RELIGION (CHAPT 14)

RELIGION, FOR SHAEFER, CONSIDERED A CULTURAL UNIVERSAL

DEFINITION:
A UNIFIED SYSTEM OF BELIEFS AND  PRACTICES RELATED TO "SACRED AND
PROFANE" THINGS--DURKHEIM

Sacred: Elements beyond everyday life that inspire awe, respect, and
fear

Profane: The ordinary, common-place elements of life

SECULARIZATION:  PROCESS THORUGH WHICH  RELIGION BECOMES LESS
IMPORTANT IN SOCIETY AS A WHOLE, AND HAS ITS OWN SPECIAL SPHERE
IN THE WORLD

What are the most common religions?

IN ORDER:

   1. CHRISTIANITY
     (ABOUT 998 MILL---580 MIL = ROM. CATHOLIC)
   2. ISLAM
      (ABOUT 592 MILL)
   3. HINDUS
     (ABOUT 481 MILL)

SOME TERMS:

   COSMOLOGY= GENERAL THEORY OF THE UNIVERSE

   BELIEFS--STATEMENTS/PRINCIPLES TO WHICH A
   PARTICULAR RELIGION ADHERES

   RELIGIOUS RITUALS--PRACTICES REQUIRED OR EXPECTD
   BY MEMBERS OF A PARTICULAR FAITH
   DENOMINATION--LARGE, ORGANIZED RELIGION NOT LINKED WITH
   THE STAT OR GOV'T

   ECCLESIAE--A RELIGIOUS ORG THAT CLAIMS TO INCLUDE
   MOST OF ITS SOCIAL MEMBER AND "OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZED"

FUNCTIONS OF RELIGION

 1. INTEGRATION
 2. EXPLANATION/THEORIES
 3. CODES FOR LIVING
 4. SOCIAL CONTROL
    KNOW DIFF BETWEEN MARX/WEBER/DURKHEIM
M
RELIGION TENDS TO BE REGIONAL IN THE US--

 1. CATHOLICS-WEST AND NORTH-EAST
 2. BAPTISTS--SOUTH
 3. LUTERANS--NORTH CENTRAL (MINN, DAKOTA, ETC)
 4. METHODISTS -- MIDWEST (PLAINS TO EAST COAST)

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