religion
a set of beliefs adhered to by the members of a community, incorporating symbols regarded with a sense of awe or wonder together with ritual practices. (word plural) do not universally involve a belief in supernatural entities.
theism
a belief in 1 or more supernatural deities.
alienation
the sense that our own abilities as human beings are taken over by other entities. the term was originally used by Marx to refer to the projection of human powers onto gods. subsequently he used the term to refer to the loss of workers' control over the n
profane
that which belongs to the mundane, everyday world.
sacred
describing something that inspires attitudes of awe or reverence among believers in a given set of religious ideas.
secular thinking
worldly thinking, particularly as seen in the rise of science, technology, & rational thought in general.
secularization
a process of decline in the influence of religion. although modern societies have become increasingly secularized, tracing the extent of (word) is a complex matter. (word) can refer to levels of involvement with religious organizations (such as rates of c
religious economy
a theoretical framework within the sociology of religion which argues that religions can be fruitfully understood as organizations in competition with one another for followers,
churches
large bodies of people belonging to an established religious organization. the term is also used to refer to the place in which religious ceremonies are carried out.
sects
religious movements that break away from orthodoxy.
denomination
a religious sect that has lost its revivalist dynamism & become an institutionalized body, commanding the adherence of significant numbers of people.
cults
fragmentary religious groupings to which individuals are loosely affiliated, but which lack any permanent structure.
new religious movements
the broad range of religious & spiritual groups, cults, & sects that have emerged alongside mainstream religions. (word) range from spiritual & self-help groups within the New Age movement to exclusive sects such as the Hare Krishnas.
religious movements
associations of people who join together to seek to spread a new religion or to promote a new interpretation of an existing religion.
charismatic
the inspirational quality capable of capturing the imagination & devotion of a mass of followers.
world-affirming movements
religious movements that seek to enhance followers' ability to succeed in the outside world by helping them to unlock their human potential.
New Age movement
a general term to describe the diverse spectrum of beliefs & practices oriented on inner spirituality. paganism, Eastern mysticism, shamanism, alternative forms of healing, & astrology are all examples of New Age activities.
world-rejecting movements
religious movements that are exclusive in nature, highly critical of the outside world, & demanding of their members.
total institutions
groups who exercise control over their members by making them subsume their individual identities in that of the group, compelling them to adhere to strict ethical codes or rules, & sometimes forcing them to withdraw from activity in the outside world.
world-accomodating movements
religious movements that emphasize the importance of inner religious life & spiritual purity over worldly concerns.
monotheism
belief in a single god.
polytheism
belief in 2 or more gods.
civil religion
a set of religious beliefs through which a society interprets its own history in light of some conception of ultimate reality.
disestablishment
a period during which the political influence of established religions is successfully challenged.
evangelicalism
a form of Protestantism characterized by a belief in spiritual rebirth (being "born again").
fundamentalists
a group within evangelicalism that is highly antimodern in many of its beliefs, adhering to strict codes of morality & conduct.
liberation theology
an activist Catholic religious movement that combines Catholic beliefs with a passion for social justice for the poor.
religious nationalism
the linking of strongly held religious convictions with beliefs about a people's social & political destiny.