Sociology

Sociology Study Guide

o Innovation and change: Develops new knowledge and skills to add to the cultural heritage. Education stimulates intellectual curiosity and provides opportunity for research and experimentation.  Basic research: Systematic inquiry concerned with establishing new knowledge by uncovering basic aspects.  Applied research: Experimenting with practical uses of existing knowledge. Concerning Religious Institutions: Functionalists believe that religion promotes social stability and the status quo through rituals and value reinforcement. Conflict theorists consider religion as a tool of the powerful. • The four types of religion: o 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. o Animism: Belief system based on the existence of a spirit or force found in everything within nature and which contains a soul. o Theism: Belief system based on one or more supreme beings or gods who deserve to be worshipped because of their power and influence.  Monotheism: Belief system based on the existence of one supreme god.  Polytheism: Belief system based on the existence of more than one god. o Ethical religions: Belief system based on philosophical ideals and how to achieve them. • Four types of religious organizations: o Ecclesia: Large, formally organized religious body that is considered the national or official religion. All members of a society belong to this body. An ecclesia wields influence over the government. Ecclesias are not common today, but some organizations roughly approximate them. o Denomination: Also known as a church, it is a well-established and socially accepted religious organization. Believers fall into the hierarchy and conform to doctrines and rituals. Denominations are usually tolerant of each other and are not officially linked to state or government. o Sect: Sects are small and less formally organized. They have split from a denomination and in some way protest against the parent religion. They are generally uncompromising and indifferent or hostile toward government. o Cult: Loosely organized religious movement with ideas that are in direct opposition to established and accepted religious traditions. Concerning Political Institutions: Functionalists conclude that the emergence of the state is in direct response to the service it provides in maintaining the social system. Conflict theorists assert that the state exists only to safeguard the interest of the privilegedfew.

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