Sociology Assignment On The Role Of Religion In Society

Sociology
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The role of religion in society
Religion plays a visible role in shaping the modern society; Durkheim, Weber and Marx present insights on the role of religion in the society. The three offer different perspectives in addressing problems associated with modernity. According to Durkheim, religion is a unifying system comprising of beliefs and ritual practices that form a sacred bond among people making a moral community (Giddens, 2013).
People separate religious symbols, rituals, and objects from other symbols. Sacred objects have divine properties that make them distinct from other objects. According to Durkheim, religion is not about beliefs but includes ritual and regular ceremonies among believers who develop a strong sense of belonging (Giddens, 2013).
Rituals are important because they bind people together, helping members escape from everyday aspects of daily life to experience the higher realm of experience. According to Durkheim functionalism theory, religion is a contributory factor to health, society continuation because it binds the society. Religious groups abide by common values and beliefs regularly (Giddens, 2013).
Weber views religion from a social change process where a particular religious sect influences the economic behavior of its follower. Weber viewed to what extent religious conception of the world has influenced the economic behavior of the society. According to Weber, religious sects like Christianity is more about salvation religion; people follow certain beliefs and moral codes (Giddens, 2013).
Weber believed that religion could influence the economic aspects of its followers. Weber's reviewed to what extent religious concepts have influenced the economic behavior of various societies and especially the western society. Weber concluded that small religious sects like the Protestants promoted capitalism (Giddens, 2013).
Karl Marx referred to religion as"opium of the people '(Giddens, 2013). Marx vi...