Religion

Origin of Religion
Religion developed out of the observations
that humans made about their world.
Humans used their experiences to develop
their own conclusions of their world.

(like Allan Watts expresses on p.p. 2)

Cont...
Early humans believed they shared this
world with other powerful beings than
themselves
The Sun and Moon were the first
They also concluded that after death, the
deceased person's spirit would exist
outside and reflect onto the Earth

 Without the spirit in the body the person

could not function
Each person had will, ability to act on
their own
Forces of nature were influenced by the
higher power
These ideologies were told in form of
storytelling
Early humans were mostly concerned about
surviving

World Religions
Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and
Buddhism all developed within different
times in our history
Hinduism is the oldest religion, it
teaches reincarnation and karma
Judaism was founded in 2000 B.C., laws
were made by God and actions were taken
more to count then their belief

Cont

Christianity was established by Jesus Christ, teaches

followers to love God. Justice and act of Charity are
emphasized
Buddhism was founded by Buddha. Followers are taught The
Four Noble Truths:we all Suffer, Desire leads to
Suffering, it can be overcome by the Eightfold Paths
Islam was founded by Mohammed. It teaches followers the
Five Pillars: profession of faith, prayer, charitable
giving, fasting during Ramadan, and pilgrimage to Mecca
at least once in a lifetime.

Religion and Gender

In Western culture women tend to be more religious than

men, this could be because of socialization
About 50% of major Religions in the U.S. do not allow
women to be ordained or otherwise serve in ways that are
equal to men
Women experience discrimination because of no equal
rights they find it difficult to find a job pastoring
They are more likely to serve as assistants and are more
likely to find jobs that pay less or in smaller rural
areas

Durkheim's Perspective
Religion & Functionalism

As the founder of Functionalism, Durkheim was

instrumental in studying sociology in religion.
He observed that people are able to make a distinction
from what he called the Sacred, and the Profane.
Sacred is any element that inspires respect, awe, and
even fear Profane is any element of life that is
ordinary and commonplace, and distinguished from the
sacred.
Durkheim proposed that religion has a social function
where it promotes unity and a sense of community among
followers

Weber's Perspective on Religion

Max Weber expanded on Durkheims studies by observing

major religions.
His focus was on Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism,
Buddhism, Taoism.
Weber was fascinated with exploring the influence of
Christianity on Western society and the impact it made on
a cultural perspective.
One aspect of Christianity he identified was in
Protestantism, a branched off Christian faith.
Weber concluded that the roots of Capitalism could be
traced to the Protestant work ethic

Marx Perspective

Karl Marx did not have a solid religious background, nor

did he study religions and their effects on society as
Durkheim and Weber did.
He thought of religion as the opium of the people.
Marx believed that people are simply taught to accept
their lives as they are and await their rewards after
death.
There was no use in striving for social change because of
religious teachings.
It is important to make it clear that Marx was not
against religion in any sense, but rather a powerful
force for the oppressed workers(proletariat) to hold onto
hope.

Works Cited

"Sociological Theories of Religion." Sociological Theories of Religion. Houghton Mifflin

Harcourt, n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2014.

"Functions of Religion - Boundless Open Textbook." Boundless. Boundless Education Publishing,

n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2014.

"Durkheim and Religion ,Social Demography,Sociology Guide." Durkheim and Religion ,Social
Demography,Sociology Guide. Concern Infotech, n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2014.

Pals, Daniel L. "4 Emile Durkheim The Social as the Sacred." Introducing Religion: Readings
from the Classic Theorists. New York: Oxford UP, 2009. 99-117. Print.

Bancroft, Angus Rogers, and Sioned Rogers. "Emile Durkheim - The Sociology of Religion."
Emile Durkheim - The Sociology of Religion. N.p., 2010. Web. 20 Apr. 2014.

Witt, Jon.SOC 2013. New York: McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 2012. Web.

Barrett, Justin L. "Exploring the Natural Foundations of Religion." Trends in Cognitive

Sciences 4.1 (2000): 29-34. Print.