I chose to look into this chapter and to focus most specifically on religion. Personally, I have always been a very religious person, and have found that religion and faith have kept me grounded, made me the woman I am today and help me to be a better person because of those beliefs.
According to our text it states that "sociologists define religion as an institutionalized system of symbols, beliefs, values, and practices by which a group of people, interprets and responds to what they feel is sacred and that provides answers to questions of ultimate meaning." (Andersen & Taylor, 2011) In order for sociologists to study religion they first must define religion as we have just seen.
According to www.gallup.com, "more than 9 in 10 Americans still say 'yes' when asked the basic question, 'do you believe in God?', this is down slightly from the 1940's when Gallup first asked this question." (2011)
"Large, national religious organizations, such as the mainline Protestant denominations, have lost many members, whereas smaller, local congregations have increased membership." (Andersen & Taylor, 2011)
Although there are four parts to this video, I thought this was a good overview of a Christian view of the body. Society has told us how to eat, how to look, how to think or not to think. Some of us who are religious know that no matter what we look like, how we dress, how much money we have or don't have: God loves us no matter what.
"Durkheim believed that the cohesiveness of society depends on the organization of its belief system. Societies with a unified belief system are highly cohesive; those with a more diffuse or competing belief system are less cohesive." (Andersen & Taylor, 335). Weber argued that "the Protestant faith supported the development of capitalism in the Western world." (335) Karl Marx went on to argue that "religion was a tool for class oppression." (336) Marx saw religion as a form of "false consciousness" thus preventing people from rising up against oppression.
I feel that most people are "religious" not necessarily "christian"; even spiritual. According to Catholic Encyclopedia, Christianity is defined as, "Christianity is the name given to that definite system of religious belief and practice which was taught by Jesus Christ in the country of Palestine, during the reign of the Roman Emperor, Tiberius, and was promulgated, after its Founder's death, for the acceptance of the whole world, by certain chosen men among His followers." (www.newadvent.org, n.d.) It's interesting that 9 in 10 Americans believe in God. According to Wikipedia, "Religions by Country" most of the world's population is Christian; second in line is Islam; then Buddhism; and finally Hinduism. I don't want to come across as "Christianity is the only way", that's not how I feel at all. I find it interesting, that most of the world believes in a higher power; something bigger than ourselves. In a way we are the same but in another way we are totally different.
"Life is what we make it, always has been, always will be." Grandma Moses.
"Yesterday is History, Tomorrow a Mystery, Today is a Gift, That's why it's called the Present."
According to our text it states that "sociologists define religion as an institutionalized system of symbols, beliefs, values, and practices by which a group of people, interprets and responds to what they feel is sacred and that provides answers to questions of ultimate meaning." (Andersen & Taylor, 2011) In order for sociologists to study religion they first must define religion as we have just seen.
According to www.gallup.com, "more than 9 in 10 Americans still say 'yes' when asked the basic question, 'do you believe in God?', this is down slightly from the 1940's when Gallup first asked this question." (2011)
"Large, national religious organizations, such as the mainline Protestant denominations, have lost many members, whereas smaller, local congregations have increased membership." (Andersen & Taylor, 2011)
Although there are four parts to this video, I thought this was a good overview of a Christian view of the body. Society has told us how to eat, how to look, how to think or not to think. Some of us who are religious know that no matter what we look like, how we dress, how much money we have or don't have: God loves us no matter what.
"Durkheim believed that the cohesiveness of society depends on the organization of its belief system. Societies with a unified belief system are highly cohesive; those with a more diffuse or competing belief system are less cohesive." (Andersen & Taylor, 335). Weber argued that "the Protestant faith supported the development of capitalism in the Western world." (335) Karl Marx went on to argue that "religion was a tool for class oppression." (336) Marx saw religion as a form of "false consciousness" thus preventing people from rising up against oppression.
I feel that most people are "religious" not necessarily "christian"; even spiritual. According to Catholic Encyclopedia, Christianity is defined as, "Christianity is the name given to that definite system of religious belief and practice which was taught by Jesus Christ in the country of Palestine, during the reign of the Roman Emperor, Tiberius, and was promulgated, after its Founder's death, for the acceptance of the whole world, by certain chosen men among His followers." (www.newadvent.org, n.d.) It's interesting that 9 in 10 Americans believe in God. According to Wikipedia, "Religions by Country" most of the world's population is Christian; second in line is Islam; then Buddhism; and finally Hinduism. I don't want to come across as "Christianity is the only way", that's not how I feel at all. I find it interesting, that most of the world believes in a higher power; something bigger than ourselves. In a way we are the same but in another way we are totally different.
"Life is what we make it, always has been, always will be." Grandma Moses.
"Yesterday is History, Tomorrow a Mystery, Today is a Gift, That's why it's called the Present."
Live as though you'll be gone tomorrow, use the good china, kiss the one's you love, let them know you love them, have no regrets.
