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beliefs Flashcards

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1
Q

What do functionalists believe about society?

A

Society is made up of social institutions that socialize people into norms and values to achieve value consensus and collective conscience.

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2
Q

How does Durkheim distinguish between sacred and profane?

A

Sacred refers to things set apart or forbidden that inspire awe, while profane refers to ordinary, mundane things.

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3
Q

What is an example of a sacred object in Durkheim’s study?

A

The totem of the Arunta tribe, typically an animal or plant represented by wood carvings.

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4
Q

What does Durkheim argue about worshipping the totem?

A

Worshipping the totem is equivalent to worshipping society itself, strengthening social solidarity.

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5
Q

What role do sacred symbols play in Durkheim’s theory?

A

They represent a collective conscience and reinforce social integration through shared rituals.

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6
Q

What is one criticism of Durkheim’s theory on religion?

A

It is outdated and provides little insight into contemporary religion.

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7
Q

What cognitive function does Durkheim attribute to religion?

A

Religion enhances our ability to reason and think conceptually.

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8
Q

According to Malinowski, how does religion serve psychological functions?

A

It helps people cope with emotional stress and provides rituals during uncertain situations.

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9
Q

What are the two types of situations where religion provides psychological functions according to Malinowski?

A
  • Important but uncontrollable outcomes
  • Times of life crisis
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10
Q

What does Parsons argue about the role of religion in modern society?

A

Religion helps individuals cope with unforeseen events and reinforces societal norms and values.

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11
Q

What is civil religion according to Bellah?

A

A unifying force in a multi-faith society that attaches sacred meanings to society itself.

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12
Q

What does Marxism view religion as?

A

A feature of class-divided society used by the ruling class to maintain class divide.

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13
Q

What does Karl Marx mean by ‘false class consciousness’?

A

A distorted perception of reality that prevents the poor from changing their situation.

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14
Q

What is the significance of the phrase ‘religion is the opium of the people’?

A

It suggests that religion dulls the pain of exploitation and misleads the poor.

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15
Q

What do feminists argue about religion?

A

Religion is patriarchal and perpetuates inequality.

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16
Q

What evidence does Armstrong provide regarding women’s roles in religion?

A

Religious organizations often forbid women from becoming priests and segregate sexes in worship.

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17
Q

What is secularisation according to Wilson?

A

The process whereby religious beliefs, practices, and institutions lose social significance.

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18
Q

What trend did Wilson find regarding church attendance in Britain?

A

Church attendance fell to around 5% in 2016/17.

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19
Q

What does the term ‘believing without belonging’ refer to?

A

Having strong internal beliefs without attending church.

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20
Q

What is meant by structural differentiation in secularisation?

A

The transition to modern society has led to specialized institutions taking over functions previously performed by religion.

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21
Q

How does Berger describe the effect of social and religious diversity on religion?

A

It undermines the notion of a single religion, making beliefs relative rather than absolute.

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22
Q

What did Hadaway discover about church attendance in America?

A

Self-reported attendance was significantly higher than actual attendance observed.

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23
Q

What does Bruce argue about secularisation in America?

A

It is experiencing secularisation from within, where religion has become psychologised.

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24
Q

What shift does Grace Davie identify in how people relate to religion?

A

A shift from obligation towards the consumption of religion.

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25
What does Davie mean by the privatisation of religion?
Religion is becoming confined to the private sphere rather than the public sphere.
26
What is spiritual shopping according to Hervieu-Leger?
Individuals choose and tailor their religious beliefs rather than inherit them.
27
What two types of religious participants does Hervieu-Leger identify?
* Pilgrims: those seeking self-discovery * Converts: those seeking a sense of community
28
What are the two religious types identified by Hervieu-Leger?
Pilgrims and converts ## Footnote Pilgrims seek self-discovery, while converts join for a sense of belonging.
29
What did Glendinning and Bruce find about spiritual shoppers?
They dabble in beliefs and rarely show lifelong commitment ## Footnote Engagement with different religions is often short-lived.
30
What features does David Lyon associate with the shift from modern to postmodern society?
* Globalisation * The media and social media * Growth of consumerism
31
What does Lyon mean by religion becoming disembedded?
Religion is moved out of physical churches and becomes deinstitutionalised ## Footnote It detaches from its original locations and origins.
32
What are the two types of internet religion distinguished by Helland?
* Religion online * Online religion
33
What does the growth of religious choice indicate?
Religion is relocated to a sphere of consumption ## Footnote This is evident in New Age beliefs and spirituality.
34
What do Stark and Bainbridge argue about secularisation?
They criticize it and propose a cycle of religious decline, retrieval, and renewal ## Footnote They believe secularisation overlooks the growth of some religions.
35
What do Norris and Inglehart argue regarding religiosity?
It relates to differing degrees of existential security ## Footnote Societies feeling secure have lower demand for religion.
36
What is a key characteristic of fundamentalism?
Appeals to tradition and seeks to return to the basics of faith ## Footnote Arises when traditional values are threatened.
37
According to Davie, what is the relationship between fundamentalism and modernity?
Fundamentalism is a product and reaction to modernity ## Footnote It reacts against globalisation's impact on traditional norms.
38
What two responses to modernity does Castells distinguish?
* Resistant identity * Project identity
39
What is cosmopolitanism according to Giddens?
It is the opposite of fundamentalism, characterized by tolerance and self-improvement ## Footnote It emerges in modern and postmodern societies.
40
What does Huntington's clash of civilisations theory suggest?
Globalisation brings together civilisations with religious differences leading to conflict ## Footnote This creates an 'us vs them' mentality.
41
What does Davie argue about secular fundamentalism?
It is rising due to modern society's challenges ## Footnote Anti-religious fundamentalism arises in response to perceived threats.
42
What is cultural defense as explained by Bruce?
Using religion to restore identity amidst globalisation ## Footnote Acts as a way to hold onto national heritage.
43
What does Nanda highlight about Hinduism in India?
It is growing alongside modernisation and globalisation ## Footnote Hinduism adapts to embrace material wealth and self-advancement.
44
How does Redding relate Confucianism to economic growth?
It encourages hard work, self-discipline, and commitment to education ## Footnote This is seen in countries like China and South Korea.
45
What does Berger say about Pentecostalism in Latin America?
It spreads stressing hard work and discipline but needs material conditions for development ## Footnote Economic factors also influence growth.
46
What is the difference between science and religion according to belief systems?
Science adjusts to facts; religion adjusts facts to fit belief ## Footnote This highlights different approaches to truth.
47
What are the reasons for science's dominance in belief systems?
* Empirical * Objective * Cumulative * Open belief system
48
What are Merton's CUDOS norms?
* Communism * Universalism * Disinterestedness * Organised scepticism
49
What characterizes a closed belief system according to Horton?
Claims monopoly of truth and resists questioning ## Footnote This leads to fixed knowledge.
50
What is Kuhn's view on paradigms in science?
Natural sciences operate within paradigms that define reality and evidence ## Footnote Challenging paradigms can lead to rejection by the scientific community.
51
What does Woolgar argue about scientific knowledge?
It is socially constructed ## Footnote Scientists make observations like everyone else.
52
What does Mannheim distinguish between in belief systems?
* Ideological thought * Utopian thought
53
How does Althusser describe ideological state apparatus?
Ideas of the ruling class justify the status quo ## Footnote This leads to false class consciousness.
54
What is the feminist critique of science according to Marks?
Science has been used to justify excluding women from education ## Footnote Patriarchal ideologies define women's roles.
55
What does nationalism claim according to Gellner?
* Nations are real and distinct * National loyalty should come before others
56
What are the characteristics of churches according to Ernst Troeltsch?
* Clear hierarchical structure * Conservative beliefs * Long lifespan * Universalist
57
What defines denominations in religious organisations?
* Breakaway from a church * Bureaucratic and democratic * Tolerant of other religions
58
What characterizes sects in religious organisations?
* Egalitarian * Radical * Intolerant of others
59
What are the characteristics of cults?
* Emphasise opportunity and success * Followers live normal lives
60
What are the characteristics of churches?
Complex, highly rigid hierarchy and bureaucratic structure with lots of rules and regulations. Large paid, professional clergy. Inclusive membership, little commitment required. World affirming.
61
What are the characteristics of sects?
Egalitarian, power shared among followers, radical in nature, reject dominant social norms, members withdraw from society, intolerant of others.
62
What are the characteristics of cults?
Emphasise opportunity and success, expect followers to live normal lives, members can belong to other religions.
63
What is Troeltsch and Niebuhr's typology of religious organisations?
Categorizes churches, denominations, sects, and cults based on hierarchy, membership, and relationship with society.
64
What do Stark and Bainbridge define sects and cults based on?
What they promise their members and who they appeal to.
65
What do sects promise their members?
'Other worldly' benefits, often appealing to the poor.
66
What do cults promise their members?
'This worldly' benefits, likely appealing to prosperous individuals facing health or psychiatric issues.
67
What are audience cults?
Living room cults that require no formal membership, no commitment, and no interaction between members.
68
What are client cults?
Based on a relationship between a consultant and a client, providing services like therapies for self-discovery.
69
What characterizes cultic movements?
Highly organised cults with a high level of membership, meeting all religious needs of members.
70
What are world affirming NRMs?
Not highly organised, accept the world as it is, promise mainstream goals like careers and relationships.
71
What are world accommodating NRMs?
Breakaways from mainstream churches that neither accept nor reject the wider world.
72
What are world rejecting NRMs?
Have a clear vision of God, are critical of the outside world, seek radical change.
73
What is a characteristic of New Age Movements (NAMs)?
Individualistic with a focus on self-spirituality.
74
What does self-spirituality in NAMs involve?
A personal spiritual journey tailored to individual interests.
75
What is cultural transition in relation to ethnicity and religiosity?
Religion can ease the transition into a new culture by providing community support.
76
What does cultural defense refer to?
Religion offers support and a sense of cultural identity in unfamiliar environments.
77
What is the ageing effect in relation to older people and religiosity?
People become more religious as they age, becoming concerned about the afterlife.
78
What is the generational effect regarding religiosity?
Each new generation is less religious than the one before, leading older people to be more religious.
79
How do women’s socialisation and gender roles influence their religiosity?
Women are socialised to be passive, obedient, and caring, qualities valued by religions.
80
What is the theodicy of disprivilege?
Religions that promise rewards, often salvation, to cope with inequality.
81
What is relative deprivation?
When materially affluent individuals feel spiritually deprived, leading them to seek religion.
82
What are pragmatic motives for joining a religion?
Using religion to rationally solve personal problems or escape hectic lives.
83
What role does protest play in religiosity?
Some people join religions to protest against societal norms or values.
84
What is Wilson's view on social change and religion?
People turn to religion in times of social upheaval for certainty and structure.
85
How does religion act as a conservative force?
Maintains traditional beliefs and upholds the status quo in society.
86
What does Bloch’s principle of hope suggest?
Religion can inspire hope for a better future.
87
What is liberation theology?
A movement that seeks to address social injustices through religious teachings.

beliefs (2 decks)

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