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Notes of the lectures ''Sociology of Religion''
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Sociology of religion notesLukas Vonhout
Hoorcollege 1 6-2-2023 introduction to the sociology of religion
We study religion as a social phenomenon.
Themes and questions:
- What is the role of religion in society?
- How do religious ideas and practices change as a result of particular developments in
society?
- Why is the number of people who regularly go to church in the Netherlands
decreasing?
There’s a focus on the behavior of believers instead of religious texts or teachings.
They’re not boxes with fixed ideas but the idea that religions are constantly developing.
In sociology theres a focus on the believers rather than on what we believe in.
Sociology tries to find patterns and is an empirical science.
What is religion?
Very difficult to define, is yoga religion for example?
Define religion two types of definitions;
1. Substantive definition; focus on the characteristics of religion. You look at the
qualities of a phenomenon and use a checklist of the qualities match the list of
religion.
2. Functional definition; focus on the use or effect of religion. What does religion do in
society and what are the general trends or patterns?
Early history sociology of religion
Comte (1798-1857) developed by comte, sociology of religion. Comte thought we can study
humanity the same way natural scientist study nature. This is a positivistic way of studying
science and religion, so if you collect enough data and do it systematically you get to know
how religions work. They thought this was an objective way of studying religion.
The first big question was;
- What happens to religion when societies become more and more modern?
Through this question came the secularization theory, the idea that how modern the society
gets religion becomes less important and will secularize. Religion will disappear because
science would replace religion.
- Max
- Weber
- Durkheim
Modernity
What is modernity? Its not only the present age and the current society, it can also be a
reference of a set of structural pattern in society.
Interconnected structural factors:
- Industrialization
, - Urbanization
- Individualization
College 2 8-2-2023 founding fathers, Marx & Weber
Marx 1818-1883
One of the earliest sociologist, important analysis on modernization and what it does to
society.
Marx had an international life, he lived in Berlin, London, Paris, Brussels etc.
Marx’ writings have materialist approaches to the study of religion.
Marx society consist of two domains;
1. Structure; these are material conditions, the way we organize society, we organize
society in terms of production and labor.
2. Superstructure; the ideas people have, the way they give meaning to life,
philosophical, political idea. This lays over and around the basis of the material
conditions.
It’s the structure that shapes the superstructure. Religion is more a product of society rather
than something that steers society.
Marx says that philosophical ideas do not determine peoples lifes, it is the material
conditions that determines peoples lifes.
Marx says that we cannot only be philosophers but have to do empirical study of human life
on the material living conditions.
He says that in contrast from German philosophy that descends from heaven to earth but marx
descends from earth to heaven.
Marx theology does not help, theology is just the layer that masks power positions in society.
Marx had a secularization theory, function of religion in society for marx:
- Religion as an instrument of the ruling classes to impose and oppress injustice.
These would be factory owners for example and bourgeoisie, these classes oppress
their workers, they legitimize things that would be injustice.
- Religion as a popular reaction to oppression (deprivation theory). It is a way to cope
with the oppression and stops people from speaking out to that oppression. Religion
keeps people in their place.
- Modernization will result in the disappearance of religion. when a society becomes
more modern this will lead to a disappearance of religion, modernization makes
people realize that what religion tells isn’t true. When people become more rational
people will start to look at life from a different angle and will wake up from the
oppression.
- With the decline of religion → people will stand up to the oppression and will see the
reality.
Marx sees religion as something negative, it is oppression by the higher class and makes the
lower class stay in line and not stand up against the oppression.
The changes of modernization makes changes in the structure that results into changes in the
superstructure.
, For marx the idea of the uprising against the oppression, there is no liberation for marx in
religion.
Yet, in the nineteenth century liberation theology makes its way:
- There is a strong emphasis on fighting poverty and political oppression of the masses.
There is a need for a good religious person to fight this oppression. This is a sort of
marx inspired form of religion.
Famous liberation theologists:
- Oscar Romero, Archbishop of San Salvador
- Farid Esack, South African Islamic theologian
People are combining marx’s ideas with theology.
Insights Marx:
- Religion cannot be understood separately from society. If society changes religious
practices also change for example, these two are in communication with each other.
- There is a focus on what the material circumstances and how that may shape their
beliefs. Everything people say and do results from peoples material circumstances.
- How do particular groups of people use religion to legitimate their own interests?
Weber 1864-1920
Important work by Weber is ‘’die protestantische etihk un der geist des Kapitalismus’’.
Weber developed a theory of religion and society that builds on Marx but also criticized
Marx.
Protestant Ethic:
Thanks to marx we have learned about material circumstances and how people live, Weber
says religious ideas can affect the way people live. The superstructe can also shape and affect
the structure!
- ‘elective affinity’ in this case specific religious ideas and the emergence of modern
capitalism. Modern capitalism it wouldn’t have existed without certain ideas, there
were many factors and one of them that had to be there was the rise of the protestant
religious view on life and the here after.
- The rise of particular protestant ethic was a condition for capitalism
- Marx idea of superstructure and structure was to much one sided
Weber says that capitalism is:
- A struggle for profit free from the limits set by personal needs. Rather than a struggle
to fulfil personal needs. It’s the making money just for making money. It’s a mindset
of taking opportunities in making money and the moral obligation of taking these
opportunities.
- Rational utilization of capital in a permanent enterprise. The idea of making more
money than one needs. The enjoyment of being rich and getting richer. Yet it makes it
modern of the enterprise and rational systematic way of making a business. Capital is
used to make more capital all the time.
- Rational organization of labor. It is geared towards an economic efficiency.
Weber makes the connection with the reformation and the idea of continually making money
just to make money.
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