Sociology

Sociology Study Guide

Despite the evidence that suggests membership and participation has decreased dramatically, an increasingly emergent religious consciousness has grown in the US. Fundamentalist, evangelical organizations have grown rapidly in the last 25-30 years fostered by television. In these religions, being “born again” and believing in the literal interpretation of the Bible is encouraged. Fundamentalists groups and right-wing politicians have similar beliefs; therefore, these groups have been influential. Peter Berger, however, argues for the reality of secularization , the process of religion losing its influence on society. He states that perhaps religion is no longer the force that unites societies or impacts education or politics as it once did. Secularization can be registered and measured in many ways. In the modern society that is highly diversified, traditional religions can become more separate and its influence can wane (especially because other institutions, like government or science, take its place). When this happens, newer religions or sects develop. In reality, it is highly unlikely that a completely secularized society will ever exist. Religion answers questions that people wantanswered. is the social process by which people and groups acquire, exercise, maintain, and/or lose power over others. It is an inevitable part of social living. Political processes , as a universal part of highly structured governments, grant rights and freedoms to citizens, assign responsibilities, and control access to and use of resources. Each political institute varies in personality according to the people who make up the group. Political order is the institutionalized system fromwhich individuals or groups exert power over others. Power is generally channeled through political institutions , enduring social arrangements that distribute and exercise power, according to the political order of the nation. Power is defined as the ability to control or influence the actions and behaviors of others, withor without their consent. Usually power is given to a position, not necessarily the person in thatposition. There are three means used to control the actions of others: • Reward: Offering a benefit or something positive in exchange for obedience or compliance • Punishment: Threatening or creating negative consequences for disobedience • Influence: Manipulating information, attitudes, and feelings Max Weber asserted that the state is the only authority able to hold supreme power in a geographic territory. This power can be delegated to certain authorities, but in the end the state can override all other agencies and is central to the political order. He also stated that power can be either: • Illegitimate: Few in society view the people who are acting in power do not have a right to do so. Coercion is forcing a person to obey someone who is exerting illegitimate power (a bank robber, for example). • Legitimate: Society views the power or authority to be valid and/or justified. Authority is legitimate power (a police officer, for example). 5.4 Political Politics

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