Sociology - Religion | History

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Study GuideSociology – Religion1. Judaism, Christianity, and IslamAs societies grow bigger and more complex, people often turn to monotheistic religions—religions thatbelieve inone God. The three most influential monotheistic religions in history areJudaism,Christianity, and Islam, all of which started in theMiddle East.1.1 JudaismJudaism began around1200 B.C.The first Jews, calledHebrews, were nomads who eventuallysettled inCanaan, near Egypt. Unlike their neighbors, who worshiped many gods, the Hebrewsfocused onone almighty God, known asYahweh. They believed instrict obedienceto God andfollowed a detailed moral code, calledthe law.Theholy book of Judaismis theTenakh, which Christians refer to as theOld Testament. Inside theTenakh is theTorah, the first five books. The Torah starts with the creation of the world and tells thestory of the early Hebrews. It also records God’s messages toMoses, including laws on worship anddaily life.The Torah is very important in Jewish worship. In asynagogue(Jewish place of worship), therabbicarries the Torah scroll from theark(a special cupboard), places it on alectern, and reads it aloud tothe congregation. The scroll is often decorated with asilver crown.1.2 ChristianityChristianity started as aJewish sectand gradually became its own religion. Christians believe thatJesus Christis theSon of Godand theMessiah(meaning “Anointed One”), sent to save the world.After Jesus’ death, Christianity spread quickly. A key figure wasSaul of Tarsus, later known asSt.Paul, a Greek-speaking Jew and Roman citizen. He traveled widely, preached, and establishedchurches across the Middle East, Turkey, and Greece.Early Christians often facedpersecutionbecause they refused to worship the Roman Emperor. Thislasted until the4th century, whenEmperor Constantinemade Christianity the official religion of theRoman Empire. Today, Christianity is one of the largest religions in the world, especially influential intheWest.

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Study GuideTheBiblehas two main parts:•TheOld Testament(shared with Judaism)•TheNew Testament, which contains26 books and letterspresenting Jesus’ life, teachings,and the writings of St. Paul to early churches. TheGospels—accounts of Jesus’ life—werelikely written decades after his death.Christianity hasover a billion followers, divided into manydenominations—groups with their ownbeliefs and practices. The largest are:•Roman Catholicism•Eastern Orthodoxy•Protestantism(includes Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopalian, and Baptist churches)1.3 IslamIslam is thesecond largest religionin the world today. It began in the7th centurywith theteachings ofProphet Mohammed, who shared the word ofAllah, the one God of Islam. Muslimsbelieve that Allah also spoke through earlier prophets, includingMoses and Jesus, before revealinghis message to Mohammed.Muslims followfive main duties, calledThe Pillars of Islam:1.Shahada–Recite the creed that Allah is the one God and Mohammed is His messenger.2.Salat–Pray five times a day, always facingMecca.3.Sawm–Fast duringRamadan, avoiding food and drink from sunrise to sunset.4.Zakat–Give money to thepoor.5.Hajj–Make at leastone pilgrimage to Meccaif able.The messages Mohammed received from Allah are collected in theKoran(meaning “to recite”).Mohammed could not read or write, so hememorized Allah’s wordsand taught them to hisfollowers, who wrote them down after his death. The Koran guides Muslims in daily life and religiousduties.

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Study GuideToday, Islam hasover 600million followers, mostly in theMiddle East, Pakistan, and parts ofAfrica.2. Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and TaoismThe four major religions of theFar EastareHinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism.Each has its own uniqueteachings, but they all aim to guide people on how to live meaningful andethical lives.2.1 HinduismHinduism is apolytheistic religion(it has many gods) and is possibly theoldest major worldreligion, dating back about6,000 years. It includes a wide variety of beliefs and practices, so somescholars describe it as acollection of related religionsrather than a single system.Key beliefs in Hinduism:•Reincarnation:All living beings are born, die, and are reborn in endless cycles.•Karma and caste system:A person’s actions in one life affect theirnext life, including thesocial position(caste) they are born into. Each caste comes with its own duties, and fulfillingthem well improves a person’s future life.•Gods and the divine:Hindus worship many male and female gods. But they also believe inanultimate divine energythat exists beyond human understanding and is present in allliving things.Hinduism hasover 600 million followers, mostly inIndia. Unlike Christianity or Islam, Hindusgenerallydo not try to convert othersto their religion.2.2 BuddhismBuddhism started with the teachings of theBuddha(Siddhartha Gautama), a Hindu prince fromsouthern Nepalaround the6th century B.C.Key ideas in Buddhism:

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Study Guide•Escapingreincarnation:Humans can end the cycle of rebirth bygiving up worldlydesires, meditating, and practicing self-discipline.•Nirvana:The ultimate goal is to reach a state of total spiritual satisfaction and peace.•No caste system:Unlike Hinduism, Buddhism rejects rigid social hierarchies and formalrituals.Buddhism spread across Asia and is most common today inChina, Japan, Korea, Sri Lanka,Thailand, and Burma. Some branches, likeZen Buddhism, focus on core Buddhist ideas withoutrequiring followers to accept every teaching of the Buddha.2.3 ConfucianismConfucius(K’ung Futzu) lived around the same time as the Buddha. He was seen as amoralteacher and wise man, not a god or prophet.Core principles of Confucianism:•Inner harmony withnature:Living in balance with the world around you.•Respect for ancestors:Honoring and learning from previous generations.•Ethical behavior:Following moral principles in daily life.Confucianism was widely adopted by China’sruling classesand influenced government, education,and family life for centuries.2.4 TaoismTaoism, founded byLao-tzu, shares many ideas with Confucianism but focuses more onspiritualpractices.Key aspects of Taoism:•Meditation and nonviolence:These are essential for reaching higher levels of existence.•Living in harmony:Taoism emphasizes balance and connection with the universe.•Reincarnation and New Age influence:Some Taoist ideas, like reincarnation, appear inmodern spiritual movements.Although Taoism and Confucianism are less widely practiced today—especially due to restrictionsunder China’s Communist government—they still influence Chinese culture and modern spirituality.

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Study Guide3. Sociological Theories of ReligionThree early sociologists—Emile Durkheim, Max Weber, and Karl Marx—greatly shaped the study ofreligion. Interestingly,none of them were particularly religious, but they were fascinated by thepower religion has over people and societies.All three saw religion as influenced byculture and society, rather than as an absolute truth. Theyalso believed that as society modernizes, religion’s influence mightdecline over time.3.1 Durkheim andFunctionalismEmile Durkheimis considered the founder offunctionalism, a perspective that studies how society’sparts work together. He spent much of his career studying religions, especially insmall societies. Hewas particularly interested in theAustralian Aboriginal kinship system, which he calledtotemism.Durkheim’s research formed the basis of his famous 1921 book,The Elementary Forms of theReligious Life. He believed religion should be studied as part ofsociety as a whole, influencing thethinking and behavior of its members.Key ideas from Durkheim:•Sacred vs. profane:People separate things withreligious significance(sacred) fromordinary, everyday things (profane). Sacred objects are treated withrespect and awe, even ifpeople do not believe they have special powers.•Rituals and ceremonies:Religion is not just about belief—it also involvesgroup rituals.These rituals help peopleconnect, strengthen group solidarity, and escape from the routineof daily life. Important life events likebirths, marriages, crises, and deathsare marked withsacred ceremonies.•Social function:Religion helpsbind society togetherby reinforcing shared values andbeliefs.Durkheim also predicted that religion’s influence wouldweaken with modernization. He thoughtscientific thinking would eventually replace religious belief. Rituals and ceremonies might continue,but mainly tomaintain social cohesion, rather than out of spiritual necessity. He even suggestedthat civic traditions—like parades or national celebrations—could replace some religious functions.

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