belongs to that faith by birth, not individual decision, and those who do not belong to
the faith cannot become citizens. Until the French Revolution, the clergy in France was
one of the two pillars on which the monarchy rested (the other was the nobility). Today,
the Muslim clerics in Saudi Arabia, the Shi’ite mullahs in Iran, and the Buddhist priests
in Thailand are nearly identical with political leadership.
Such merging of politics and religion is not inevitable. Some societies with
established state churches remain remarkably free of clerical influence in political mat-
ters. In Sweden, for instance, the Lutheran Church has official status, but it exerts
virtually no influence on political decision making.Religions of the World
Sociologists are not only fascinated by religion as a cultural universal; they are also
interested in the remarkable diversity of religious belief and practice. In most
places, local, traditional religions have given way to world religions,religions with
a long history, well-established traditions, and the flexibility to adapt to many
different cultures.Western Religions
Three of the world’s major religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam (plus a few
smaller ones) are called Western religions because they originated in the Middle East.
They all trace their spiritual ancestry to the same event: About 2000 BCE,a nomadic
tribe living in ancient Mesopotamia recognized that their god, Yahweh, was not spe-
cific to their tribe, but was the god of all the world. They eventually founded Judaism
(after Judea, where they settled), and they tried to follow God’s law as revealed in the
Torah, his sacred book. Christianity arose 2,000 years later out of a protest against
the “corruption” of Judaism, and Islam 600 years after that as a protest to the “cor-
ruption” of both, so all three religions share many beliefs and practices.494 CHAPTER 15RELIGION AND SCIENCE
OBJECTIVE: Explore the four types of religious
organizations.STEP 1: Research
Using various Internet resources and library resources, find
two examples (not mentioned in your textbook) of each of
the four religious organizations noted in your book, includ-
ing cult, sect, denomination, and ecclesia. In your exam-
ples, include an explanation for why your example is a
particular type of organization. Include a discussion of the
size, wealth, beliefs, practices, training of clergy, and type
of membership. Note the sources for each of your examples
and write up your responses in an easy-to-read format (your
instructor may ask that you develop a chart).STEP 2: Discuss
Bring your responses to class and be prepared to share your
examples. Did anything surprise you about the class discus-
sion? Were there examples similar to yours? Did anyone have
your example in a different category?STEP 3: Review
Your instructor will conclude this activity by discussing how
religious organizations change over time. You will be chal-
lenged to think of examples of religious organizations that
have changed over time.Exploring Types of Religious
Organizations
Developed by Katherine R. Rowell,Sinclair Community College.