Sociology Exam #3

Main terms discussed in the text

84 cards   |   Total Attempts: 182
  

Cards In This Set

Front Back
Civil religion
A set of sacred beliefs so commonly accpeted by most people that it becomes part of the national culture
Religion
A system of beliefs and practices around sacred things, a set of shared "stories" that guide belief and action
Sacred
Describes holy things meant for special use and kept separate from the profane. The sacred realm in unknowable and mystical, so it inspires us with feelings of awe and wonder
Profane
Describes the things of mundane, everyday life
Theism
The worship of a god or gods, as in Christianity, Islam, and Hiduism
Ethicalism
The adherence to certain principles to lead a moral life, as in Buddhism and Taoism
Animism
The belief that spirits roam the natural word, as in totemism
Denominations
Big groups of congregations that share the same faith and are governed under one administrative unbrella
Congregations
Groups of people that gather together, especially for worship
Secularism
A general movement away from religiosity and spiritual belief toward a rational, and spiritual belief toward a rational, scientific orientation, a trend adopted by industrialized nations in the form of separation of church and state
Solidarity
Social unity
Collective conscience
The shared belifs and ideas, ways of thinking and knowing
Pluralism
The presence and engaged coexistence of numerous distinct groups in one society
Sacred canopy
Peter Berger's term describe the entire set of religious norms, symbols, and beliefs that express the most important thing in life- namely, the feeling that life is worth living, reality is meaningful and ordered, and not the random chaos of the stars
Evangelicals
Members of any Protestant denomination distinguished by four main beliefs; The Bible is without error, salvation comes only through belief in Jesus Christ, personal conversion is the only path to salvation ("the born again" experience), the others must also be converted. They proselytize by engaging with wider society