SOCA03Y3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 14: Sanctification, Social Forces, Social Control

• School: UTSC
• Department: Sociology
• Course: SOCA03Y3
• Professor: Kathy Liddle

Document Summary

Religion: a system of beliefs and practices related to sacred things. Children, art, etc: not studying religion to prove if it"s true or not , or which religion is better. Interested in social phenomenon of what role does religion play in certain society. Helps maintain order for smooth functioning of society. Telling us how to look at our lives in a way that"s meaningful, joys and strategies. Not about specific things people believe, but about roles that religion can play. Six critiques for the functionalist approach to religion. Ignores dysfunctional aspects of religion: doesn"t think about the way religion can be bad sometimes. Sacred/profane divide is overly rigid: actually ways in which they intermingle. A spiritual response to a condition of alienation. Alienation: idea that because we"re a more industrialized society (workers in factory), they will feel alienated from the stuff they make and from each other.