4 - Rational Choice and Market Theories

Question 1

Who created Rational Choice Theories?

Answer 1

Rodney Stark

Question 2

What is Rational Choice theory?

Answer 2

They are what supply compensators (something that is receive something instead of a particular reward)

Question 3

Why are compensators usually offered by religion?

Answer 3

Because it works as a substitute for rewards (things that people want) that are scarce and unavailable. That they are things on Earth that everyone wants but can’t obtain

Question 4

What is an example of what rational choice theories can provide as a compensation?

Answer 4

E.g: forgiveness of sins, eternal life etc. some kind of hereafter.

Question 5

Compensators can be attained true or false?

Answer 5

True they can be obtained, but in a more lengthy and elaborate

Question 6

What are some advantages of religious compensators?

Answer 6

• Offer the prospect of a huge reward that are not plausible available from other sources
• Eternal life, reunion with the departed, a perfected soul or unending bliss

Question 7

What are some disadvantages of religious compensators?

Answer 7

• People cannot know for certainty, that virtue is rewarded after death
• So religious compensators are inherently risky

Question 8

How do people make decisions according to rational choice theory?

Answer 8

Individuals choose those actions rationally which concern compensators.
- that people differ greatly in their relative evaluations of specific rewards or benefits
- People must weigh the cost of a compensator against the value of a reward.
- Need to feel that you have enough information to make a rational choice.

Question 9

How is the value of a religious compensator established?

Answer 9

Through social interaction

Question 10

Why is social interaction a way to establish rational choice?

Answer 10

• Because individuals see it as a less risky and more valuable if it is promoted, produced or consumed collectively.
• When there is credible evidence that participation in religion generates tangible benefits are not readily explainable in secular terms
• More persuasive when they come from a trusted source and when the person has little to gain

Question 11

What is the central way of establishing faith compensators?

Answer 11

Testimonials.

Question 12

Who are the main theorists of religious economies?

Answer 12

Stark and Iannccone

Question 13

What is a religious economy?

Answer 13

all the religious activity happening in society. Churches trying to attract people. there are potential customers (people who are religious or who might WANT to be religious). Shift towards what we think people need from religion to a supply side, looking at what other religious are able to create demand

Question 14

What are religious firms?

Answer 14

Seeking to serve the market by offerring religious “product lines” offered by the various firms

Question 15

What occurs if the religious economy is unregulated?

Answer 15

It will tend to be very pluralistic (many religious firms active in the market). It inhibits the ability of new religious firms to gain market share

Question 16

What do religious regulations and monopolies create in the dynamics of the religious marketplace?

Answer 16

Lethargic religions

Question 17

Why did religious decline occur in Europe?

Answer 17

Due to the history of state support for religion in Europe. E.g: due to religious monopoly in Sweden, official state Catholic Church went evangelized Nobles and Monarchy in which they stopped bothering to go and out evangelize others (Lazy church where they dont find any believers)

Question 18

What does NOT having a state religion result in?

Answer 18

Allows people to have a “free-for-all” in terms of religion in which people can choose to thrive and start up different religions. This made America a varied religious landscape.

Question 19

What are the results of more vitality in religions?

Answer 19

They are the result of more pluralism in which religious consumers tend to be induced in participating in religions if there is a religious that satisfies their needs or wants.

Question 20

What are examples of a Monopoly?

Answer 20

Single fast food chain: where it only attracts a small number of customers who might want a particular kind of fast food.
Europe is like the single fast food chain.

Question 21

What are examples of competition?

Answer 21

Multiple fast food chains: where multiple brands drives interest in fast food generally and as more people try it they the customer base grows larger.
America is like multiple fast food chains.

Question 22

How is a decline in religion avoided?

Answer 22

So long as the religious marketplace is unregulated

Question 23

How did Stark describe religious declines?

Answer 23

That secularization (power of converting) is self-limiting through cycles, resulting in religious innovations (new churches, new organizations etc.)

Question 24

Why are religious declines occurring?

Answer 24

Because the religious organizations are not meeting the spiritual needs of people.

Question 25

What is the fourth great awakening founded in ? and what is it also referred to as?

Answer 25

1960-1980 and also known as the Evangelical Awakening

Question 26

When did the First Great Awakening occur?

Answer 26

1730-1755

Question 27

Whne did the Second Great Awakening occur?

Answer 27

1790-1840

Question 28

When did the Third Great Awakening occur?

Answer 28

1855-1930

Question 29

What does market theory say about religions?

Answer 29

That it functions in of natural cycles in the religious marketplace, where innovators are coming in and that we should eventually see a Reawakening of religious sentiment. `