W5.2 Religion

1. Summarization
    Religion can have multiple definitions and is thus subject to which perspective is used. Sociologists look at religion, not to prove what is right or wrong of faith itself, but to understand and predict the behaviour related to its people. The definitions of religion can be 'sacred vs. profane, 'religion as existential questioning' and 'religion as supernature'.  The latter one is the most commonly used perspective. Religion is classified by protest or equilibrium. With sects on the protest side, and churches on the equilibrium side. In between are denominations. A separate group are cults, which are broken off from like sects, and formed on their own. The world religions are Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism and Judaism. Sociologists use social factors of science to analyse religions better. The future of religion remains to be answered. As it is challenged by secularism.

2. What was interesting/what did you learn?
    The article started by stating how sociologists look at religion. Normally people like to have an opinion about religion. It is therefore refreshing for me to read about the sociologist approach. To purely look at the social behaviour and phenomena that are related to religion. Furthermore, the differences between church, sects and cults are now finally more clear to me. As these are terms often casually used. It is important to know what you are saying when using a certain term. As well as the to me newly introduced concept of 'denominations'. Where example is given of the fact that it heavily applies to the US. This has clarified the general image for me. Since the Christian religion in the US often seems different from that elsewhere most commonly known.

3. Discussion points
In Europe, there has been a significant portion of secularism. Less people are actively devoted or sometimes even completely separated from religion in general. What surprised me when in Korea, was the number of churches. In particular, modern churches. There are so many. I'm curious why there are so many and is there an increase in secularism, seperation from religion, in Korea?

Jasper Toonen - 30 March 2023
Introduction to Information Sociology

Comments

  1. I was also amazed by the fact that the types of religions that exist universally in each country are different. In the United States, denominations make up the majority, but in Korea, churches do. I think this has something to do with secularism. The gap between rich and poor is severe, especially in democracies. That's why people with wealth and rights rely on their wealth, but those who have no money or lose their honor, those who are abandoned in society, end up relying on religion. As a result, I think there are many churches in Korea that accept all the public and give them hope.

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