RELIGION IN SOCIETY

By Trisha Cease
THE ORIGINS OF RELIGION
Religion has existed long before a
written history of civilization began
Secular theories on the origins of
religion suggest it was developed as
a means for humans to explain
what they could not
Natural phenomena such as
rainfall or earthquakes
Religion provided a means for
people to connect with nature and
unite a group of people into one
common belief system
Created to give early people a sense
of control over an environment
they could not control
PREVALENCE OF RELIGION
Today there is approximately 4,200 dierent religions spread all across the globe
Early religions developed exclusive of one another despite spatial separation of
civilizations
This coincidence has happened because of the psychological and sociological benefits
of a religious belief system
Religion is one of the oldest institutions of sociology
SOCIOLOGY OF RELIGION: WHAT IS RELIGION?
Religion is a social institution dedicated establishing a
shared sense of identity, encouraging social integration, and
oering believers a sense of meaning and purpose (Witt)
Contrary to typical institutions, religions focus is on entities
beyond the natural and physical world
Religion is geared towards realities beyond everyday
existence into the supernatural
Religion involves the sacred, as opposed to our every day
profane life
SOCIOLOGY OF RELIGION: WHAT IS ITS PURPOSE?
Religion unifies believers into a community through shared
practices and a common set of beliefs relative to sacred
things (Witt)
All religions each have a unifying system of beliefs and
practices that are shared by all its members
Religion provides a community where members have beliefs,
practices, and shared sacred things in common
In each religion, there are objects or ideas labeled as sacred
which all members are designated to treat with reverence and
care
SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES: FUNCTIONALIST
According to Durkheim, religion is an integrative force in
human society
Religion acts as a societal glue
Unites a group of people together despite their inherent
dierences
Prompts members to arm their common values and belief
systems continuously
Gives purpose and meaning to peoples lives on this earth
Provides a sense of belonging
Is a vehicle for social change (positive and negative)
SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES: CONFLICT
Marx observed that religion was an influencer for the less fortunate
to accept their poor conditions in this life and focus on the afterlife
Gave people a reason to accept their current social conditions, no
matter how bad
Discourages social change by encouraging nonresistance to social
structure
Encouraged people to focus on the afterlife rather than their
current lives
Distracts people from and justifies worldly injustices
Reinforces social structure and other social institutions
Perpetuates social inequality
FUNCTION OF RELIGION IN A PARTICIPANTS LIFE

Social cohesion: Strengthens

social bonds between members
Social control: Encouraging
conformity
Emotional support: Provides
community and a support system
Gives an individual identity and
status
Vehicle for socialization and
creates shared values
Provides an outlet for the
participant to cope with struggles
and personal diculties
VIEW OF SOCIETY ON RELIGION
The development of multiple religions
is viewed by secular society as the result
of Darwinian evolution
Religions were viewed as essential to
build stable and successful societies
Today some see religion as a promoter
of violence, because people are willing
to die and fight for their beliefs
Religions such as Islam are feared
due to their recent connections with
terrorism in the media
Social scientists see being religious as
an evolutionary advantage
It can be seen as an adaptation used
to keep societies together, similar to
language
POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF RELIGION ON SOCIETY
Positive: Negative:
Potential to address todays social In-group versus out-group
problems mentality
Human rights, animal cruelty, Violence between religious groups
etc. Ex. Sunni vs. Shia
Strengthens the family unit May inhibit social change
Provides a check on individual Ex. LGBTQ debate
morality
Tearing down of gender barriers
Improvement on mental health
and roles
Emphasis on good works
Providing medical services,
community outreach programs,
etc.
CASE STUDY: CHRISTIANITY AS AN INSTITUTION
Worlds largest religion, with over 2.8 billion followers known as
Christians
Thousands of subgroups in this major religion
Members believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of an all powerful God
who created the universe
They believe Jesus Christ came down to this earth 2,000 years ago to
sacrifice His own life to save all its inhabitants from evil
Christians believe that their God is the one and only all-powerful
God and all others who do not follow Him will eventually perish
forever
Those who follow their God and accept His salvation will live
eternally with Him in the afterlife
CASE STUDY: SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISM
Denominations and subgroups of Christianity arise as a result of
diering opinions on certain beliefs
Changes in theology occur over time as a result of newfound
revelations
Seventh-Day Adventism arose from the Millerite movement in 1863
our of the conflicting belief that the holy day of worship is on
Saturday, rather than Sunday
Within the church there are levels of authority
One may become a member of the church through baptism by
immersion
Other roles in the church include pastors, ministers, deacons, and
elders
SUMMARY OF RELIGION
Religion is a commonality found in
virtually all societies
It is one of the oldest social
institutions
Functionalists view religion as a
provider of social order, giving
purpose and meaning to the lives of
its members, and giving them a
sense of shared identity
Conflict theorists view religion as a
system which encourages
submission to authority, reinforcing
the agenda of those in power,
prompting members to accept their
position in life, and encouraging
them to focus on the afterlife
POSSIBILITY OF IMPROVEMENT TO THE INSTITUTION

To become more respectful

and accepting of other
religions
Stopped violence amongst
groups
Separation of religion and
government
WORKS CITED: PHOTO SOURCES (IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE)
http://blog.questia.com/2014/12/religion-and-society-research-
paper-ideas/
http://www.iampleasant.com/tag/atomic-theory/
http://relicoromines.blogspot.com/p/el-hecho-religioso.html
http://hamiltondiocese.com/year-of-consecrated-life/dinner.php
http://theconversation.com/how-religion-rises-and-falls-in-
modern-australia-74367
https://womenworldwideinitiative.org/social-change/
https://www.theodysseyonline.com/religion-holding-
humankind-back
WORKS CITED: INFORMATION SOURCES
About religion: why it started and how it evolved. About religion: why it started and how it evolved,
www.religioustolerance.org/rel_theory1.htm. Accessed 6 Aug. 2017.
Dietrich, Eric. Why Are There So Many Religions? Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 7 Apr. 2015,
www.psychologytoday.com/blog/excellent-beauty/201504/why-are-there-so-many-religions. Accessed 6 Aug.
2017.
Fagan, Patrick. Why Religion Matters: The Impact of Religious Practice on Social Stability. The Heritage
Foundation, www.heritage.org/civil-society/report/why-religion-matters-the-impact-religious-practice-social-
stability. Accessed 6 Aug. 2017.
History Of Christianity. AllAboutReligion.org, www.allaboutreligion.org/history-of-christianity.htm.
Accessed 6 Aug. 2017.
Religion. Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 2 Aug. 2017, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion. Accessed 6 Aug.
2017.
Religion in Modern Society. Religion in Modern Society, dbaron.org/views/religion.html. Accessed 6 Aug.
2017.
Seventh-Day Adventist Church. Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 5 Aug. 2017, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Seventh-day_Adventist_Church. Accessed 6 Aug. 2017.
Sociological Theories of Religion. Sociological Theories of Religion, www.clisnotes.com/study-guides/
sociology/religion/sociological-theories-of-religion. Accessed 6 Aug. 2017.
Witt, Jon. SOC 2013. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2015. Print.