Introduction
Religion provides a worldview and an ethos. Religion can’t exist without ethics, due to the fact that it answers questions about morality. Generally religion is thought about in two ways. Firstly religions are ways in which humans can relate to an ultimate reality and secondly it is methods for bringing about various sorts of human transformation. However this essay will discuss religionby firstly looking at ways religion is defined. Secondly how religion is defined in society.Thirdley
Ways in which religion is defined.
There are three ways to define religion. Firstly some would say that a religion consist of a supernatural being. It means that anything that has to do with a supernatural that is religion. In other words some people say that a religion is not a religion if there is no reference to god, one that is beyond which we can define and explain . A religion must have followers, instructions and it must have a belief system. This relates to the fact that certain religion has creeds. The Anglicans practice the niece creed, which is a confession before Holy Communion. Therefore in order to characterize something as a religion it has to have certain characteristics. However Robin Gill argues and ask a question how many characteristics or phenomena must a religion have before it becomes a religion? He also says whichever religion one chooses; you have take note or cognizes of the culture in which that religion takes place. Our cultural values should not come into conflict with our religious values. Due to the fact that some think that their faith is in conflict with culture. For example we might practice the same religion, but not practice the same things. The way Muslims dress is different in different regional and geographical locations. Therefore he gives a warning that one must be careful that our cultural value does not necessarily become our religious values. Hence we should not see cultural values but religious values.
The Term Paper on Free Market Religion People Religious
What Are The Main Strengths and Weaknesses of The Rational Choice Approach To Religions Behavior? One of the pioneers of the rational choice theory has been Gary Becker. He states that this approach can be applied to all human behaviour, including religion. This approach has three assumptions. It assumes that people engage behaviour. When applying this approach to religion we are not concerned ...
The moral function of religion(1991)
The role of religion in society
The primary social function of religion lies in corporate morality. Religion influences social behavior and social structure. Moral behavior and presuppositions derive from religious positions. This can refer to intellectual disciplines, moral and bias behavior. Accoding to( Hart,1963:30) says that there is a relationship between law, religion and morality which is essential for society. Traditional institutions have been influenced by religion, such as Christianity, Islam and Judaism.
Cupitt argues and says that “religion is known as a moral code or guide and it is not transcendent yet it is functionalist and essentialist”. He also says that “even if true religion could no longer be defined in terms of a true objective content believed that there will truly be a difference in character between a truly religious and superstitious person” A religious Christian person would and a superstitious Christian person would_________________ Religion therefore determines purity of heart, quality of dedication and integrity. Cupitt concludes by saying that religion has undertaken just for its own sake, and will remain a superstition.
Crises of Moral authorithy:The Dethronement of Christianity:(1972) p 47
(Habgood, 1983:49) says in England religion has a specific crucial moral function and it is not equated to values, neither is it there to secure social stability. Faith is limited to secularism. Thus religious values may protect a pluralistic society more than values derived from other sources. Religion interrogates society through intellectual tradition and as a result leads to fundamental problems for the future.
Brian Wilson “says that religion is used as a supernatural community ideology”(Wilson,1982:59).
The Essay on Religion Society
The fact that religion seems to have continually played an important role in every known society should highlight the idea that religion serves some sort of purpose. The various sociological explanations of this purpose are what the key is. role of religion in society is definitely a dynamic one. The relationship between both religion and society is always changing. Religion affects different ...
Religious symbols and performances are used to celebrate local life. In Christianity a cross is used to symbolize the significance of the death of Jesus Christ.Whereas in Islam a new moon is a symbol of Eid. Religion plays a part in the structure of the environment, in which institutions play a big role. Hence religion also signifies fertility and sustenance like in _______________ tradition. Religion provides public recognition and identity to the individual and a community. Religion also creates gender inequality whereby the male is superior in a patriarchal society and the woman is inferior due to the fact that she has to be obedient to her husband and see to domestic work and children. In Islam only woman are allowed to become imams or priest or be involved leadership in the mosques, woman ought to respect the husband and cover her head.
Wilson believes that there is a strong connection between religion and moral traditional society. The traditional society is influenced by religion. The community has been weakened by religion, relationships are being invaded. Ronald Green argues and says that religion is a form reasoning, and that it is an element of social interrogation.(Green,1978:247) Rene Discartes says “I think therefore I am” (Saranah, 1999:55) This suggest that reasoning is more important than religion. Reasoning gives an option to experiment and to prove yourself whereas religion requires you to act and behave in a certain way even if you are unhappy about your actions forced to do by religion. Green argues that religious belief is basically rational form of activity concerned with morality, but he agrees with Kant that two problems with secular moral reasoning exists which religion solves. Thus Kant believes that religion versus religion causes a dilemma which forces one to choose and make the right choice, but looking at the foreseeable consequences, which can be both negative and positive. Hence he comes to a conclusion to say that we have to come to a sense of pure religious reason.
Ways in which religion is used in society
Religion acts as one of the most vital ingredients in the creation and communication of meaning, construction of identity, and organization of innumerable social institutions and relationships. The ways in which religious traditions, as living, changing entities, are themselves shaped by social factors. Religion has a role to play but it is very limited. Religion gives identity to society. It controls society; it says this is what you and cant can do. Religion plays a role in the behavior of society, as well as to how society is structured, the pattern of society. Why things are happening the way they are. It makes one selfish, it keeps a community together, it keeps order and structure, and it keeps a sense of law and guidance
The Essay on Western Religion Sin In Judaism Christianity And Islam
Western Religion: Sin in Judaism, Christianity and Islam. It is known that there are three major religions dominating in the West. They are Judaism, Christianity and Islam. So it is necessary to distinguish their differences as to faith and sin. Judaism is one of the oldest religions in the world. It is the religion of Jewish people.This religion is known to be monotheistic faith with traditions ...
The Role and influence of religion in society (1994)
Description of the way religion is used in today’s society
The role of religion in today’s society is to help heal the individual. When individuals are healed, families are healed, and when families are healed, society is healed. Some people believe that a society can be healed through following our religious moral codes, like the Ten Commandments. Religion feeds the hunger of the soul and your soul has more needs than your physical body does. Religion plays the role of guidance. Without it mankind would be nothing more than animals. Most of our problems could be solved by following religious morals.
It is evidence that there is animosity, bigotry and intolerance in the world today. Religion has a very powerful influence in economics and politics. It can be a very effective and a rewarding tool in the hands of shrewd individuals. At the same time this animosity is evident in the Middle East and the civil wars in India and Sri Lanka or Pakistan. The acts of terrorism against Americans are also evidence of religious wars/ bigotry. Some religious leaders can be seen using their religious fallacies to enrich themselves and to manipulate others to satisfy their selfish endeavors.
There are religions that practice, barbarism, oppression and terrorism and have become less prominent than they were in the times of vicious religious invasions. There are many countries around the world where religion governs the legislative framework and the mechanisms of the state and is therefore used to oppress and persecute those who do not conform to the governments religion, like in the case of Egypt Christian people are currently bring killed.
The Term Paper on The role and function of religion in society
... religious movements originate in the oppressed classes. Engels argues that Christianity was originally a movement of oppressed people. It first appeared as the religion ... will be blessed. Also the hope of supernatural intervention, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Millenarian movements suggest ... that the superstructure of a society (including its religion) merely reflects that society’s economic base ...
There is a lot of evidence in many societies worldwide, where religious bigots persecute men and women because of their sexual or racial preference. They also oppress some individual’s right to terminate unhealthy, unwanted and unaffordable pregnancies. There are also religious cults that control economies, drugs and weapons.
An introduction to the sociology of religion:Classical contempory:(1992)
Religion is the foundation upon which societies are based. Religion provides a first justification for thinking that ‘my way is the right way’Religion is used to control society, as it holds society together. Religion is created by society as a way to co- operate. Karl Marx argues (Griffiths, 1980:66)”that religion is the self-consciousness and self-esteem of man who has not yet gone through to himself, or has already lost himself again”. Religion is the general theory of this world. Religion is also the opium of the people.” it is logic in popular form, its spiritual point, its enthusiasm, its moral sanction, its solemn complement, and its universal basis of consolation and justification. It is the fantastic realization of the human essence since the human essence has not acquired any true reality. The struggle against religion is, therefore, indirectly the struggle against that world whose spiritual aroma is religion. Religious suffering is, at one and the same time, the expression of real suffering and a protest against real suffering. He also says that “Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions and that It is the opium of the people. (Shlomo, 1971, 83) This suggests that religion is what people are in need of and keeps them going.
Max Webber says that some Some religions enable the march of capitalism, whilst others, such as Hinduism and Confucianism, do not. Hard work led to commercial success, it was a sin to spend the money on oneself or religious icons. The way out was investment, which simply led to even more commercial success. In this way, modern capitalism actually grew from religious seeking of wealth as a symbol of work. Over time in Western society the temptations of spending money on oneself increased and perhaps led to the decline in the religious element. Capitalism was thus established as a ‘religion’ of its own.
The Essay on The Impacts of Religion on Society
The Caribbean region has a diversity of religions. As various nations settled in the Caribbean over the years they brought along with them their religious beliefs and practices. The Europeans brought Christianity and its many denominations such as roman catholic, Anglicans, Baptist and so on. Indian indentured workers brought Hinduism and Islam and the Africans brought voodoo and other spiritual ...
Comparison of Christianity and Islam
Christianity and Islam are both monotheistic religions who believe in one god. Christianity originated in Israel/Rome, and Islam originated in Arabia by the prophet Mohammed. Both these religions believe that life is a test and that after life is a reality. One would spend eternity in heaven or hell.
Christianity. Christains believe redemption is found through confession and repentance. The place of worship is in a church in which the scriptures of the holy bible is read. This religion is divided into three sectors namely Catholics,protestant and Orthrodox. It is critisised by many that christianity is an uptight religion. The status of equality is a problem due to the fact that there is not always equality between male and female due to patriachy. Thus christians ought to abide by the ten commandmants which can be considered as a law and is split up into godley commands and social commands.
Islam. Redemption is found through the works/faith wherby prayer has to be done five times per day. They gather to worship in a mosque in which the quraan or the sunaa is read. This religion is split up into two denominatins namely the Sunni and Shiite.This religion is criticised as being extremist. They are forbidde indudge in pork, alchohol, gambelling. Regarding the official status of woman the quraan says that men have authorithy over woman because god has made the other superior to the other.woman spend there wealth to maintain themselves and and good woman are obedient.
Islam, is known for its military, jurisprudence violence, and terrorism The meaning of Jihad is struggle or effort, and it means much more than holy war. Muslims use the word Jihad to describe three different kinds of struggle: A believer’s internal struggle to live out the Muslim faith as well as possible. The struggle to build a good Muslim society and Holy war: the struggle to defend Islam, with force if necessary. Today we can see that the African Continent is filled with religious wars. Like Egypt, Libya, Nigeria. Christian people are killed.
Women in the Qur’an, traditions, and interpretation /Barbara Freyer Stowasser. (1994
The Essay on Comparing Christianity And Islam
Christianity and Islam are two of the fastest growing religions, and they both have a lot in common. In this essay I will explain their differences and similarities, their messages, how they treat their believers and other religions, their historical relationship, and other topics along these lines. I will start this essay by explaining Christianity, and many things about it. The word " ...
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Difficulties of religion.
There are philosophers who find difficulty and criticize religion. Green says that society finds it difficult to know what religion is. Therefore he asked” How do we differentiate between religion and non religion”(Green,1974:247).if there is no way of explaining the difference then the statement of religion becomes vacuous, and people would not know if they are practicing religion or culture. Secondly it is difficult to identify specific religions, due to the result of social phenomena and society mixing culture with religion. Thirdly religion has certain characteristics which complement the religion. This can refer to Christianity believing in the supernatural and a triune God, whereas Muslims also believe in the supernatural but not in a triune God. Identifying Christianity can be difficult due the fact that you get many Christians who practice and believe different belief systems. For example there different Christian denominations like the Protestant branch of Christianity and the Eastern Orthodox Church preferring to group the Western Churches. These denominations do not practice the same supernaturally; neither do they belief and practice the same rituals. However there are religions such as Buddhism, the Theravada do not believe in the supernatural.
The emphasis on the supernatural is another difficulty. Buddhist Theravada does not believe in the supernatural. It is also difficult to explain social phenomena such as magic, religion that has a lack of belief in the supernatural and how many characteristics do you need to be classified as religion. Magic is the art of manipulating aspects of reality either by supernatural means or through knowledge of occult laws with reference to science and pursues personal identification of the individual. Bronisław Malinowski (1994:87)“says that that every person, no matter how primitive, uses both magic and science or religion” As a result he theorizes that feelings of reverence and awe rely on observation of magic, science and religion. In essence it is difficult to emphasize the supernatural.
Critiques of religion
Sociological theorists, Marx, Durkheim and Weber critics and says that the significance of religion would decrease in modern times. They believed that religion is in a fundamental sense of an illusion. religion is probably only an anachronism, a case of “survival,” an atavistic relapse into a mode of thought which humanity in its more enlightened examples has outgrown; and this notion our religious anthropologists at present do little to counteract conclusions.”
The elementary forms of the religious life:1976
Conclusion
it is important to take serious the cultural specific nature of religion I have weighed up what scholars has to say about religion, but think that
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