Home   >   Sociology Questions   >   Religion Questions and Review

Religion Questions and Review

By on January 17, 2014

What is the functionalist perspective of religion? What are the specific functions of religion? What is the conflict perspective of religion? Does religion perpetuate social inequality? How? What is “the opium of the people”? What do you think of the conflict perspective of religion?

What is the symbolic interactionist perspective of religion? What are the specific components of religion that can be applied to the interactionist perspective?
What is the relationship between social class, race and ethnicity, and age and religion?
What is difference between a cult, sect, and religion?
What role does evangelism play in religion?

(Image courtesy of keerati/FreeDigitalPhotos.net)

India’s Sacred Cow
For more information on this article go to:

http://www.mothercow.org/oxen/sacred-cow.html

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/holycow/hinduism.html

http://www.sociology101.net/sys-tmpl/bindiassacredcow/

Questions:
Is this Hindu belief an irrational ideology or functional for this society? Can you specifically apply functionalism to this article? Can you apply conflict theory to this article? Can you apply symbolic interactionism to this article?

Jim Jones and Jonestown
Search the web for information on “Jim Jones” and “Jonestown”. Read about Jim Jones and what he called “Jonestown” in Guyana. While you are reading the information think about how our theories (structural functionalism, symbolic interactionism, and conflict theory), as they apply to the institution of Religion, can be applied to Jim Jones, Jonestown, and his followers.

Here are some websites on Jonestown but you may want to visit other websites as well:

http://www.rickross.com/groups/jonestown.html

http://www.owlnet.rice.edu/~reli291/Jonestown/Jonestown.html

http://www.religioustolerance.org/dc_jones.htm

 Sociological perspective chart

RELIGION

 

Functionalist Perspective

Symbolic Interactionist Perspective

Conflict Perspective

·      Ultimate meaning

·      Emotional comfort

·      Social solidarity

·      Guidelines for everyday life

·      Social control

·      Adaptation

·      Support for the government

·      Social change

·      Dysfunctions of religion

·      Functional equivalents of religion

·      Condensed way of communicating

·      Symbols rituals

·      Sense of community

·      Beliefs

·      Religious experiences

·      Supports the status quo

·      Reflection of social inequalities

·      Legitimation of social inequalities

·      Those that experience inequality: lower social classes, racial and ethnic minority groups, women, and homosexuals

·      “Opium of the People” – Marx

·      Stratification (hierarchal levels)

 

About admin

Teaching Sociology is very enjoyable for me. Sociology is like a gateway to a plethora of knowledge and understanding. The subject material is directly applicable to real-world events and situations found in everyday life. The methods and concepts of sociology yield powerful insights into the social processes shaping the contemporary world. The ability to identify and understand these processes is valuable preparation for professional participation in an ever changing and complex society.