Religious rituals bring order, comfort, and organization through shared familiar symbols and patterns of behavior. Factory jobs tend to be simple, uninvolved, and require very little thinking or decision making on the part of the worker. The study of religion emerged as a formal discipline during the 19th century, when the methods and approaches of history, philology, literary criticism, psychology, anthropology, sociology, economics, and other fields were brought to bear on the task of determining the history, origins, and functions of religion. Employees also seek autonomy and fulfillment in their jobs, not just wages. Originally published in 2004, New Approaches are now available as paperback for classroom use. The Sociological Approach to ReligionReligion describes the beliefs, values, and practices related to sacred or spiritual concerns. Religion, in fact, depends on society for its existence, value, and significance, and vice versa. Conflict theorists view religion as an institution that helps maintain patterns of social inequality. For Durkheim, Weber, and Marx, who were reacting to the great social and economic upheaval of the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century in Europe, religion was an integral part of society. In his writing The Protestant Work Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism (1905), he contends that the Protestant work ethic influenced the development of capitalism. Functionalism, conflict theory, and interactionism all provide valuable ways for sociologists to understand religion. And if there is, do we have areliable vocabulary to describe it? 2 hours Structural theories Outcome 1 PC (a) & (b) and 2 PC (a) • Examine consensus theory. Religion is also an example of a cultural universal, because it is found in all societies in one form or another. The pay, working conditions, and robotic nature of the tasks dehumanizes the workers and strips them of incentives for doing quality work. For example, the Vatican has a tremendous amount of wealth, while the average income of Catholic parishioners is small. To him, sacred meant extraordinary—something that inspired wonder and that seemed connected to the concept of “the divine.” Durkheim argued that “religion happens” in society when there is a separation between the profane (ordinary life) and the sacred (1915). Want to cite, share, or modify this book? Subject:Sociology Paper: Religion and society. The Sociological Approach to Religion. Rewards are the intangible benefits in terms of belief and satisfactory explanations about life, death, and the supernatural, as well as social rewards from membership. Feminist theorists focus on gender inequality and promote leadership roles for women in religion. Finally, religion promotes social control: It reinforces social norms such as appropriate styles of dress, following the law, and regulating sexual behavior. Marx considered religion inseparable from the economy and the worker. He contended that these values need to be maintained to maintain social stability. Because interactionists study one-on-one, everyday interactions between individuals, a scholar using this approach might ask questions focused on this dynamic. not be reproduced without the prior and express written consent of Rice University. A standard definition of religion in sociology is that it is: A set of general explanations about existence which includes the supernatural. Critics also believe this theory overuses economic terminology and structure and point out that terms such as “rational” and “reward” are unacceptably defined by their use; they would argue that the theory is based on faulty logic and lacks external, empirical support. On the other hand, the “McDonaldization” of the United States (Hightower 1975; Ritzer 1993), in which many service industries, such as the fast-food industry, have established routinized roles and tasks, has resulted in a “discouragement” of the work ethic. In terms of religion, feminist theorists assert that, although women are typically the ones to socialize children into a religion, they have traditionally held very few positions of power within religions. Despite their different views, these social theorists all believed in the centrality of religion to society. In studying religion, sociologists distinguish between what they term the experience, beliefs, and rituals of a religion. Comparative Religious Ethics: A Narrative Approach. (The modern use of “work ethic” comes directly from Weber’s Protestant ethic, although it has now lost its religious connotations.). Because religion can be central to many people’s concept of themselves, sometimes there is an “in-group” versus “out-group” feeling toward other religions in our society or within a particular practice. The theory doesn’t address many aspects of religion that individuals may consider essential (such as faith) and further fails to account for agnostics and atheists who don’t seem to have a similar need for religious explanations. The information age has increased the rapid pace of production expected in many jobs. This objective investigation may include the use of both quantitative methods (surveys, polls, demographic and census analysis) and qualitative approaches such as participant observation, interviewing, and analysis of … Moreover, it can foster group cohesion and integration. In studying religion, sociologists distinguish between what they term the experience, beliefs, and rituals of a religion. We recommend using a Finally, religion promotes social control: It reinforces social norms such as appropriate styles of dress, following the law, and regulating sexual behavior. Textbook content produced by OpenStax is licensed under a 15.1. They are considered replaceable commodities as opposed to valued employees. Some form of religion is found in every known culture, and it is usually practiced in a public way by a group. OpenStax is part of Rice University, which is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. He showed that Protestant values directly influenced the rise of capitalism and helped create the modern world order. In the wake of nineteenth century European industrialization and secularization, three social theorists attempted to examine the relationship between religion and society: Émile Durkheim, Max Weber, and Karl Marx. Modern-day sociologists often apply one of three major theoretical perspectives. Explain how its beliefs, behaviors, and norms are like/unlike the other religion. The growth of various disciplines in the 19th century, notably psychology and sociology, stimulated a more analytic approach to religions, while at the same time theology became more sophisticated and, in a sense, scientific as it began to be affected by and thus to make use of historical and other methods. By this reasoning, even if traditional religion disappeared, society wouldn’t necessarily dissolve. Consider a religion that you are familiar with, and discuss some of its beliefs, behaviors, and norms. Is there a phenomenology that isdistinctive of religious experience? The work ethic in the information age has been affected by tremendous cultural and social change, just as workers in the mid- to late nineteenth century were influenced by the wake of the Industrial Revolution. citation tool such as, Authors: Heather Griffiths, Nathan Keirns. A few religions and religious denominations are more gender equal, but male dominance remains the norm of most. But what would happen if religion were to decline? In terms of religion, feminist theorists assert that, although women are typically the ones to socialize children into a religion, they have traditionally held very few positions of power within religions. The extraordinary range of methods and frameworks can be helpfully summed up regarding the classic distinction between the natural-scientific and human-scientific approaches. Marxist Perspective On Religion And Liberation Theology. Another assumption of RCT is that religious organizations can be viewed in terms of “costs” and “rewards.” Costs are not only monetary requirements, but are also the time, effort, and commitment demands of any particular religious organization. Today, the work ethic of the modern workforce has been transformed, as more thinking and decision making is required. (Photo courtesy of James Emery/flickr), Many religions, including the Catholic faith, have long prohibited women from becoming spiritual leaders. © 1999-2020, Rice University. His century-old claim that the Protestant work ethic led to the development of capitalism has been one of the most important and controversial topics in the sociology of religion. Are there some objects, such as cups, candles, or clothing, that would be considered profane in normal settings but are considered sacred in special circumstances or when used in specific ways? Units of Analysis Moreover, it can foster group cohesion and integration. German philosopher, journalist, and revolutionary socialist Karl Marx (1818–1883) also studied the social impact of religion. are licensed under a, Pop Culture, Subculture, and Cultural Change, Introduction to Society and Social Interaction, Introduction to Deviance, Crime, and Social Control, Global Implications of Media and Technology, Theoretical Perspectives on Media and Technology, Social Stratification in the United States, Introduction to Social Stratification in the United States, Social Stratification and Mobility in the United States, Theoretical Perspectives on Social Stratification, Theoretical Perspectives on Global Stratification, Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination, Introduction to Gender, Sex, and Sexuality, Theoretical Perspectives on Government and Power, Theoretical Perspectives on Health and Medicine, Population, Urbanization, and the Environment, Introduction to Population, Urbanization, and the Environment, Introduction to Social Movements and Social Change, The Protestant Work Ethic in the Information Age, Functionalists believe religion meets many important needs for people, including group cohesion and companionship. The Star of David in Judaism, the cross in Christianity, and the crescent and star in Islam are examples of sacred symbols. While some people think of religion as something individual because religious beliefs can be highly personal, religion is also a social institution. In jobs where roles and tasks are highly prescribed, workers have no opportunity to make decisions. This book is Creative Commons Attribution License Because religion can be central to many people’s concept of themselves, sometimes there is an “in-group” versus “out-group” feeling toward other religions in our society or within a particular practice. Religious explanations of these concepts are presumed to be more satisfactory than scientific explanations, which may help to account for the continuation of strong religious connectedness in countries such as the United States, despite predictions of some competing theories for a great decline in religious affiliation due to modernization and religious pluralism. He believed religion reflects the social stratification of society and that it maintains inequality and perpetuates the status quo. Conflict theorists view religion as an institution that helps maintain patterns of social inequality. https://openstax.org/books/introduction-sociology-2e/pages/1-introduction-to-sociology, https://openstax.org/books/introduction-sociology-2e/pages/15-1-the-sociological-approach-to-religion, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Blackwel. Retrieved January 20, 2012 (http://personal.lse.ac.uk/KANAZAWA/pdfs/ARS1997.pdf). Factory jobs tend to be simple, uninvolved, and require very little thinking or decision making on the part of the worker. Religion is a social institution, because it includes beliefs and practices that serve the needs of society. 2003. “Religious Attendance and Subjective Well-Being among Older Americans: Evidence from the General Social Survey.” Review of Religious Research 45:116–129. This power dynamic has been used by Christian institutions for centuries to keep poor people poor and to teach them that they shouldn’t be concerned with what they lack because their “true” reward (from a religious perspective) will come after death. Interactionists are interested in what these symbols communicate. Rising from the concept that our world is socially constructed, symbolic interactionism studies the symbols and interactions of everyday life. Above all, he believed religion is about community: It binds people together (social cohesion), promotes behavior consistency (social control), and offers strength during life’s transitions and tragedies (meaning and purpose). According to this perspective, religion has been used to support the “divine right” of oppressive monarchs and to justify unequal social structures, like India’s caste system. Commentators on religious experience disagree on the significance ofphenomenological considerations. By applying the methods of natural science to the study of society, Durkheim held that the source of religion and morality is the collective mind-set of society and that the cohesive bonds of social order result from common values in a society. Barkan, Steven E., and Susan Greenwood. The theory doesn’t address many aspects of religion that individuals may consider essential (such as faith) and further fails to account for agnostics and atheists who don’t seem to have a similar need for religious explanations. For example, it helps answer questions like, “How was the world created?” “Why do we suffer?” “Is there a plan for our lives?” and “Is there an afterlife?” As another function, religion provides emotional comfort in times of crisis. He famously argued that religion “is the opium of the people” (1844). Second, in the twentiethcentury, once philosophy of religion was … Durkheim is generally considered the first sociologist who analyzed religion in terms of its societal impact. Critics of RCT argue that it doesn’t fit well with human spiritual needs, and many sociologists disagree that the costs and rewards of religion can even be meaningfully measured or that individuals use a rational balancing process regarding religious affiliation. Weber thought the emphasis on community in Catholicism versus the emphasis on individual achievement in Protestantism made a difference. Hechter, M. 1997. “Sociological Rational Choice Theory.” Annual Review of Sociology 23:191–214. (Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons). A scientific explanation for why something occurs can’t reasonably be supported by the fact that it does occur. On an extreme level, the Inquisition, the Salem witch trials, and anti-Semitism are all examples of this dynamic. The information age has increased the rapid pace of production expected in many jobs. In conversation with Christopher Cotter, Brown outlines rival traditions within the history of religion and demonstrates what each has contributed to our understanding of secularisation. Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 license. Rational Choice Theory: Can Economic Theory Be Applied to Religion? Conflict theorists are critical of the way many religions promote the idea that believers should be satisfied with existing circumstances because they are divinely ordained. Interactionists are interested in what these symbols communicate. Moreover, religion is a cultural universal found in all social groups. Religious explanations of these concepts are presumed to be more satisfactory than scientific explanations, which may help to account for the continuation of strong religious connectedness in countries such as the United States, despite predictions of some competing theories for a great decline in religious affiliation due to modernization and religious pluralism. These universals, and the differences in the way societies and individuals experience religion, provide rich material for sociological study. During times of recession, these service jobs may be the only employment possible for younger individuals or those with low-level skills. Durkheim is generally considered the first sociologist who analyzed religion in terms of its societal impact. For Durkheim, religion was a force for cohesion that helped bind the members of society to the group, while Weber believed religion could be understood as something separate from society. Translated by George Simpson. Despite their different views, these social theorists all believed in the centrality of religion to society. A rock, for example, isn’t sacred or profane as it exists. Nevertheless, the sociological approach to the study of religion has great rewards. For him, religion was just an extension of working-class (proletariat) economic suffering. In studying religion, sociologists distinguish between what they term the experience, beliefs, and rituals of a religion. To interactionists, beliefs and experiences are not sacred unless individuals in a society regard them as sacred. Conflict theorists also point out that those in power in a religion are often able to dictate practices, rituals, and beliefs through their interpretation of religious texts or via proclaimed direct communication from the divine. Rational choice theory (RCT) is one way social scientists have attempted to explain these behaviors. New York: Penguin. If you are redistributing all or part of this book in a print format, In fact, scholars have found little merit to his contention when applied to modern society (Greeley 1989). Contribution to Critique of Hegel’s Philosophy of Right. These views offer different lenses through which to study and understand society: functionalism, symbolic interactionism, and conflict theory. How do people decide which religion to follow, if any? Throughout history, and in societies across the world, leaders have used religious narratives, symbols, and traditions in an attempt to give more meaning to life and understand the universe. Many religions, including the Catholic faith, have long prohibited women from becoming spiritual leaders. Another illustration of religious beliefs is the creation stories we find in different religions. The theory proposes that people are self-interested, though not necessarily selfish, and that people make rational choices—choices that can reasonably be expected to maximize positive outcomes while minimizing negative outcomes. But if someone makes it into a headstone, or another person uses it for landscaping, it takes on different meanings—one sacred, one profane. On the other hand, the “McDonaldization” of the United States (Hightower 1975; Ritzer 1993), in which many service industries, such as the fast-food industry, have established routinized roles and tasks, has resulted in a “discouragement” of the work ethic. These universals, and the differences in the way societies and individuals experience religion, provide rich material for sociological study. It then addresses some methodological issues that are crucial for approaches that focus on social action, be it in the internal or the external arena. Durkheim, Émile. He examined the effects of religion on economic activities and noticed that heavily Protestant societies—such as those in the Netherlands, England, Scotland, and Germany—were the most highly developed capitalist societies and that their most successful business leaders were Protestant. Functionalists believe religion meets many important needs for people, including group cohesion and companionship. 1993. 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