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Glencoe, IL: Free Press. Sociological Approach to the Study of Religion Sociological Approach to the Study of Religion. The McDonaldization of Society. Religion could not be understood apart from the capitalist society that perpetuated inequality. Division of Labor in Society. Rising from the concept that our world is socially constructed, symbolic interactionism studies the symbols and interactions of everyday life. Critics of RCT argue that it doesn’t fit well with human spiritual needs, and many sociologists disagree that the costs and rewards of religion can even be meaningfully measured or that individuals use a rational balancing process regarding religious affiliation. Critics also believe this theory overuses economic terminology and structure and point out that terms such as “rational” and “reward” are unacceptably defined by their use; they would argue that the theory is based on faulty logic and lacks external, empirical support. He famously argued that religion “is the opium of the people” (1844). It is the task of the sociologist to study these through “verstehen” or interpretative understanding. Many religions, including the Catholic faith, have long prohibited women from becoming spiritual leaders. Factory jobs tend to be simple, uninvolved, and require very little thinking or decision making on the part of the worker. Extract of sample "Sociological Approach to the Study of Religion:Religious Conflict" Religious Conflict Religious Conflict Religious conflict can be described as disagreements resulting from differences in religious beliefs, which in some cases culminates in wars, … On the other hand, the “McDonaldization” of the United States (Hightower 1975; Ritzer 1993), in which many service industries, such as the fast-food industry, have established routinized roles and tasks, has resulted in a “discouragement” of the work ethic. The OpenStax name, OpenStax logo, OpenStax book To him, sacred meant extraordinary—something that inspired wonder and that seemed connected to the concept of “the divine.” Durkheim argued that “religion happens” in society when there is a separation between the profane (ordinary life) and the sacred (1915). He examined the effects of religion on economic activities and noticed that heavily Protestant societies—such as those in the Netherlands, England, Scotland, and Germany—were the most highly developed capitalist societies and that their most successful business leaders were Protestant. Religious beliefs are specific ideas members of a particular faith hold to be true, such as that Jesus Christ was the son of God, or that reincarnation exists. In studying religion, sociologists distinguish between what they term the experience, beliefs, and rituals of a religion. The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism and Other Writings, translated by Peter R. Baehr and Gordon C. Wells. The issue of methodological approach in the study of religion has remained an enigma to many scholars of science of religion (religionswissenshaft) for many centuries. Rewards are the intangible benefits in terms of belief and satisfactory explanations about life, death, and the supernatural, as well as social rewards from membership. This power dynamic has been used by Christian institutions for centuries to keep poor people poor and to teach them that they shouldn’t be concerned with what they lack because their “true” reward (from a religious perspective) will come after death. OpenStax is part of Rice University, which is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. One of the most important functions of religion, from a functionalist perspective, is the opportunities it creates for social interaction and the formation of groups. Originally published in 2004, New Approaches are now available as paperback for classroom use. Higher levels of education have become necessary, as well as people management skills and access to the most recent information on any given topic. Durkheim, Émile. German philosopher, journalist, and revolutionary socialist Karl Marx (1818–1883) also studied the social impact of religion. From this perspective, religion serves several purposes, like providing answers to spiritual mysteries, offering emotional comfort, and creating a place for social interaction and social control. The sociological approach to the study of religion is unique in itself. For instance, in every culture, funeral rites are practiced in some way, although these customs vary between cultures and within religious affiliations. In his new podcast for the Religious Studies Project, Callum Brown has given us an excellent introduction to the historical approach to the study of religion. By the end of this section, you will be able to: From the Latin religio (respect for what is sacred) and religare (to bind, in the sense of an obligation), the term religion describes various systems of belief and practice that define what people consider to be sacred or spiritual (Fasching and deChant 2001; Durkheim 1915). Let’s explore how scholars applying these paradigms understand religion. Religion could not be understood apart from the capitalist society that perpetuated inequality. It then addresses some methodological issues that are crucial for approaches that focus on social action, be it in the internal or the external arena. The theory doesn’t address many aspects of religion that individuals may consider essential (such as faith) and further fails to account for agnostics and atheists who don’t seem to have a similar need for religious explanations. Max Weber (1904) posited that, in Europe in his time, Protestants were more likely than Catholics to value capitalist ideology, and believed in hard work and savings. Religious rituals are behaviors or practices that are either required or expected of the members of a particular group, such as bar mitzvah or confession of sins (Barkan and Greenwood 2003). Religious beliefs are specific ideas members of a particular faith hold to be true, such as that Jesus Christ was the son of God, or that reincarnation exists. (Photo courtesy of James Emery/flickr), Many religions, including the Catholic faith, have long prohibited women from becoming spiritual leaders. How do people decide which religion to follow, if any? New York: Free Press. While some people think of religion as something individual because religious beliefs can be highly personal, religion is also a social institution. How do people decide which religion to follow, if any? On an extreme level, the Inquisition, the Salem witch trials, and anti-Semitism are all examples of this dynamic. The Immanent Frame is a forum for the exchange of ideas about religion, secularism, and society by leading thinkers in the social sciences and humanities. Common sense vs. sociological approach Outcome 3 PC (a) • Examine why we study sociology using notion of ‘the sociological imagination’. This is because it tries to explain some of the religious issues from a sociological point of view. Religious experience refers to the conviction or sensation that we are connected to “the divine.” This type of communion might be experienced when people are pray or meditate. Weber thought the emphasis on community in Catholicism versus the emphasis on individual achievement in Protestantism made a difference. New Approaches to the Study of Religion completes the survey of the comparative study of religion in the twentieth century by focussing on the past two decades. © Sep 1, 2020 OpenStax. Want to cite, share, or modify this book? How does one pick a church or decide which denomination “fits” best? To him, sacred meant extraordinary—something that inspired wonder and that seemed connected to the concept of “the divine.” Durkheim argued that “religion happens” in society when there is a separation between the profane (ordinary life) and the sacred (1915). • Examine the special nature of sociological study. Consider a religion that you are familiar with, and discuss some of its beliefs, behaviors, and norms. He believed religion reflects the social stratification of society and that it maintains inequality and perpetuates the status quo. Following Durkheim, Karl Marx and Max Weber also looked at religion’s role and influence in other social institutions such as economics and politics. Throughout history, and in societies across the world, leaders have used religious narratives, symbols, and traditions in an attempt to give more meaning to life and understand the universe. The theory proposes that people are self-interested, though not necessarily selfish, and that people make rational choices—choices that can reasonably be expected to maximize positive outcomes while minimizing negative outcomes. Because religion can be central to many people’s concept of themselves, sometimes there is an “in-group” versus “out-group” feeling toward other religions in our society or within a particular practice. Because interactionists study one-on-one, everyday interactions between individuals, a scholar using this approach might ask questions focused on this dynamic. Ritzer, George. The information age has increased the rapid pace of production expected in many jobs. The Sociological Approach to Religion From the Latin religio (respect for what is sacred) and religare (to bind, in the sense of an obligation), the term religion describes various systems of belief and practice concerning what people determine to be sacred or spiritual (Fasching and deChant 2001; Durkheim 1915). What does the concept of work ethic mean today? Because interactionists study one-on-one, everyday interactions between individuals, a scholar using this approach might ask questions focused on this dynamic. A few religions and religious denominations are more gender equal, but male dominance remains the norm of most. In the wake of nineteenth century European industrialization and secularization, three social theorists attempted to examine the relationship between religion and society: Émile Durkheim, Max Weber, and Karl Marx. Interactionists are interested in what these symbols communicate. In the wake of nineteenth century European industrialization and secularization, three social theorists attempted to examine the relationship between religion and society: Émile Durkheim, Max Weber, and Karl Marx. 1. Conflict theorists view religion as an institution that helps maintain patterns of social inequality. This question led Durkheim to posit that religion is not just a social creation but something that represents the power of society: When people celebrate sacred things, they celebrate the power of their society. These universals, and the differences in the way societies and individuals experience religion, provide rich material for sociological study. (Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons). For him, religion was just an extension of working-class (proletariat) economic suffering. The Star of David in Judaism, the cross in Christianity, and the crescent and star in Islam are examples of sacred symbols. Functionalists contend that religion serves several functions in society. Religious explanations of these concepts are presumed to be more satisfactory than scientific explanations, which may help to account for the continuation of strong religious connectedness in countries such as the United States, despite predictions of some competing theories for a great decline in religious affiliation due to modernization and religious pluralism. The theory doesn’t address many aspects of religion that individuals may consider essential (such as faith) and further fails to account for agnostics and atheists who don’t seem to have a similar need for religious explanations. 2001. Today, the work ethic of the modern workforce has been transformed, as more thinking and decision making is required. In conversation with Christopher Cotter, Brown outlines rival traditions within the history of religion and demonstrates what each has contributed to our understanding of secularisation. The interaction between religious leaders and practitioners, the role of religion in the ordinary components of everyday life, and the ways people express religious values in social interactions—all might be topics of study to an interactionist. The Sociological Approach to ReligionReligion describes the beliefs, values, and practices related to sacred or spiritual concerns. To interactionists, beliefs and experiences are not sacred unless individuals in a society regard them as sacred. What does the concept of work ethic mean today? are licensed under a, Pop Culture, Subculture, and Cultural Change, Introduction to Society and Social Interaction, Introduction to Deviance, Crime, and Social Control, Global Implications of Media and Technology, Theoretical Perspectives on Media and Technology, Social Stratification in the United States, Introduction to Social Stratification in the United States, Social Stratification and Mobility in the United States, Theoretical Perspectives on Social Stratification, Theoretical Perspectives on Global Stratification, Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination, Introduction to Gender, Sex, and Sexuality, Theoretical Perspectives on Government and Power, Theoretical Perspectives on Health and Medicine, Population, Urbanization, and the Environment, Introduction to Population, Urbanization, and the Environment, Introduction to Social Movements and Social Change, The Protestant Work Ethic in the Information Age, Functionalists believe religion meets many important needs for people, including group cohesion and companionship. Conflict theorists view religion as an institution that helps maintain patterns of social inequality. New York: Penguin. They are considered replaceable commodities as opposed to valued employees. Feminist theorists focus on gender inequality and promote leadership roles for women in religion. http://openstaxcollege.org/l/immanent_frame/, http://openstaxcollege.org/l/Grinnell_functionalism, http://openstaxcollege.org/l/women_clergy, http://openstaxcollege.org/l/Protestant_work_ethic, http://www.csa.com/discoveryguides/religion/overview.php, http://personal.lse.ac.uk/KANAZAWA/pdfs/ARS1997.pdf, http://cnx.org/contents/02040312-72c8-441e-a685-20e9333f3e1d/Introduction_to_Sociology_2e, Discuss the historical view of religion from a sociological perspective, Understand how the major sociological paradigms view religion. In his writing The Protestant Work Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism (1905), he contends that the Protestant work ethic influenced the development of capitalism. 2. First, from theseventeenth to the nineteenth century, the perspective of whiteEuropean males dominated the formative period of philosophy ofreligion to such an extent that it was hard to see how the distortionsof this long tradition might be overcome. But what would happen if religion were to decline? In this post, I briefly set out three distinct approaches to the study of religion: criticizing religion, upholding religion, and disaggregating religion.... Social Science Research Council The SSRC is an independent, international, nonprofit organization. But if someone makes it into a headstone, or another person uses it for landscaping, it takes on different meanings—one sacred, one profane. Religious rituals bring order, comfort, and organization through shared familiar symbols and patterns of behavior. A rock, for example, isn’t sacred or profane as it exists. Is there a phenomenology that isdistinctive of religious experience? This question led Durkheim to posit that religion is not just a social creation but something that represents the power of society: When people celebrate sacred things, they celebrate the power of their society. The feminist perspective is a conflict theory view that focuses specifically on gender inequality. This power dynamic has been used by Christian institutions for centuries to keep poor people poor and to teach them that they shouldn’t be concerned with what they lack because their “true” reward (from a religious perspective) will come after death. Let’s explore how scholars applying these paradigms understand religion. As stated earlier, French sociologist Émile Durkheim (1858–1917) defined religion as a “unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things” (1915). 2002 [1905]. Discuss how these meet social needs. 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