Author Question: Explain what is meant by civil religion. What will be an ideal ... (Read 46 times)

bobypop · **on:** Jul 2, 2018

Explain what is meant by civil religion.

What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Given that Japan's fertility has been between 1.2 and 1.4 for several decades, there is a distinct possibility that in the future Japan will experience a __________.

a. sharp drop in infant mortality
b. slow and steady increase in population
c. slow and steady decline in population
d. very rapid decline in population

s.meritte · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 2, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Durkheim defined religion as the way that societies deal with things that are sacred. Things that are worthy of awe and special treatment and are not just mundane or everyday parts of life are considered sacred. The sacredness definition of religion has led sociologists to recognize a common form of religion that they call civil religion. The way Americans feel about the Constitution as a sacred text or about the flag as a sacred symbol or about July 4 as a day of ritual and worship is indicative of civil religion. Other examples of civil religion include sporting events such as the Olympics, where athletes are, it seems, worshipped as gods, where the medal-awarding ceremonies are highly ritualized, and where impressive sporting venues are like houses of worship and community. Music and concerts are also like religions. Many describe them in frankly mystical terms. From a Durkheimian perspective, the civil religion that makes these things sacred is the same as all religionsit is the worship of the community and society, from which all good things eventually flow and on which we are completely dependent.

Answer to Question 2

d