Americaand 3/1/2012
Changing keeping her the same
Religious Legitimation, Social
Maintenance & Social Change
(RE)SHAPING &
(RE)AFFIRMING
AMERICA
Berger argues we maintain & change society in three general
ways
Breaks down (anomy) occurs when ppl stop buying in to
social nomosthey reject identity, expectations, ethics, etc.
Anomy disconnection from cultural meaning (e.g. Vietnam era U.S.
flag, draft cards burning)
Brkdwns create opportunity for total chaos (disorder)
But also oppty for social change. Stability (order) can be regained
through the process of society
Externalize/internalize new visions of social identity, practice, ethos;
objectivate new ethos through laws & practices
19th Amendment; 14th Amendment; 15th Amendment
1960 JFKs Address to Houston Ministerial Association
Maintaining & transforming society
Society is never static. Social stability requires ongoing
maintenance
Nomossocial identities, rules, and practicesmust be affirmed &
legitimized regularly to maintain stable communities
Rituals, laws, everyday activities, arts, special occasions, anthems,
entertainment, etc.
Alienation occurs when individuals/groups do not connect to a
societys nomos
19th century African-Americans & White females not included in
American citizenship
20th century Catholics not included in the American people
How do alienated ppl become part of the people
articulated in the Founding mythos?
3 Means of Social Stability
Socialization
Training/rearing start young/early. Process of teaching
ideas of community membership
Social Control
Laws/Institutions process of inducing cooperation &
preempting resistance from members
Different community levels of control; different degrees of fear
E.g. speed limit vs. capital punishment
Legitimation
Justification the strongest way to induce cooperation/avoid
resistance is for members to internalize cultural nomos
i.e. they willingly buy into identity, practices, lifestyle, etc.
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3/1/2012
Function of Legitimation
Socialization and control are never abs. secure
Preempt threats to rules, norms, institutions
Rehabilitates individuals & practice
Veils constructedness of reality
Norms, ideals presented as timeless & other worldly
Religion is paradigm legitimation (justification)
5 ways religion facilitates legitimation
Social change occurs when new visions are legitimized in
ways consistent with the cultural nomos
Equality of the sexes theological & scientific grounds equality of
personhood
Equal access to rights education, franchise/vote, employment, salary,
housing
Sarah Grimks Letters on Equality of the Sexes
Strategies
Rhetors
Ethos
Audience
Persona
Tone
Supporting Materials
Subject
Aud: interest, inertia, etc.
19th centgender & public sphere
Subj: cultural history, complexity, cost
taboowomen in public, equality
Other strategies
Language
Argument
Appeals
Ethos: reputation, social power, etc.
Female, Christian; White ;
Southerner
Religious legitimation in everyday life
Maintains social reality in activities
Pledge of allegiance in schools
Marriage certificates/ceremonies
Integrates other realities in meaningful ways
Life, liberty, pursuit of happiness
Going to college; homeschooling; natl crisis; elections
Justification for acts that threaten people
Deathwar and capital punishment
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