secularisation is that there is just so much choice when it comes to religion. This means no faith has true monopoly of the truth, so none seem totally legit so people don't believe. |
Davie on faith | "Believing without belonging" The reason why church attendence is down is not because of a lack of belief but because people lack the time to attend church etc so believe in the dark for the most part. This is most obvious when disaster strikes |
Hellend | Due to globalisation and the internet people experience religion online these days. Either by discussing things on forums such as Islamweb or by recieving church messages online |
Hadaway | Despite 40% of Americans claiming they attend church, this appears untrue. (much fewer attended) |
Bruce on secularisation on America | churches are becoming "secularised from within" as they are compromising on their beliefs to retain popularity |
Stark and Bainbridge, criticism on secularisation theories | Current theories on secularisation are Eurocentric so not worldwide generalisable. Eg Hindu relgion is growing in India. |
Norris and Inglehart | Americans are much more likely to be religious compared to Europeans because there is no welfare state in the US. This means that in many cases, God (or at least the church) is probably the only one who will help. |
Stark and Bainbridge on religiosity | Some people are just naturally more religious than others so religion will never truly die. Religion is also the only place equipped to provide supernatural rewards. |
Giddens | Globalisation had triggered increased fundmentalism Because we are more risk-conscious and scared for ourselves in this increasingly changeable and apparently dangerous society. |
Castells | We live in a postmodern society. People are now returning to fundamentalist societies -"resistance identities"- to protect old traditions -"Project identity"- People embrace change through NAMs |
Bruce on fundamentalism | due to globalisation, people feel threatened by increased choices Two types of fundamentalism -Western- fight against own communities to retain the 'past' -Eastern fight to retain culture in the face of Western encroachment |
Davie on fundamentalism | Eg far right politics (nationalism) Fundamentalism can be secular Eg Dawkins |
Nanda | Hinduism has helped promote social change. Globalisation has brought wealth and has created a new m/c Instead of foregoing religion as what the West would expect, this wealth is a sign of the Gods' favour. |
Berger on social change | Pentecostalism in Brazil was a strong contender against Catholicism. They teach the principle of hard work to escape poverty. This encourages industrialisation (similar to Weber's understanding of Calvinism) |
Define Churches | Hierarchal Professional clergy worldwide old eg RCC inclusive (eg ppts born in) Linked to politics |
Define denominations | relatively large, maybe international Began as a sect but grew Successful in poorer communities Some are new eg Pentecostal but many are very old eg Methodist Rely on volunteers but will often have a professional clergy |
Define sects? | Charismatic leaderShortlived often no professional clergy Demand total dedication May evolve into a denomination |
Define cult? | Smaller groups Wrongly confused with sects in the media loose structure Sometimes demand a fee from followers focus on spiritual development |
Wallis | there are three types of new age movements. World Affirming World Rejecting World accommodating |
Define world affirming NAM | (Wallis) Often cults do not denounce other faiths optimistic and life-enhancing Attractive for ambitious individuals who seek progression No societal change Members are often seen as clients often charge fees for classes |
Define World accommodating NAM | (Wallis) Often denominations Wish to make the most of the current world EG by improving member's lives Often popular with vulnerable communities |
Define world rejecting NAM | (Wallis) Mostly Sects Demand social change and that members leave their old lives Often Millenarian movements as they rely on divine intervention to transform the world Fundamentalist |
Stark and Bainbridge on sects | Sects have short life spans and life cycles Schism Initial Fervour (conflict with society) Denominalisation (movements cool) Establishment (Compromise) Further schism (frustrated with the affirming attitude so break away: cycle begins again) |
Barker | Young M/c kids are turning to NAMs because they experience relative deprivation from their career orientated parents so seek community and bonds in NAMs that can pretend to be the family the kids want |
Wilson on NAMs | Due to the present rapid social change, people are turning to NAMs to retain a sense of stability |
Weber on NAMs | A response to marginalisation |
Heelas et al | Kendal project Conducted research into the rise of NAMs Although traditional religion was still dominant, NAMs reflect the self-interested nature of our society and so are more relevant link to spiritual shopping |
Lawes | Lifelong theists- w/c Lifelong atheists- not common but more relevant in m/c |
Voas and Watt | Churches connected to a successful school tended to have higher attendance, maybe to get kids enrolled Thus not everyone who attends school is religious |
Class' relation to NAMs? | M/c more linked to traditional churches w/c more drawn to NAMs |
Modood | Ethnic minorities are more likely to be religious but this will decline down the generations |
Voas and Crokett | The elderly are more religious than kids |
The aging effect | as people get older they get more interested in an afterlife |
Generational effect | our elderly are more religious as they were raised that way |
Mayo | Religion is now a personal choice. so now schools don't force it on kids Even faith schools are more likely to take a more liberal approach to showing kids scripture This means kids feel less obligated to conform to faith |
Miller and Hoffman | Women are more likely to be religious for three reasons: Housewife: more time = more religion Expressive: need the emotional support of the faith Pascal's wager: it is best to believe due to potential consequences of not believing |
Greely | Woman only become more religious after they have kids to appear as a good mother |
Glock and Stark | Women are more religious because they are deprived Socially: lack of status Ethically: fear of decline or morality Organismically: more fearful for their health than men so seek healing |
Woodhead | Critics Glock and Stark for being outdated and no longer relevant - women engage with religion differently Home-centred: Housewives, need community Work-centred: often secular (no time) Jugglers: Need a bit of NAM |
El Sadaawi | religions are not the direct cause of women's exploitation and oppression, the cause is a patriarchal society. She argues that powerful men reinterpreted religious beliefs and ideas in order to benefit themselves. |
troeltsch | organisations that broke away from a church (through a schism) because they were dissatisfied with its teachings or practices. |