Defining Religion

AN INTRODUCTION TO THE SOCIOLOGY OF RELIGION


NAME

This introductory activity involves groupwork, individual research and examining articles. It should take 3 lessons. It is meant to get you to reflect upon whether religion is a force in the world today.

ASSESSMENT: TASKS 1 and 2 are groupwork assessments via a presentation.

TASKS 1: Groupwork. Examine the four articles and for each do the following.

a. Identify which religious organisation the article is referring to.

b. Identify and describe the main issue in the article.

c. Explain how the issue involves a religious dimension

d. Discuss and evaluate what this suggests about the place of religion in society today.


TASK 2
e. List as many religions as possible

f. Identify arguments which suggest that religion is and is not a major force in modern society

g. Make a list of new words that you come across with their meanings







Working towards a definition of religion


TASK A: Identifying your initial ideas about religion

NOTES
1. Do questions 1-4 on WS1

2. Discuss your answers and initial ideas with the class

3. Read the leaflet IS1 and complete the rest of the questions

TASK B: Comparing your original ideas with other definitions

4. How do sources 1 and 5 classify religion?

5. Look at sources 2-4. Can you identify any omissions from any of the defintions?

6. Learn at least one definition – but be clear about any limitations it may have.



ASSESSMENT TASK C: THINKING AS A SOCIOLOGIST

1. Provide a working definition of religion taking into account any limitations it might have? (6)

2. Identify three types of questions a sociologist is interested in asking about religion? (6)

3. Why do you think sociologists are interested in religion? (8)


Functions of Religion

1. Helps meets the needs of society for security by creating “social solidarity” (Durkheim) :

- Formulating rules and laws that maintain an orderly society

- Creating common values …ways of thinking and behaving which unite people and create harmony..creating a “value consensus”

- Creating a common belief system which encourages people to join together….integrate …under a common

- creates a set of symbols which reinforce social solidarity

2. Helps individuals and society overcome life crisis

3. Helps individuals and society overcome uncertainty through prediction and control (Malinowski)

4. Helps individuals make sense of things which seem to make no sense or make life meaningless