Religion Case

Some believe that religion is not needed to keep people socially moral. Religion is just a set of beliefs that people use to govern themselves. It is moral codes and devotional rituals that help these groups of people deal with everyday life. Religion helps society with morality and ethics. Culture and the environment aid religion which helps in developing a conscious, making people aware of their thoughts and actions. Religion helps people to do the right thing and gives people guidelines to live by.

Everyone has their opinion as to what the definition of religion is. Exploring the meaning of religion, it is mainly defined as an organized collection of belief systems, cultural systems, and world views that relate humanity to spirituality and moral values. There are many different types of religions. This brings about different beliefs. Religion has been found in all parts of human society. It has been dated throughout history. Some religions use symbols and ceremonies as a part of tradition. Religion is used to help people adjust and adapt to life experiences.

Religion is a subject that sociologist are very interested in because it is a social institution. Religion guides people in thought and helps their views of the world. Being a social institution, religion helps give meaning to life and existence. Over time, religion has become more of an organizational structure in which people become socialize. In religion, sociologist wants to know how religion affects social change, how religious groups are organized, how their beliefs relate to other social factors, and what influence religion has on other social institutions? Emile Durkheim theory suggests that religion helps integrate society and brings social order by giving people a sense of belonging. Max Weber's view is that religion helps to support other social institutions which help to contribute to society. Karl Marx's theory of religion shows that he viewed religion as a conflict that promoted class oppression.

Sociologists have noted three major theoretical perspectives to religion. Symbolic Interaction shows that social life is an interaction that has symbols. The symbols can be a material thing or it won't be a material thing. It is something that a person connects with and attaches to which has meaning to them. These symbols can be positive or negative. They are something that is imbedded in them and their belief. Everything becomes a symbol to them. From marriage, to self, to parents, to political figures in society, these can all be symbols. Social functionalism views humans in society as a functioning part of society. This is where people have a purpose and gives back to society. It shows society as healthy and normal, being able to show harmony and functionality in society. When society benefits from functions it is known to be positive. When functions display negative reactions, it is considered dysfunctional. The third theoretical perspective is the conflict theory. This theory sees social life as a constant struggle between the social groups, classes and individuals for power and resources on the macro level.

Sociology of Religion is the study of the beliefs, practices and organizational forms of religion using the tools and methods of the discipline of sociology. This objective investigation may include the use of both quantitative methods (surveys, polls, demographic and census analysis) and qualitative approaches such as participant observation, interviewing, and analysis of archival, historical and documentary

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