Sociology of Religion: Worksheet--Jared Diamond, "The Evolution of Religions"

Background: Diamond's background in evolutionary biology and his extensive field work in New Guinea. Won Pulitzer prize in 1998 for Guns, Germs, and Steel and received much attention also for his 2005 book: Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed. Here he's venturing into an area has definite antecedents in terms both of functional theories and the subfield termed Human Social Ecology. He is addressing the question of what it is (if anything) that religions contribute to society in terms of competitive advantage, and how has that changed over time. .

1. Early in his lecture, Diamond suggests that since religion is found in all societies, it must provide some advantage to societies. Summarize that argument.

2. Science, Diamond says, has gradually encroached on the explanatory functions of science. But he cites a question raised by Tillich at Harvard in 1955. What is that question?

3. At a certain stage of social evolution, organized kingdoms or chiefdom's arise, and face the issue of how can the leaders justify their "theft of resources" from the group as a whole. How does religion help?

4. Religion, Diamond suggests, may also in some societies contribute by teaching moral precepts and again, he finds a particular need in kingdoms/chiefdoms. What is that need?

5. Another possible function is the use of religion to justify war. He finds a lot of evidence of that use but at the same time doesn't think it is as relevant today. Why not?

6. Diamond also makes an argument that parallels Stark, in regard to the rise of Christianity in the Roman Empire. You should find it easy to summarize that argument here.

7. Finally (and circling back somewhat to 4), he mentions the ability of religion to motivate very efficient kill ratios by "fanatics" in war situations. What is his example?

Sociology of Religion: Groups--"The Evolution of Religions"

1. So what do you see religion as contributing to the well-being of society, or to a society's ability to compete successfully with other societies?

2. What do you see as religion contributing to the well-being of individuals?

3. What do you see as the dysfunctions (the negative effects) of religion--for society or for individuals? Is it particular religions or religious interpretations, or just religion in general, that you see as having these negative effects?

4. In terms of the effects of religion, is it the beliefs or the social organization/shared culture that you see as creating the most important of those effects?

5. If you do see religion as having some important positive functions (for societies or for individuals), are there some "functional equivalents," that is, other institutions or patterns that could accomplish those same good things?