This document defines key elements of religion and discusses different perspectives on religion. It describes religion as a system that defines the sacred and helps explain life. It also outlines Durkheim's distinction between the profane and sacred. Functionalists view religion as serving functions like meeting needs and maintaining social order. Conflict theorists see religion as justifying the status quo and dominating groups. The document also differentiates between types of religious organizations and beliefs.

2.  Define the basic elements of religion.
 Describe the functions of religion according to the
functionalist perspective.
 Explain the conflict theory perspective on religion.
 Describe the basic types of religious organization.
 Differentiate among the major types of religion.

3. Religion
 A system of beliefs, practices, and philosophical values
shared by a group of people; it defines the sacred,
helps explain life, and offers salvation from the
problems of human existence.
 Religion can assume many forms, however it is a
universal human institution found in all societies

4. Émile Durkheim observed that all religions divide
the universe into two mutually exclusive
categories:
Profane - All empirically observable things—that
is, things that are knowable through common,
everyday experiences.
Sacred - Things that are awe inspiring and
knowable only through extraordinary
experiences.
- The sacred has the ability to represent the
shared values, sentiments and beliefs of the group

5. Rituals
Patterns of behavior or practices that are related to the
sacred.
Prayers
A means to address or communicate with
supernatural forces or beings
Emotions
Rituals and prayers can bring forth altered
emotional states. In some religions this state is
expected in others it is understood as possible.

6.  Many religions have an organizational
structure which includes:
 - A means of recruiting and training of
specialists
 - Methods for conducting
services/meetings
 - The fostering of interaction among
members to increase group unity

7. All religions endorse a belief system which
usually contains:
- A supernatural order
- Set of values for daily life (profane)
- Healing power thru people, prayer, relics
Religious Taboos – Most contain sacred
prohibitions against looking at, touching or
mentioning certain objects, acts or people.

8.  Magic is used to manipulate and control
matters that seem to be beyond human control
and that may involve danger and uncertainty.
 It is an active attempt to coerce spirits or to
control the supernatural
 It can serve some of the same functions as
religion, but it is usually designed to assist the
individual only

9.  Sociologists study the relationship between
religion and society.
 Functionalists identify four functions that
religion can provide for society:
 - Meeting Individual Needs - Marx
 - Maintaining Social Cohesion - Durkheim
 - Providing a Worldview - Weber
 - Serve societies adaptive needs

10.  INDIVIDUAL NEEDS
 Religion helps individuals reduce anxiety and
promotes emotional integration.
 It helps them deal with the unexplainable
 SOCIAL COHESION
 All societies needs to re-affirm their value system.
 People also need to come together and communally
proclaim acceptance of the society’s values
 This binds the people together and can cause or
 re-enforce internal acceptance of the societies norms

11.  ESTABLISHING WORLDVIEWS
 Human’s have a need to understand the
purpose of life.
 Religion creates and legitimizes a worldview,
which then affects the social, political and
economic spheres of society
 ADAPTATIONS TO SOCIETY
 Religion can help further adaptive strategies by
enforcing them or enshrining them in the sacred

12.  Marx believed that religion is one of the most
alienating influences in human society,
affecting all other social institutions
 Marx felt the dominant religion in society was
the religion of the upper classes.
 It’s role is to justify the status quo, often by
giving political authority sacred legitimacy
 It is used to maintain control of society and to
dominate the lower classes

14. SUPERNATURALISM
 Supernaturalism postulates the existence of
nonpersonalized supernatural forces that can, and
often do, influence human events.
 - The concept of MANA is an example of belief in
an impersonal supernatural power.
 - MANA is a diffuse, non personalized force that
acts through anything that lives or moves
 -

15. ANIMISM
Animism is the belief in inanimate, personalized spirits or
ghosts of ancestors that take an interest in, and actively
work to influence, human affairs.
ABSTRACT IDEALS
 Abstract ideals focus on the achievement of personal
awareness and a higher state of consciousness through
correct ways of thinking and behaving, rather than by
manipulating spirits or worshipping gods.

16. THEISM
 Theism is the belief in divine beings—gods and
goddesses—who shape human affairs.
 Gods are seen as powerful beings worthy of being
worshipped.
 POLYTHEISM
The belief in a number of gods
MONOTHEISM
 Monotheism is the belief in the existence of a single
god.

17. THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH
 A universal church includes all the members of a
society within one united moral community. It accepts
and supports the secular (political) structure
THE ECCLESIA
 An official or national religion. The church shares the
same ethical system as the secular society and often
promotes the interests of the ruling class. It offers
membership to all of society, but not all participate.
THE DENOMINATION
 Tends to limit its membership to a particular class,
ethnic group, or religious group. It has no official
connection to the state, but participates in society.

18. THE SECT
 A small group that adheres strictly to religious doctrine
and often claims that they are the authentic version of
the faith from which they split. They are an off-shoot
 of secular and/or religious society which they have
rejected
MILLENARIAN MOVEMENTS
 Typically prophesy the end of the world, the
destruction of all evil people and their works, and the
saving of the just. These groups tend to emerge in
times of stress.

19. RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY
The U.S. was founded on the concept of
religious tolerance
While half of the population self identifies as
Protestant, there are over 200 different religious
organizations registered in the U.S.
ATHEISTS - Do not believe there is a God.
AGNOSTICS - Either believe that there is no
way to know if there is a God; or
believe there is a divine power, but that man
cannot know it’s nature or form.

20. SECULARISM
 Modern society is becoming less influenced by
religion.
 Religious institutions are being confined to
narrowing spheres of influence as some people
turn to secular sources for moral guidance.
ECUMENISM
 The trend among many religious communities to
draw together and project a sense of unity and
common direction.
 It is partially a response to secularism