The Forbidden Fruit: Social Class and Religion Then and Now

• In Event: 165 - Section on Sociology of Religion Roundtable Session (one-hour).
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 15. Social Stratification and the Study of Religion

Abstract

Abstract
When a religion begins there tends to be a charismatic figure (Weber [1901] 1978) who convinces people that his or her teachings and way of life answers questions of “ultimacy” (Berger, 1967) and may lead to a better world. Eastern religions tend to focus on the inner self, which Weber ([1901] 1978) called “inner worldly”, while the Abrahamic religions tended to focus on world proselytizing, which Weber ([1901] 1978) called “salvation religion.” This paper seeks to demonstrate that some eastern religions avoid the “routinization of charisma” (Weber [1901] 1978), when the Abrahamic religions developed a hierarchy after the death of their leaders that has led to an elite group, that has reformulated the original teachings of their founders to their own benefit, thus supporting Marx’s ([1843] 1977) statement that “Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people.” Abrahamic religion has become a class based religion, supporting the status of the rich and providing legitimations and rules to the poor to maintain their class structure. Eastern religions, most especially Taoism ([550 B.C.E.] 2004 C.E.) never developed a hierarchy, actively resisting doing so, and thereby maintains its focus on living a better life and making a better world

Authors

• Michael Gary Meacham, Valdosta State University

• Mary E. Booker, Valdosta State University