Overview
This lecture introduces beliefs in society, defining religion and various belief systems, and explores different definitions of religion, types of religions, and the distinction between functional and substantive approaches.
Defining Religion and Belief Systems
- Religion is belief in and worship of the supernatural, guiding human behavior (Robertson definition).
- A belief system is any set of ideas that shapes how people view the world; main types: religious, political, scientific.
- Religions may have one god (monotheism), many gods (polytheism), no gods (spiritual), or focus on nature.
Types of Religions and Beliefs
- Monotheism: belief in a single god (e.g., Christianity, Islam, Judaism).
- Polytheism: belief in several gods (e.g., Hinduism, ancient Greek/Roman religions).
- Spiritual religions: have ethical teachings but no god (e.g., Buddhism).
- Cults: supernatural beliefs without a god (e.g., Heaven's Gate).
- Animism: belief in non-human spiritual beings (e.g., Shinto, indigenous religions).
- Totalism: emphasizes human-nature connection (e.g., Native American beliefs).
- Atheism: belief system denying the existence of a supernatural being.
Approaches to Defining Religion
- Substantive definitions focus on the content of religion (e.g., Junior: system of beliefs/practices for life’s big problems).
- Functional definitions focus on the role religion plays (e.g., Durkheim: distinction between sacred and profane).
Functional Religions and Criticisms
- Examples include civil religion (nationalism), celebrity cults, and consumerism.
- Functional definitions can be too inclusive, counting non-religious beliefs as religion.
- Substantive definitions can be too exclusive, focusing mainly on western monotheistic religions.
- Secularization: separation of church and state, leading to replacement of religious roles by other institutions (e.g., nationalism).
Other Major Belief Systems
- Political belief systems: ideologies shaping society’s organization (e.g., neoliberalism, Marxism, socialism, fascism).
- Scientific belief systems: belief in objective, rational knowledge about the natural world.
- Ideologies: belief systems supporting specific social groups; can be religious, political, or scientific.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Religion — belief in and worship of supernatural entities.
- Belief System — set of ideas influencing worldview and behavior.
- Monotheism — belief in one god.
- Polytheism — belief in many gods.
- Animism — belief in spirits or supernatural beings in nature.
- Secularization — separation of religion from state affairs.
- Functional Definition — defines religion by its societal roles.
- Substantive Definition — defines religion by its content and beliefs.
- Ideology — belief system benefiting a specific social group.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review class resources on types of belief systems.
- Prepare to discuss functional and substantive definitions with examples.
- Read assigned materials on political and scientific belief systems.