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Sociology - Beliefs in Society (A-level 2017) Cheat Sheet (DRAFT) by

A brief summary of the beliefs in society unit

This is a draft cheat sheet. It is a work in progress and is not finished yet.

Key Terms

 

Theories of Religion

Functi­onalism
DURKHEIM
sacred (set apart) and profane (ordinary)
 
Arunta Tribe
MALINOWSKI
psycho­logical functions - cope with emotional stress
 
outcome imp. but uncont­rol­lable and uncertain
 
times of crisis
PARSONS
legiti­mates society's norms and values
 
source of meaning
Marxism
religion as ideology
 
legitimate suffering
 
false consci­ousness
 
spiritual gin
 
interest of ruling class
MARX
religion and alienation
 
consol­ation - opiate
Feminism
patria­rchal ideologies
examples:
religious organi­sat­ions, places of worship, sacred texts, religious laws and customs
WOODHEAD
religious feminism -> e.g. hijab
 

Religion and Social Change

Conser­vative Force
preserve things as they are
Functi­onalism
social stability, preventing disint­egr­ation
Marxist and Feminism
supports existing social structure
Force for Chnage
WEBER
Calvinist Beliefs - predet­erm­ined, salvation panic, asceticism
Social Protest
BRUCE
American Civil Rights Movement -> motivation & legiti­mation
 
New Christian Right -> conser­vative
Marxism and Change
BLOCH
principle of hope
Liberation Theology
emphasises practical action guided by theory
WORSLEY
Millen­arian Movements - Cargo Cults
GRAMSCI
hegemony, organic intell­ectuals
BILLINGS
coalminers and textile workers

Secula­ris­ation

Secula­ris­ation in Britain
WILSON
western societies undergoing secula­ris­ation
church attendance on sundays
1851: 40%, 2005:6%
BRUCE
by 2030: church of England = small, voluntary organi­sation
Explan­ations of Secula­ris­ation
WEBER
ration­ali­sation
 
reform­ati­on=­>un­der­min­ed=­>ra­tional scientific outlook
BRUCE
techno­logical worldview
PARSONS
structural differ­ences
 
specia­lised instit­utions now carry out different functions previously performed by 1
WILSON
social and cultural diversity
 
indust­ral­isa­tio­n=> destroys stable local commun­ities
BRUCE
large, loose-knit commun­ities
BERGER
religious diversity
 
different versions of truth => undermines plausi­bility
BRUCE
cultural defence nad transition
Secula­ris­ation in the USA
church attendance
1962:45%, 1940:40% (exagg­era­ted?)
from within
form of therapy
 
purpose -> from seeking salvation in heaven to personal improv­ement
practical relativism
accept different beliefs exist
 

Religion, Renewal and Choice

New Forms
DAVIE
believing without belonging
HERVIE­U-LEGÉR
spiritual shopping
LYON
postmodern -> global­isa­tio­n=> movement of religious ideas
 
media=> instant access to disemb­edded ideas-> de-ins­tit­uti­ona­lised religion
 
sphere of consum­ption => pick & mix
self-s­pir­itu­ality
indivi­dua­lis­m=> spiritual revolution
HEELAS & WOODHEAD
congre­gat­ional domain (tradi­tio­nal­/ev­ang­elical) & holistic milieu (new age spirit­uality)
BRUCE
new age can't fill gap of tradit­ional decline
Religious Market Theory
STARK & BAINBRIDGE
compen­sators, historical cycle (decline, revival, renewal), compet­ition
Existe­ntial Security Theory
NORRIS & INGLEHART
security

Religion in a Global Context

Religious Fundam­ent­alism
tradit­ional beliefs and values
charac­ter­istics
author­itative sacred text, 'us and them' mentality, aggressive reaction to threat, use of modern techno­logy, use of modern techno­logy, patria­rchy, conspiracy theories
GIDDENS
reaction to modernity, which undermines tradit­ional norms, contrasts with cosmop­oli­tanism (embraces modernity, self-i­mpr­ove­ment, lifestyle = personal choice)
The 'Clash of Civili­sat­ions'
 
Cultural Defence
 
Religion and Develo­pment
 
Pentec­ost­alism in Latin America
 

Organi­sat­ions, Movements and Members

 

Ideology ans Science