Religion and Sociology

Paper Summary:

In this paper, the writer discusses how the Christian Right differs from others regarding their approach towards social ills in the US. The writer notes that challenges to the collective consciousness of the United States often revolve around concepts of conflicting religious beliefs. The writer notes that within the past century a movement that many believe is fundamentalist has frequently challenged ebbs and flows in the religious ideals of the nation. The writer points out that the authors and thinkers analyzed in this work, stress the importance of the majority understanding the way in which the fundamentalists obtain and seek power. The writer concludes that there is no doubt that the nation is seeking change, as most individuals will list many of the same concerns and problems as the Christian Right would, such as the violence, pornography, teen sex and the loss of the family structure that is resulting in millions of children in poverty and in single parent homes.

From the Paper:

"A point frequently made by the prominent social theorist Emile Durkheim, the foundations of religion are far less concrete than one would expect and that religion and religious beliefs are a fundamentally social phenomena, dictated by the power of coercion. It is almost as if the Christian Right, read the words of this master and detailed how their social goals would best be accomplished, as the foundation of the social movement that is beginning to influence the politics and opinions of the nation, is founded in the fellowship of the faith, recruiting and influencing these recruits to vote in a particular, ascribed manner. According to Wald the massive movement is gaining political strength and voice through getting out the vote, in their massive parishionership. This is despite the multitude of studies that support the idea that the majority of people are not supportive of the Christina Right leadership opinions, such as the right to easy access to birth control and the Equal Rights Amendment, purporting that men and women are equal and should be legally accepted as such, two fundamental objections of the Christian Right leadership."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Blend, Charles, et al. Emile Durkheim, 1858-1917: A Collection of Essays, with Translations and a Bibliography. Ed. Kurt H. Wolff. Columbus, OH: Ohio State University Press, 1960.
• Sharlet, Jeff, "Through a Glass, Darkly: How the Christian Right is Reimagining US History" 33-43.
• Turner, Bryan S. Max Weber: From History to Modernity. London: Routledge, 1993.
• Wood, Richard L. Introduction to Politics and Religion

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• Persuasive Essay # 112005 : "Religion and Ethics"

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