Sociological Perspectives on Religion Essay example

Religion, as one of the components of the social system, not only depends on the existence of the whole social system but also play an important role on the various components of the social system. Thus, people should be well versed in a group's religious affiliation, if they want to integrate into the society of this group.

Three main sociologist writers have different perspectives on religion and different perspectives on how important religion is to society.

The loss of the central place of religion as a structuring element of social life seemed to be a constant in the Western world. However, in the last decades we have attended a return of the religious or rather to a recomposition from the religious as an essential member of social and political phenomena.

By utilizing the different the three main sociological perspectives of functionalism, conflict theory and symbolic interactions. In looking at how religion functions in social structures, social systems, and small group interpersonal interactions a sociologist could formulate a better understanding of religion 's role in society and the human experience. The sociologist looks at the individual, and how that individual connects to a specific societal location or setting and specifically at religion a sociological study could determine the power religion holds over people and societies. Understanding the cultural universals of religion and the differences in how individuals and societies experience religion could aid in our understanding society, social forces and human behaviors.

Religion is an essential part of culture; we cannot have a society without religion. Most observed religions in the world are monotheistic. The monotheistic nature of religion makes it an institutionalized feature of culture, containing bureaucratic institutions that act as central points for political and economic power in the society. In secular countries, religion is seen as a barrier against modernized education and scientific explanation.

From what was discussed in the videos, how did the Age of Enlightenment lay down the foundation for the academic study of religion?

Sociology of religion has truly opened up my perspective on the different types of religion. I learned three key insights that I have gained from the sociological study of religion. My first key insight will be about how a religious organization like the Westboro Baptist Church are a marginalized identity. I will reference the Westboro Baptist Church film. My second key insight will be why people switch denominations or religions. I will reference the book and a family example. My third insight will be the multidimensional types of commitment.

The use of religion as an agent of socialization plays a unique role for those who choose to participate in an organized religion, as well as those who do not. The reason

Karl Marx once proclaimed, “religion is the opium of the people”(britannica) which suggests religion controls the majority of society while offering them nothing real; giving the masses synthetic or illusionary happiness, hence the comparison to the drug. According to an article from cbsnews.com, seventy-seven percent of Americans believe angels exist. So, it is a fair presumption that the majority of American’s is controlled in some aspect of their life by this institution, but why is this? Religion is not based on any insightful knowledge; I believe it is a human creation of dogmas and philosophies based on the practicality of an idea. My position: religion is a social construction and has remarkable impacts on the United States’ society.

Religion has played a pivotal role in people’s lives. Religion has an important role in shaping personal morals, social interactions, helping people understand the world, or finding a purpose in their life. However, the importance role of religion and its purpose have a different meaning to each individual. There has not been a definitive explanation what the function of religion in human life is that is unanimously agreed upon. The different conception of the function of religion in human life is seen in Durkheim’s and Marx’s view on religion.

The Sociological Challenges to Religious Belief The sociological approach to religious belief looks at how society behaves on a whole, to answer the question, "Why are people religious?" Durkheim tried to show that religion, despite its importance to the religious individual, was a separate social experience. He defined religion as a "unified system of beliefs and practices related to sacred things. " Therefore we must understand sacred symbols and what they represent.

Religion is one’s belief in a supernatural being with high power that provides a sense of meaning and purpose for its followers. Religion is a subject encountered daily, either by accident or by choice. By specifically following a faith or by encountering symbols, people, and places that subtly imply religious aspects, one finds religion almost anywhere they wish it to be. Looking back, religion is much more complicated to be put in so few sentences. Religious studies scholars argue for a broad definition of religion. In revising my personal definition, I argue that religion is an orientation in the sacred and an escape from the mundane and profane of everyday life. Religion too, is a connection of community ritually expressed and embodied through individuals which in turn creates meaning and purpose. Together with these elements, religion can be defined in a way that enables one to look at it from a variety of angles, thus achieving an understanding of religion’s role in sickness and health.

The sociological approach to religion looks at the group aspect. Durkheim saw religion as a tool for unifying people into a moral community. He saw these religious groups as an expression of society. Individuals in these groups sought out something greater than themselves which in turn form these religious groups or communities. Humans are

Throughout history, religion has proved to be the main source of social stability in different communities and cultural groups. Everything that is part of a societal system, including law, is influenced by religious beliefs and practices of that society. This being said, most religions are based on the theory that there is a single more powerful entity, that has control over aspects of which humans do not. For the longest time in history, sociologists have argued that peer group, political movements, schools and most importantly, the family to be agents of socialization. Because of this reason, they have ignored the role played by religion in the perpetuation of cultural as well as social

The research article: The changing meanings of religion. Sociological theories of religion in the perspective of the last 100 years was written by Irena Borowik and published on March 2011. The purpose of this article is to discuss the conceptual framework for defining religion from a sociological perspective. The target population the article is geared towards is…... Borowik begins the article by talking about how the views on religion were diverse due to the fast-changing society in the second half of the nineteenth century. Sociologists witnessed the rapid changes in production, social organization, structure and political legitimacy and because of that they tried to be objective while being aware of their own biography, political and other views and the zeitgeist in which they constructed their theories. More than 100 years ago of theoretical reflection on religion in the framework of sociology may be organized in a few ways in order to highlight the dominant characteristics. In the first chronological approach, there are three periods of development in the sociology of religion, which are: classical, post-classical and contemporary. In the second approach, there are three theories of religion that in different ways find the reasons or seed of religious changes that occurs in modernity. The classical period is about the different theories about religion that many sociologists came out with. For example, Karl Max with his criticism of religion, Herbert Spencer with his