Religion Flashcards
A social institution that involves belief and practices anchored on a conception of sacred.
( - Macionis 2004)
Religion
He denoted that secularization is ‘the process whereby religious thinking, participation and institutions lose social significance’
Bryan Wilson
He notes 2 approaches to defining
secularization:
(a) Structural level (institution)
(b) Individual level (personal belief)
Jose Casanova
He denoted Secularization in which;
1. Religion helps to maintain social cohesion
2. Collective worship brings people together
3. As societies develop, religion loses this role
Emile Durkheim
He denoted Secularization in which;
* Religion ‘is the opium of the people’
* A tool of the ruling class
* Helps provide false consciousness
* It promises a better life after death
for those who suffer
* No role for religion in communism
Karl Marx
He denoted Secularization as;
* Religion is an illusion
* God takes the place of parents
* Rationality replaces religion
Sigmund Freud
He denoted Secularization as;
* Religion answers important questions
Why am I here? Etc
* Science & rationality replace
religion
* Religion has been a force for
social change
-Max Weber
WHAT ARE THE TWO MAIN APPROACH OF SECULARISATION?
The Institutional approach and The Societal approach
It studies the role and impact
of religion on society and the individual.
Societal approach
It looks at religious institutions and how important they are in peoples lives
Institutional approach
THESE ARE THE FOUR AREAS THAT ARE EXAMINED IN SECULARISATION
- Participation.
2.Disengagement and differentiation.
3.Religious pluralism.
- Secularization of religious institutions.
He defined secularization as a process by which the society is slowly transforming from that having close identification with the religious institution to a more separated relationship.
Jose Cassanova
