Sociology of Religion
Paper 4 – Religion
Religion and Social Order
Candidates will explore the role of religion in society and its relevance for different social groups, which are central to the key concepts of Power, control and resistance, and Socialisation, culture and identity. Candidates will examine the contribution of religion to some of the most far-reaching economic, social and political transformations of our time, which links to the key concept of Social change and development. This will provide an opportunity to contrast structural and interactionist theories of religion, thereby drawing connections to the key concept of Structure and human agency.
11.1 Religion and society
• Ways of defining religion.
• Difficulties in measuring religious belief.
• Social groups and religiosity, including class, gender, ethnicity and age.
• Religion and other belief systems.
11.2 Religion and social order
• Functionalist accounts of how religion contributes to social order and social solidarity.
• Marxist accounts of the relationship between religion, oppression and capitalism.
• Debates about the strengths and limitations of functionalist and Marxist perspectives on religion.
11.3 Religion as a source of social change
• Weber’s theory of the role of religion in the rise of capitalism.
• Alternative views about the relationship between religion and the origins of capitalism.
• Liberation theology as an example of religion acting as a vehicle for social change.
• The influence of religious movements on political debates and struggles, examined through case studies such as the Evangelical movement in US politics or the influence of the Ayatollahs in the Iranian revolution.
The influence of religion
Candidates will consider whether modern societies have experienced a gradual process of secularisation, giving an opportunity to reflect on the key concept of Social change and development. Candidates will explore the links between feminist theory and the analysis of religion, linking to the key concepts of Socialisation, culture and identity, and Power, control and resistance. They will consider different religious movements and the influence they exercise over their followers. The analysis of fundamentalist religious movements also provides a context for applying the key concept of Inequality and Opportunity.
12.1 The secularisation debate
• The secularisation thesis.
• Evidence for a decline in religious belief.
• Discussions about whether rationalisation is leading to a decline in religious belief.
• Debates about whether religion has lost its social significance.
12.2 Gender, feminism and religion
• Feminist perspectives on religion.
• Explanations for patriarchy and gender inequality in religion.
• Moves towards gender equality in religious organisations and evidence that religious practices may benefit women.
12.3 Religion and post-modernity
• Discussions about whether there has been a growth in privatised religion.
• The concept of spiritual shopping and its contribution to understanding religiosity today.
• Debates about whether resacrilisation is a feature of post-modernity.
• The significance of new religious movements (NRMs) and New Age ideas for understanding the meaning and significance of religion today.
• Different explanations for the growth in fundamentalist religions, including cultural defence, cultural transition, disengagement, marginality, and religious revival.
Religion and Social Order
Candidates will explore the role of religion in society and its relevance for different social groups, which are central to the key concepts of Power, control and resistance, and Socialisation, culture and identity. Candidates will examine the contribution of religion to some of the most far-reaching economic, social and political transformations of our time, which links to the key concept of Social change and development. This will provide an opportunity to contrast structural and interactionist theories of religion, thereby drawing connections to the key concept of Structure and human agency.
11.1 Religion and society
• Ways of defining religion.
• Difficulties in measuring religious belief.
• Social groups and religiosity, including class, gender, ethnicity and age.
• Religion and other belief systems.
11.2 Religion and social order
• Functionalist accounts of how religion contributes to social order and social solidarity.
• Marxist accounts of the relationship between religion, oppression and capitalism.
• Debates about the strengths and limitations of functionalist and Marxist perspectives on religion.
11.3 Religion as a source of social change
• Weber’s theory of the role of religion in the rise of capitalism.
• Alternative views about the relationship between religion and the origins of capitalism.
• Liberation theology as an example of religion acting as a vehicle for social change.
• The influence of religious movements on political debates and struggles, examined through case studies such as the Evangelical movement in US politics or the influence of the Ayatollahs in the Iranian revolution.
The influence of religion
Candidates will consider whether modern societies have experienced a gradual process of secularisation, giving an opportunity to reflect on the key concept of Social change and development. Candidates will explore the links between feminist theory and the analysis of religion, linking to the key concepts of Socialisation, culture and identity, and Power, control and resistance. They will consider different religious movements and the influence they exercise over their followers. The analysis of fundamentalist religious movements also provides a context for applying the key concept of Inequality and Opportunity.
12.1 The secularisation debate
• The secularisation thesis.
• Evidence for a decline in religious belief.
• Discussions about whether rationalisation is leading to a decline in religious belief.
• Debates about whether religion has lost its social significance.
12.2 Gender, feminism and religion
• Feminist perspectives on religion.
• Explanations for patriarchy and gender inequality in religion.
• Moves towards gender equality in religious organisations and evidence that religious practices may benefit women.
12.3 Religion and post-modernity
• Discussions about whether there has been a growth in privatised religion.
• The concept of spiritual shopping and its contribution to understanding religiosity today.
• Debates about whether resacrilisation is a feature of post-modernity.
• The significance of new religious movements (NRMs) and New Age ideas for understanding the meaning and significance of religion today.
• Different explanations for the growth in fundamentalist religions, including cultural defence, cultural transition, disengagement, marginality, and religious revival.