RELI 1000Exam # 3 Study GuideReligion & Society • Society• Society: A group of humans/ animals or plants of a single species that is collectively related in an interdependent way• Social institutions: government, family, education, legal systems, religion, economic, health, political, & cultural• Emile Durkheim on Society • French Sociologist, born 1858• Works: The Division of Labor (1893), The Rules of Sociological Method (1895), Suicide (1897) & The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life (1912)• Investigated how the society functions & especially what binds it together & is noted for arguing that "God is the society”• Goals of society• Social solidarity/ order is fundamental to society• Each social institutions functions to promote social order• Society acts like an organism, with various parts - social institutions – each which must function to promote social harmony• Religion & Society • Religion emerged from the needs to promote harmony in the community• Morality - taboos and other rules are the reason form religion• Religion is a social expression that enhances solidarity• Ritual creates heightened emotion – collective effervescence that is reified to control humans• The relationships between humans and the supernatural world is similar to that between individuals and the community• Religious Agents & Authority • Religious authority: It’s rooted in the sacred – the divine, “the invisible reality” It can be a “double edged sword, example: May sanction good as well as evil.• Religious agents: Prophets, sages, saints priests shape & influence social behavior (Jesus, Muhammad & Moses)• Charisma• Charisma: a unique compelling authority possessed by a person &his/her teachings (Max Weber)• Most religious leaders are charismatic and they often enlists disciples• Zoroaster – Zoroastrianism• Jesus – Christianity• Buddha – Buddhism• Muhammad – Islam• Moses –Judaism • Routinization of Charisma • Organization of a religion to survive the death of its leader• Muhammad and Islam• Jesus and Christianity• Buddha and Buddhism• Many voluntary groups, especially cults, don’t survive this crisis• People’s Temple in Jonestown Guyana – led by Rev. James Jones (1978)• Father Divine Peace Mission in New York – led by Father Divine (1965).• Routinization Process a) Standardization / Cannonization of the doctrineb) Discipline – Rules e.g Sharia, Halakha etc c) Mode of Worship (Liturgy) d) Organization of community • Christian Cannonization Process as routinization• A creed & apologetic writings were produced – The Apostles Creed• Religious communities• Religious communities falls into categories: – Natural Religious Groups – • Born / marry into• Maintained through blood / kinship, race, nation • Attention is paid to rites of passage & ancestor veneration • Often used for political reasons to protect identity.• Sometimes associated with an element of coercion. – E.g Indigenous religions/ Judaism etc • Secret Society & Voluntary Religious Groups– Secret Society: • Often arise out of dissatisfaction within the natural religion. • May be voluntary or practice coercion.– Voluntary groups• Breaks from natural group • Don’t restrict marriage within the group. • Often proselytizing – they seeks converts through evangelization• Kinship is not a central factor (e.g Islam, Christianity, Buddhism)• Examples of Religious Communities– Church – People called by God – Christianity– Sangha – “assembly” – Buddhism – Umma – “Surrenders” to Allah – Islam • Religion, Protest & Change • Stress in religious groups often leads to discord, protest and calls for renewal, reform and change.• Tension arise out of scriptural interpretations, laxity of members towards the doctrine, religion and worship. • May also be fueled by the discovery that original teachings / norms of belief or practices are neglected and hypocrisy. • Leaders claim a new / independent revelation or teaching that challenges the original message – e.g discovery of new scripture. • Schism in Christianity• Issues in the Church in the West• The Claims to Primacy by the Roman Bishop– The Church in the West (Roman Catholic Church) was organized under bishops– The Bishop of Rome was later elevated to Pope– Eastern Orthodox church was excommunicated– Eastern Orthodox Church remained organized under bishops/ Patriarchs.• Protestantism Emerged during the 15th century reformation period . Criticized the Roman Catholic teachings and practices e.g Fundraising activities: the selling of the relics  Indulgences: Remission of the punishment for sin by the clergy in return for services or payment).Purchase of freedom from purgatory: The church taught that one could earn spiritual merit by donating to the church• Relationship between the church and state– Church in Constantinople became aligned, almost identified with the state under Constatine.– The Church in Rome was not– Doctrinal differences – often cultural and attitude. E.g– Eastern church insisted in continuing the Greek tradition.Arguments about the nature of Jesus – was he fully God or human? – Eastern church observed Easter according to the Jewish calendar- after Passover– Western Christians observed resurrection day on the Sunday after Passover– Use of icons during worship• Major Agents of Change • Martin Luther (1483-1546)– A monk, priest & a Professor of Biblical studies at the University of Wittenberg. He taught: • Salvation by the grace of God alone through repentance and faith based on Jesus’ teachings.• Salvation to sinners in spite of their sin.• Critiqued the Catholic teachings on indulgences and the idea of the purgatory. • In 1517 he posted 99 theses on the door of the church citing errors in the Catholic teachings.• He was excommunicated on June 15, 1520, by the Papal Bull (a decree).• He moved to Germany with supporters. • Attempts to reconcile the church with him failed.– Ulrich Zwingli • A Swiss priest who rejected Catholic practices not mentioned in the Bible. E.g – Abstaining from meat during lent, veneration of relics and saints, religious pilgrimages, celibacy for monks and priests, masses for the dead.– Like Luther he taught that the Lord’s supper is celebrated as a memorial of Jesus sacrifice. •