SOCI 205 1nd Edition Lecture 16 Outline of Last Lecture II. DemocracyIII. Religious Groups in “Lakeburg” – Lichterman studiesOutline of Current LectureII. Theories of ReligionIII. Religious BeliefIV. Study GuideV. Reading DiscussionVI. Extra Credit Opportunity: HOWDY Project (Aggie Civil Religion)Current LectureII. Theories of Religiona. Sociologists of Religioni. Tend to look more at the social forces rather than the content of beliefs. b. Marx: Religion and inequalityi. Religion is the “opium of the people”1. Powerful use religion to oppress  oppressed people turn to religion (offers happier lifestyle, hopefulness, “temporary drug”)2. Suggested that if religion went away, workers would recognize the source of hardships/poverty, rather than just saying it is the will of God  helped maintain status quo3. Marx wanted religion to disappear because it could not offer answers to fundamental questions4. Saw religion as impediment to societyc. Durkheim: Religion and functionalismi. Religion contributed also to the status quo and social solidarityii. Durkheim had religion at the center of his analysisiii. “father of functionalism”: wanted to understand how solidarity was produced, and then how it was reproduced in societyiv. Believed that religion helps identify a community through beliefs, practices, etc. and it helped to reinforce the identity of the individual and the group as well These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.v. Both Marx and Durkheim saw religion as a conservative force that maintains status quovi. Wanted to understand how religion helped the societyd. Weber: The Prostestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism (different view than Marx and Durkheim)i. Protestantism encouraged hard work and simple lifestyles1. One’s calling may be a religion vocation (e.g. clergy such as monk) or to work in the world (e.g. entrepreneur, professional)2. Weber is thinking about how religion can change society and its long term effects (economically, also) – very different from Marx and DurkheimIII. Religious Beliefa. In US: More than 90% believe in God or a Higher Powerb. Protestantism in USi. Liberal and more moderate groups are losing membersii. Conservative groups are growingc. Catholicism in USi. Growth due to immigration from Mexico and Central Americaii. Growth hides loss of non-immigrant Catholicsd. Other religious groupsi. Jews1. Assimilation, intermarriage, and low birth ratesii. Muslims1. Possible underreportinge. Religious “Nones” (Unaffiliated)i. 15-20% of the population1. Includes:a. Secular unaffiliated: “religion is not important in their livesi. 1/3rd of nonesb. Religious unaffiliated: “religious is somewhere or very important” but lack religious communityi. About 1/3rd of nonesii. “spiritual, not religious”c. Atheists (about 1/10)d. Agnostic (remainder, about 2/10)f. Resurgence of Evangelicalismi. Belief in spiritual rebirth, such as “born again”ii. “direct, personal, emotional religious experience”IV. Study Guide: Mark Chaves, “Abiding Faith”a. 1) Chaves: “Religious faith in the US is more broad than deep…” What does the author mean?i. Most people say they believe in God and the word of the Bible, but hardlyanyone knows the depth of it (could not name the first book of the Bible)b. 2) How is religious identity similar to ascribed characteristics such as racial/ethnicidentity?i. You identify as the group you associate yourself with. It speaks for your values and beliefs as they are tied to the group as a whole. V. Reading Discussion (“muslims in America”)a. Author argues Muslims are similar to mainstream Americans.b. In what ways are they similar/different?c. How did Muslims experience US post – 9/11?VI. Extra Credit Opportunity: HOWDY Project (Aggie Civil Religion)a. Option 1: say “howdy” to the first ten people you seei. Record their responseii. Don’t address cell-phone users or individuals with limited attentioniii. Only same genderb. Option 2: record number of unsolicited