Sociology

Sociology Study Guide

o Credentialism: Asking for specific advanced degrees even though the knowledge obtainedby those degrees does not in any way correlate to their work tasks. 5.3 Religious Religion is a system of beliefs and practices by which a group of people interpret and react to what they feel is sacred. Evident in every society, religion is universal, and yet it is diverse. Almost every religion in the world requires faith. Four more common elements present in most religions are: • Sacred objects or places: such as an altar, cathedral, or burial mound. • Rituals: Formalized procedure or behavior • Beliefs: Defines and establishes protection for the sacred and relates the sacred objects to the rituals. • Believers: Those who conduct the rituals, care for the sacred, and build places of worship. Emile Durkheim was the first sociologist to realize the importance of religion in human societies. He believed that the distinction between the ‘sacred’ and the ‘profane’ was a key differentiation in every religion. The sacred was anything deemed holy or divine as part of the supernatural. The profanewas anything ordinary or routine that was often taken for granted in daily living. Belief systems usually provide moral philosophy to its believers. It can also translate those beliefs into educational and political doctrine. An organization of believers is absolutely necessary to assure religious continuity, for ritual conduct, to proselytize, and to build places of worship. Belief systems providecoping mechanisms and other positives, including: • Support: To overcome fear of the unknown, anxiety about the future, and hope in the case of a death. • Understanding: Concerning the larger scheme or plan. Used as a means to judge the ‘righteousness’ of goals, ideals, and actions. • Fulfillment: of a desire to have a sacred relationship, or something more than our normal or boring existence. • Membership: that encourages the mutual sharing of sacred values and beliefs. • Assistance: to deal with the major transitions of life, including birth, puberty, marriage, and death. Types Sociologists have examined the different belief systems of the world and have categorized them into four broad categories: • Animatism: Belief system based on the existence of a spirit or force found within people, animals, plants, or inanimate objects and which contains personality and will, but no soul.

©2018

Achieve Test Prep

Page 114

of 172

Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker