Class notes: Religion and Society

(Originally written February 2, 2007 in Book 9)

Well, De Officiis just didn't happen. The remainder of this book will focused on my class SOC 310: Religion and Society.

I missed the first day because of the whole tuition remission mess. It's a small class; there's only eleven people here. My professor is Naned Olagoke. He's (I'm guessing) actually from Africa. I lied; the class just got much bigger at the last second.

Religion and Society MWF 11-11:50
Ezekiel Olagoke, Ph.D.

The Scandal of the American Mind
Mark A. Noll

Religion and Society: A Sociology of Religion 8th Ed.
Ronald L. Johnstone

5 (2) page reports are assigned readings (100 pts)

Term Paper: 10-15 pages (150 pts)
APA format

Field Work: Interview 2 people who lived in different cultures

Go to a Catholic Church and write a 4-5 pg paper (100 pts)

Mid-Term: 100 pts

Final: 150 pts

Defining Religion

As of 2006, there were 62 recognized definitions of 'religion'. The number keeps growing.

Religion

Etymology: -Latin word "leg" or "lig"

(Cicero) Roman writer uses the root word "leg" meaning "to take up, gather, count or observe". To observe signs of the Divine communication.

Another Roman writer, Servius noted that it came from the root word "lig" - to bind. The communion between the human and super-human.

"religore" - to bind together

Auguste Comte (1798-1857)
coined the word 'sociology'
3 phrases of progress
1. Theological (religious) stage
-Fetishism
-Polytheism
-Monotheism
2. Metaphysical stage
3. Positivism - science

"It is also worth remarking that a definition reached out of a personal experience of religion may be different in quality from that reached through a mere academic deduction by someone who has not been spiritually or emotionally involved in religion, or one whose purpose is to debunk religion" - Bolaji Idows

"Religion is a perception of the infinite" - Max Muller

Religion implies a psychic activity of the whole person.

"Religion is the belief which sets what is essential in all adoration of God in morality" - Kant

Don't just be a cerebral Christian.