Sociology of Religion: Private Beliefs in Public Life

Week 1 – Religion and Culture: What is the difference? In this class we will explore the assumption that religion, politics and culture are often, and perhaps should be, separate. We will also ask if this is possible. Why are so many schools run by the Church of England, for example, and is it right that Anglican bishops have permanent seats in the Hoise of Lords? How does immigration affect the religious landscape in Europe and North America? Through a sociological analysis of different societies we are able to reveal additional complexities and nuances to these societies. This, in turn, provokes questions about where these boundaries are, and how they may be shifting. Week 2 – Shared Beliefs: What do all religions have in common? Using a sociological view, we will consider that religions are more similar than different in that they all depend on three key dynamics: belief, belong and behaviour. They all also fulfil similar functions and at their extremes have more in common with each other than they do with their own, more liberal adherents. Why are Muslims and Baptists more similar than different on issues like abortion and same sex marriage, for example? Week 3 – Media: How does the media shape our perceptions of religious people? Media coverage plays a fundamental role in our perception of religion. This week we will look at examples of news stories and use the technique of ‘discourse analysis’ to unravel what the media are saying about religious people. Recent complaints claim that Christians are treated unfairly by the media – while others complain the media is biased against non-Christians. We’ll consider how we know, and how can we more expertly analyse these reports? Week 4 – Feminism and Patriarchy: Why do religions often demean women? In this week we will question why most religions treat women so badly. Religions are usually patriarchal, and we will investigate why this is. We will also look at why many women appear to go along with this system of patriarchy. Is the veil a symbol of oppression or liberation? Why do Catholic women support a church that discriminates against women? We will examine religious beliefs and practices that in many cases demean women, but in other ways empower them. Week 5 – Violence: Why does religion turn violent? In our final class, we will explore why religion often turns to violence. Religion unquestionably has a dark side, often creating and sometimes approving of violent acts, war and injustice. We’ll discuss why some religions seem more violent than others, and how this could be changed. We will also analyse how some people are described according to their religion, but others not. Are there really no Christian terrorists? What happened in Myanmar and Sri Lanka to the image of Buddhists as peace-loving, non-violent people?