Friday, April 16, 1999
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NOTE: Major Religions of the world: Hinduism is the only polytheistic religion. Buddhism and Confucianism say there is no God at all. Buddhism says human existence involves suffering, desire is the root of all evil, and pleasure is transitory (brief)

1. Religion As a Result of Modernization

1. Secularization thesis (involves rational thinking)

1. Decline in importance of religious values and beliefs
2. Increased reliance on science to explain the complexities of life and death
3. People started questioning religion. Secular person seeks a rational reason for everything.

1. Fundamentalism (opposes secularization, embraces conservative values) – dogmatic acceptance of the Holy Scripture true to be interpreted literally

1. Church attendance has declined
2. Fundamentalist church attendance has increased – theodicy – give people easy answers to life’s tough questions – stress salvation
3. Fundamentalism is a result of anomie… emerges as a result of rapid social change

1. Civil Religion (Quasi-Religion)

1. Does not mention a God… religious dimensions are expressed in beliefs, symbols, rituals
2. At many public functions, God is referred to without distinguishing which God they are referring to. Civil Religion is only found in America – there is no complete separation of church and state
3. It promotes social control, conformity, nationalism

1. Education

1. The Evolution of Education

1. Hunting and Gathering – family was the central social institution – No formal education
2. Agrarian Society – Parents transmitted education – wealthy kids learned art, science, history
3. Middle Ages – Church expanded schools and universities – Art, science, and literature just for rich kids. School in Greek means leisure.
4. Industrial Revolution – Watershed – People needed technical skills – large bureaucratic institutions were made. Mass education – everyone must be educated

1. Mandatory Education Law 1918 in USA – legal requirement that kids receive minimal formal education. As a result, the USA is very literate – 4 out of 5 have received a high school diploma and 1 in 5 have received a college diploma
2. The Coleman Report – mid 1960’s – it revealed:

1. In spite of Brown v. Board, schools were still racist. The Coleman report prompted inter-racial bussing to integrate students
2. Schooled apart unequally – white kids received a better education
3. Social environment has a great impact on learning ability of students

1. Problems in Education

1. Functionalist Perspective on Education

1. (Professor’s Opinion) Critical thinking – education is a great liberator from the prejudices which are ingrained in everybody
2. Socialization – teaches a large body of knowledge and skills
3. Hidden Curriculum – values and norms of a culture. Latent function of education is to impose upon students this Hidden Curriculum
4. Human Capital – learn technical skills to get better income
5. Social Integration – learn the Dominant Value Profile and become a part of the National Mind. NOTE: Only 33% of African Americans and just 21% of Hispanics attend a fully integrated school
6. Social Placement – Preparing for culturally assigned status and goals
7. Source of upward mobility – gives you credentials
8. Research and Development – create ideas on your own

1. Conflict Perspective on Education – Not everyone has the same access to education

1. Schooling and Social Inequality – little boys are given education over little girls in other cultures
2. Reproduction of Existing Class and Cultural Capital – students having differing cultural capital (social assets) makes a difference in education
3. Schools reinforce the values and importance of the dominant class. Minorities are forced to go through Anglo-conformity.
4. Testing and Social Inequality – Standardized tests reflect the dominant culture. Income plays a key role in SAT scores – the richer you are, the better your score is