beliefs in society

• What does religiosity refer to?

  Extent to which someone sees themselves as religious
• What do fundamentalists seek in their faith?

  Return to the basics or fundamentals of their faith
• What does secularisation mean?

  Decrease in power that religion has in society
• What is ideology?

  A set of ideas, values, and beliefs
• What are theistic beliefs?

  Belief in a higher power or deity
• What characterizes New Age movements?

  Focus on self-development rather than devotion
• What is animism?

  Belief in spirits that impact the world
• What is totemism?

  A form of animism with sacred community symbols
• What are the core characteristics of substantive definitions of religion?

  • Identify core characteristics shared by major religions
  • Exclusive in nature, requiring specific features
  • Example: belief in a god
• What is a criticism of substantive definitions of religion?

  Ethnocentric, focusing on Western religions
• What do functional definitions of religion focus on?

  • What religion does for society
  • Provides comfort and reinforces values
  • May include non-religious belief systems
• What is a criticism of functional definitions of religion?

  Too inclusive, any belief system could qualify
• What does the constructionist definition of religion focus on?

  • How definitions of religion are constructed
  • Depends on who has the power
  • Example: Scientology's status as a religion
• What is a criticism of the constructionist definition of religion?

  Impossible to generalize about religion's nature
• What are the five features of religion?

  1. Belief in sacred beings
  2. Sacred and profane objects, places, and times
  3. Ritual acts based on sacred elements
  4. Moral code with supernatural origins
  5. Prayer and communication with the supernatural
• Why is religion often seen as a closed belief system?

  It claims to know the truth and resists criticism
• How does Popper view science as a belief system?

  Science is open to challenge and falsification
• What does Herberg suggest about some religions?

  They are open to change to maintain relevance
• How does Kuhn describe science as a closed belief system?

  It runs on paradigms that shape understanding
• What is a belief system?

  Set of stories and realities believed to be true
• What are Polanyi's three tendencies of closed belief systems?

  Denial of legitimacy, subsidiary explanations, circularity
• What do Marxists believe about ideologies like science and religion?

  • Tools of the ruling class to maintain power
  • Justify capitalism and reproduce inequality
  • Major scientific discoveries driven by profit motives
• What is the postmodernist view of ideologies in society?

  • Multiple ideologies reflect diverse social groups
  • No dominant ideology, power is shared
  • Criticism: pluralism itself declares dominance
• How do feminists view ideologies like science and religion?

  • Promote patriarchy and gender inequality
  • Block women from positions of power
  • Example: Bowlby's study used to justify gender roles
• What does Mannheim claim about world views?

  All world views are ideologies reflecting personal interests
• What are Mannheim's two types of world views?

  1. Ideological Thought: Justifies tradition and resists change
  2. Utopian Thought: Promotes social change for the disadvantaged
• What did Evans-Pritchard study about the Azande tribe?

  Belief in witchcraft reflects a closed belief system
• What is the impact of science on religion?

  • Growth of science may lead to decline in religion
  • Millions still identify with major religions
  • Supernatural beliefs continue to influence behavior
• What are Merton's CUDOS norms?

  C: Communism, U: Universalism, D: Disinterestedness, OS: Organised Scepticism
• What are the core principles of science?

  1. Pursuit of facts
  2. Objectivity
  3. Cause and effect based on reliable data
• What are the stages of Aldridge's transitions from religious to scientific explanations?

  1. Theological Stage: Supernatural explanations
  2. Metaphysical Stage: Natural explanations
  3. Scientific Stage: Rational, evidence-based explanations
• What does Weber refer to as disenchantment with the world?

  Loss of magical and mystical elements of the world
• What does falsification mean in science?

  Possibility that a theory could be proven false
• What do interpretivists argue about knowledge?

  • Knowledge is socially constructed
  • Result of resources available to social groups
  • New instruments lead to new observations and facts
• How do conflict theories view scientific knowledge?

  • Not objective truth, serves specific interests
  • Advances driven by capitalism
  • Example: Ballistics theory for weaponry
• What is the postmodernist critique of science?

  • Science is a metanarrative claiming to find truth
  • Serves capitalist interests and produces commodities
  • Dominates discourse and marginalizes other views
• What is Durkheim's view on the role of religion?

  • Maintains social cohesion and solidarity
  • Differentiates between sacred and profane
  • Reinforces collective conscience through rituals
• What does Durkheim mean by the sacred and the profane?

  Sacred: special things; Profane: ordinary things
• What is totemism according to Durkheim?

  • Simplest form of religion in simple societies
  • Sacred totem represents clan's identity
  • Rituals reinforce belonging and solidarity
• What is the collective conscience in Durkheim's theory?

  • Shared norms, values, beliefs, and knowledge
  • Maintains social living and integration
  • Reinforced by regular religious rituals