Monday, January 18th, 1998
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1. Religion

1. Functionalists view of religion

1. Promotes social cohesion – unites the people with shared symbolism, values, and norms
2. Social Control – society tries to promote conformity through religion – imposes societal norms and values against deviation. Example: Christian, Hindu weddings they make vows to each other and to God – they take the vows so they will not deviate
3. Social Change

1. Calvinism – Protestant Ethic – A certain set of values (hard work, discipline, carrying out God’s will) is the basis for capitalism (Max Weber) Calvinists believe people are predestined to go to heaven and they are blessed with enormous wealth on Earth.
2. Religion prompted the Civil Rights Movement, Abolition movement. Negative change – Taliban movement in Afghanistan.
3. Berger

1. Religion can be used against modernization – Amish, Fundamental Islam
2. Religion can adapt to the secular world – they use religion for secular means (Protestant Ethic). Secular – a de-emphasis on religion… Example: Penn State University
3. Religion can be involved in contemporary concerns. Example: Christian Coalition

1. The Conflict Perspective on Religion

1. Marx – The dominant religion of any society is the religion of the dominant class
2. Religion reinforces the interests of those is power
3. "Religion is the opium of the people" – Marx – Religion is false consciousness, a drug of the masses. Example: White masters imposed Christianity on slaves

1. Symbolic Interactionist View of Religion

1. Everything is a social construction, including religion
2. Peter Berger – the sacred legitimizes and stabilizes social life. Sacred rituals are needed for stability

1. Major Religions of the World – Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Confucianism, Christianity – all based on theodicy.
2. Islamic Fundamentalism: Khomeini in Iran. Wants to reestablish Islamic values and put to end the American world. Believes in violence to crush the corruption of Iran by American society
3. Theocracy – Religious rule Example: Pakistan, Iran

1. Types of Religious Organizations

1. Cult – practices and beliefs are in opposition to the dominant culture. Example: Waco, Texas with David Koresh. People who join are usually poor and rejected from the dominant culture
2. Sect – larger than a cult. Faces hostility from the dominant class. Loosely organized – members of low SES and rich kids who are fed up with the values of the upper class join them. Example: Branch Davidians in Texas
3. Church – When a sect makes peace with modern society, it may become a church. Well organized, trained clergy, highly bureaucratic organization, a formal social institution
4. Ecclesia – State religion – Organization that claims everyone as a member. Cannot join, can only be born into. Example: Iran, Pakistan, Lutheran church in Sweden and Denmark