SOC101Y1 Lecture 20: Lecture 20 - Religion
Document Summary
Offered answers to most of life"s questions - morality, ethics, etc. Imbued every aspect of human social life with meaning (birth, death, rites of passage) - celebrate/rituals/recognition/identify. Religious beliefs so common that most societies had no word for religion. Means different things - no consensus on definitions. Sociologists try to sort out different meanings. Substantive definitions: focus on what religion is. To be religious is to believe in something. Social phenomenon (something that we can all potentially have a relationship with) Shared - have in common with other individuals. Functional definitions: focus on what religion does. Promotes social cohesion and a sense of belonging. Durkheim: religion = system of beliefs, symbols, rituals, based on some sacred or supernatural realm that guides human behaviour, gives meaning to life, and unites believers into a community. World"s 5 largest religions: christianity, islam, hinduism, chinese folk, buddhism. Agnostic: someone who doesn"t know if there is a higher power/thinks it"s impossible.
