METHODS OF STUDYING RELIGION
METHODS OF STUDYING RELIGION
Historical Research
Concern with whether a particular social situation is preceded by, accompanied by, or followed by other social circumstances
Examples
What are the crisis points in the development of religious groups?Cross-Cultural Research
Is there any general evolutionary course which new religious groups follow
Comparison of sociocultural patterns across cultures
Examples
Does the importance of religion in the social order change with the level of economic development
What social factors are associated with the existence of high gods or witches
What components of religious belief/practice are universal to religion
Experimental Research
Establishing a controlled situation in which only the desired factors can vary
Examples
Does prayer have a positive effect on health outcomesContent Analysis Research
What are the effects of different kinds of church donation appeals
Examination of themes or structures in religious material
Examples
What are the key themes in religious materials – hymns, prayers, sermons
What are the differences between formal and informal themes in religious materials
What are the most intensely debated topics in media coverage of religion
Survey Research
Taking measurements on attitudes and/or behaviors of a sample of some population on some issue
Examples
What is the level of religious participation in the population and how has that changed
What is the relationship of various social characteristics to religious attitudes and practice
What is the effect of religious attitudes on political behavior
Adopting a role within a group that involves a varying balance of observer and participant
Examples
How do individuals come to convert to a religious group
What is the impact of ritual observances on members of a religious group
PRESENCE OF HIGH GODS AND THE EXISTENCE OF SOVEREIGN ORGANIZATIONS
Functions of Gods
Belief in gods provides evidence that all events have a common sourceHigh gods
Actions of deity are interpreted so that diverse events are unified
Deity who is the sole creator of the universe
God who rules the world and heavens, whether or not he/she created them
God is the first cause of all effects and the necessary and sufficient condition for reality’s continued existence
Sovereign Organizations
Organizations that exercise original and independent jurisdiction over some sphere of social life
Examples:
Kingdom, village, familyEvery deity corresponds to the structure of a sovereign groups
Tribe, village, extended family, household
The greater the diversity of sovereign groups, the greater the likelihood of a high god
NUMBER OF SOVEREIGN GROUPS AND THE PRESENCE OF HIGH GOD
Presence of Number of Sovereign Groups
High God 1-2 3 4 or more
Present 2 7 10
Absent 17 2 1
Total 19 9 11
Percent present 11 78 91
WITCHCRAFT
Witchcraft involves “black magic” in which the practitioner can control the supernatural
Witchcraft is usually secret and is a direct, personal attack
Witchcraft appears in a group under the following conditions
1. Major deprivation within the groupWitchcraft provides
2. The deprivation is of unknown or uncertain origin
3. There is no non-aggressive way of venting tension nor means that are not socially disruptive
4. There are beliefs supporting the efficacy and availability of magical procedures
1. An answer to unsettling experiencesWitchcraft is used against others whose purposes are close, important persistent, and uncontrolled by legitimate social arrangements
2. A means of doing something about unsettling experiences
3. A means of controlling individuals perceived as threatening the functioning of the community
PREVALENCE OF WITCHCRAFT AND PRESENCE OF UNCONTROLLED OR UNLEGITIMATED RELATIONSHIPS
(N= 49)
Uncontrolled or Unlegitimated Relationships
Prevalence of None Within the With Other
Witchcraft Society Societies
High 1 7 10
Intermediate 14 2 5
Low 9 0 1
Total 24 9 16
Percent High 4 78 62
Percent Intermediate 96 22 38
or Low
Pew Foundation Research Center
