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.
• Ways of defining religion.
• Difficulties in measuring religious belief.
• Social groups and religiosity, including class, gender, ethnicity and age.
• Religion and other belief systems.
What counts as a religion?
You need to be aware of functional and substantive definitions of religion:
What counts as a religion? You need to be aware of functional and substantive definitions of religion:
https://revisesociology.com/2018/08/12/what-is-religion/
https://www.tutor2u.net/sociology/reference/what-is-religion
See pages 12-14; Inclusive and exclusive definitions:
http://www.sociology.org.uk/notes/reldefc.pdf
An academic outline from Groningen University:
https://ugc.futurelearn.com/uploads/files/02/a3/02a3244f-7595-4699-b4a0-6496933e9212/Functional_and_Substantive_Definitions_of_Religion.pdf
You need to be aware of functional and substantive definitions of religion:
What counts as a religion? You need to be aware of functional and substantive definitions of religion:
https://revisesociology.com/2018/08/12/what-is-religion/
https://www.tutor2u.net/sociology/reference/what-is-religion
See pages 12-14; Inclusive and exclusive definitions:
http://www.sociology.org.uk/notes/reldefc.pdf
An academic outline from Groningen University:
https://ugc.futurelearn.com/uploads/files/02/a3/02a3244f-7595-4699-b4a0-6496933e9212/Functional_and_Substantive_Definitions_of_Religion.pdf
Can football be considered a religion?
An article looking at ways in which football could be seen as religious.
https://theindependent.sg/pray-tell-me-is-football-a-religion/
A nice video (just watch the first 11 minutes); old but raising good questions about the supporters of a UK club called West Bromwich Albion:
https://youtu.be/QHJcSCqqHfM
Brief outlines of the religious qualities of football:
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/59738-the-cultof-football-a-religion-for-the-twentieth-century-and-beyond
https://sacredinsociety.wordpress.com/2017/05/10/is-football-a-quasi-religion/
Sociological essays analysing how football could be considered as a religion:
https://tamarasfootballmosaic.wordpress.com/2013/08/05/football-as-a-religion/
https://repository.uwtsd.ac.uk/id/eprint/386/1/RERC2-011-1-EYR.pdf
This interview with an anthropologist focuses on religion as ritual, and the way in which football offers these ritualistic qualities:
https://nautil.us/issue/17/big-bangs/to-understand-religion-think-football
Can music be considered a religion?
An article looking at ways in which music could be seen as religious:
https://religionnews.com/2016/05/23/can-music-be-your-religion/
Heavy Metal as a religious experience:
https://esthesis.org/heavy-metal-as-surrogate-religion-exploring-religious-aspects-of-heavy-metal-subculture-katrina-lavender/
https://metalreligion.org/belief/why-heavy-metal-is-a-religion/
Faithless: G.O.D. is a DJ
Live at Glastonbury: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/xdwxy5
Lyrics : https://genius.com/Faithless-god-is-a-dj-lyrics
Music festivals as religious experience:
Follow the tabs at the top: https://jfkelly8.wixsite.com/musicfestival/copy-of-primal-acts
file:///C:/Users/jba/Downloads/BerkersMichael-FestivalsasRituals.pdf
If you fancy a longer read (and listen… this article includes a range of music videos) go to:
https://www.udiscovermusic.com/in-depth-features/the-devil-has-all-the-best-tunes/
Can Veganism/Vegetarianism be considered a religion?
Yes:
https://www.veganfriendly.org.uk/articles/is-veganism-a-religion/
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-50981359
https://churchofveganism.org/vegan-religion/
No: https://tenderly.medium.com/is-veganism-a-religion-f195e1c23954
Yes:
https://www.veganfriendly.org.uk/articles/is-veganism-a-religion/
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-50981359
https://churchofveganism.org/vegan-religion/
No: https://tenderly.medium.com/is-veganism-a-religion-f195e1c23954
Social Groups and Religion
Brief summaries:
https://getrevising.co.uk/revision-notes/religion-and-social-groups
https://www.tutor2u.net/sociology/reference/sociology-social-class-and-religious-belief
Social Class:
https://revisesociology.com/2018/10/03/the-relationship-between-religion-and-social-class/
https://revisesociology.com/2018/10/09/social-class-religion/
Gender:
https://revisesociology.com/2018/10/10/gender-and-religious-belief/
https://revisesociology.com/2018/10/22/why-are-women-more-religious-than-men-explanation-one-traditional-female-social-roles/
https://www.tutor2u.net/sociology/reference/sociology-gender-and-religious-belief
https://hecticteachersalevelsociologysite.wordpress.com/unit-3-beliefs-in-society/religious-spiritual-organisations-and-social-groups/gender-and-religion/
Ethnicity:
https://revisesociology.com/2018/10/04/the-relationship-between-ethnicity-and-religion-in-the-uk/
https://revisesociology.com/2018/10/05/reasons-why-ethnic-minorities-have-higher-levels-of-religiosity/
https://www.tutor2u.net/sociology/reference/sociology-ethnicity-and-religious-belief
https://hecticteachersalevelsociologysite.wordpress.com/unit-3-beliefs-in-society/religious-spiritual-organisations-and-social-groups/ethnicity-and-religion/
https://www.pewforum.org/2021/02/16/faith-among-black-americans/
Age:
https://revisesociology.com/2018/10/08/religion-age/
https://www.tutor2u.net/sociology/reference/sociology-age-and-religious-belief
https://hecticteachersalevelsociologysite.wordpress.com/unit-3-beliefs-in-society/religious-spiritual-organisations-and-social-groups/age-and-religion/
https://getrevising.co.uk/grids/age-and-religion
Brief summaries:
https://getrevising.co.uk/revision-notes/religion-and-social-groups
https://www.tutor2u.net/sociology/reference/sociology-social-class-and-religious-belief
Social Class:
https://revisesociology.com/2018/10/03/the-relationship-between-religion-and-social-class/
https://revisesociology.com/2018/10/09/social-class-religion/
Gender:
https://revisesociology.com/2018/10/10/gender-and-religious-belief/
https://revisesociology.com/2018/10/22/why-are-women-more-religious-than-men-explanation-one-traditional-female-social-roles/
https://www.tutor2u.net/sociology/reference/sociology-gender-and-religious-belief
https://hecticteachersalevelsociologysite.wordpress.com/unit-3-beliefs-in-society/religious-spiritual-organisations-and-social-groups/gender-and-religion/
Ethnicity:
https://revisesociology.com/2018/10/04/the-relationship-between-ethnicity-and-religion-in-the-uk/
https://revisesociology.com/2018/10/05/reasons-why-ethnic-minorities-have-higher-levels-of-religiosity/
https://www.tutor2u.net/sociology/reference/sociology-ethnicity-and-religious-belief
https://hecticteachersalevelsociologysite.wordpress.com/unit-3-beliefs-in-society/religious-spiritual-organisations-and-social-groups/ethnicity-and-religion/
https://www.pewforum.org/2021/02/16/faith-among-black-americans/
Age:
https://revisesociology.com/2018/10/08/religion-age/
https://www.tutor2u.net/sociology/reference/sociology-age-and-religious-belief
https://hecticteachersalevelsociologysite.wordpress.com/unit-3-beliefs-in-society/religious-spiritual-organisations-and-social-groups/age-and-religion/
https://getrevising.co.uk/grids/age-and-religion
The difficulty of measuring religiosity
Brief introductions:
https://revisesociology.com/2018/08/20/what-is-religiosity/
https://www.tutor2u.net/sociology/reference/sociology-measuring-religiosity
A brief essay by Steve Bruce, one of the key figures in measuring religiosity:
https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/religionglobalsociety/2018/10/we-need-social-science-in-defence-of-the-scientific-study-of-religion/
Detailed papers if you get really into this topic:
https://www.ukdataservice.ac.uk/media/263004/discover_sqb_religion_mcandrew_voas.pdf
https://www.pewforum.org/2021/01/14/measuring-religion-in-pew-research-centers-american-trends-panel/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5602559/
Brief introductions:
https://revisesociology.com/2018/08/20/what-is-religiosity/
https://www.tutor2u.net/sociology/reference/sociology-measuring-religiosity
A brief essay by Steve Bruce, one of the key figures in measuring religiosity:
https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/religionglobalsociety/2018/10/we-need-social-science-in-defence-of-the-scientific-study-of-religion/
Detailed papers if you get really into this topic:
https://www.ukdataservice.ac.uk/media/263004/discover_sqb_religion_mcandrew_voas.pdf
https://www.pewforum.org/2021/01/14/measuring-religion-in-pew-research-centers-american-trends-panel/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5602559/
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.
• 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.
Max Weber: Religion and Social Change:
https://revisesociology.com/2018/08/17/max-weber-religion-society-change/
https://www.tutor2u.net/sociology/reference/sociology-weber-calvinism-and-spirit-of-modern-capitalism
Weber: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vse7wnrlsIY (9 mins)
https://revisesociology.com/2018/08/17/max-weber-religion-society-change/
https://www.tutor2u.net/sociology/reference/sociology-weber-calvinism-and-spirit-of-modern-capitalism
Weber: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vse7wnrlsIY (9 mins)
Liberation Theology:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/beliefs/liberationtheology.shtml
https://www.britannica.com/topic/liberation-theology
https://www.nytimes.com/1984/10/21/magazine/the-case-against-liberation-theology.html
https://www.pewforum.org/2014/11/13/religion-in-latin-america/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/beliefs/liberationtheology.shtml
https://www.britannica.com/topic/liberation-theology
https://www.nytimes.com/1984/10/21/magazine/the-case-against-liberation-theology.html
https://www.pewforum.org/2014/11/13/religion-in-latin-america/
Evangelical Right
https://thesocietypages.org/trot/2018/04/30/evangelicals-in-the-united-states/
https://time.com/6052051/anti-democratic-threat-christian-nationalism/ (includes a video)
A longer read: https://academic.oup.com/socrel/article/79/2/147/4825283
https://thesocietypages.org/trot/2018/04/30/evangelicals-in-the-united-states/
https://time.com/6052051/anti-democratic-threat-christian-nationalism/ (includes a video)
A longer read: https://academic.oup.com/socrel/article/79/2/147/4825283
Iranian Revolution:
https://schoolhistory.co.uk/notes/iranian-revolution/
https://www.britannica.com/event/Iranian-Revolution
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jun/13/the-observer-view-on-iran-election
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jun/19/iran-presidential-election-result-raisi-hemmat
https://schoolhistory.co.uk/notes/iranian-revolution/
https://www.britannica.com/event/Iranian-Revolution
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jun/13/the-observer-view-on-iran-election
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jun/19/iran-presidential-election-result-raisi-hemmat
Revision:
Social Order: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SCxX0AR30k (4 mins)
Social Change: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKaV-bPPasE&list=PLf9AD29Upc1Y1qtL9lZuQy92YlELRtxyj (13 mins)
Social Order: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SCxX0AR30k (4 mins)
Social Change: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKaV-bPPasE&list=PLf9AD29Upc1Y1qtL9lZuQy92YlELRtxyj (13 mins)