Does Religion Matter At All? the greater part of the world’s population is religious the proportion of the religious population is growing despite a mainly secular Western world, religion still informs many of a society's underlying values no complete separation between state and religion in any nation religion influences the private sphere, civil society and the political stage in times of existential crises religion plays an even more important role For communities * the number of faith-based organizations (FBOs) — ranging from Paatele lglg * To fundamentalist —is increasingA Word of Caution The role of religion in socienty varies greatly with many factors Tog L) * form of government * dominance of one single religion * authority of religious leaders The role of religion in humanitarian action also depends on * emerency relief vs. religious conflict * the role religion plays in the affected community/society * the presence of other FBOs or secular organizations * +> Context does matter!Religion in Society (Present) Politics: Political parties formed on the bases of edi eAleya) Vote for a specific party to go to haven \ clerics influence\ rates of illiteracy (Egypt) parties claiming the ownership of religionsReligion in Society (Present) Education Teaching religion in schools as a subject (state approved curriculum) religious based schools (Christian or Islamic) West & East depending on the school; one sided interpretation of religion \ no free thoughReligion in Society (Present) TU ST|assoe Holy dirt: Israeli company exporting dirt from Jerusalem to the US Halal food restaurants in the west Head-scarves, crosses, Icons, praying carpets Religious tourism; tourism companies organizing only pilgrimage trips to MeccaReligion in Society (Present) terol preaching contempt other religions censorship? (politicized — hate speech- citizens or acknowledged clerics)Sociology & Religion e NOT to criticize © Goal is to study how religion is organized 0 How it affects the members of a given societyDurkheim The Elementary Forms of Religious LifeReligion is... o “Aunified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred beings, that is to say, things set apart and forbidden — beliefs and practices which unite into one single moral community called a Church, all those who adhere to them”Cultural Component o System of beliefs 0 Beliefs — states of opinions © Practices — rights, modes of action o Beliefs and practices exist within a social context o Consistent with the values and norms of the cultureSocial Organizational Component oe Community or Church o Collective of persons who share similar beliefs and practicesSacred Things o Profane o Realm of the every day world o Sacred o Objects or ideas that are treated with reverence and awe o Existing only in relation to the profane ¢ Anything can become sacred o Nota property of the object o Exists in the mind of the believerThe Elementary Forms of Religious Life o Religion developed out of group experience o Performing rituals results in developing a sense of awe o Reinforces the moral norms of societyThe Elementary Forms of Religious Life o Anomie o When a society is no longer in awe of moral norms o NormlessnessReligion has... o Aset of beliefs @ Things considered sacred oe Acommunity of believers o Aset of rituals, ceremonies or behaviors @ Aform of organizationTypes of Religion oe Animism 0 Belief that spirits in habit virtually everything in nature 0 Spirits can be influence by specific ritualsTypes of Religion oe Totemism 0 Worship of plants, animals or other natural objects as gods and ancestors o Durkheim o Totems were expressions of a society's conceptions about itself @ True of all societiesTypes of Religion oe Shamanism o Belief that certain individuals have special skill or knowledge in influencing the spirits that affect processes and events in their environmento Polytheism o Belief in and worship of more than one god @ Monotheism o Belief in and worship of one god