Describe the sociological challenges to religious belief.

Describe the sociological challenges to religious belief

Sociology is defined as the branch of knowledge that deals with the development structure, and collective behaviour and interaction of human society. There are three people who dominate the study of sociology and religion: Marx, Weber and Durkheim, all holding different views.

Durkheim was a French philosopher and sociologist who lived from 1858 until 1917. For Durkheim, religion was a vehicle of social cohesion. He argued that religion was the ‘glue’ that held society together and that it provided the society with a framework for their values and ideas. Therefore, according to Durkheim, religion expressed the values of society, and strengthened the group of people who practiced it. He thought the fundamental need for religious belief would always remain, as it was the way that the society found its identity, and he quoted:

“There can be no society which does not feel the need if upholding and reaffirming at regular intervals the collective ideas which make its unity and personality”. This shows that Durkheim’s belief that religion was necessary in order for society to function together and that the real object of religious veneration is not a god, but society itself. In conclusion, Durkheim said that religion was the collective expression of society’s values, eternal and a vital part of the social system as it created a moral community within society.

Max Weber is seen by many as the most influential sociologist ...

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Max Weber is seen by many as the most influential sociologist to have examined the role that religion plays in society. He was born in 1864 and died in 1920 and his outlook was heavily influenced by the immediate events of German life. For Weber, religion had an active part to play in the shaping of society and he was impressed by the roles of key religious figures within society, for example, Jesus and Mohammed. He concluded that the religion of society was the reflection of the inspiration of individuals and the power of these charismatic characters was passed on to their followers, guaranteeing the continuation of religion. When it came to the relationship between religion and society, he believed that the two elements influenced each other and helped each other continue and grow. For example, he thought that the Protestant ethic of hard work and personal frugality lead to the development, rise and success of capitalism. Weber thought that religion should be studied because of the insight that could be gained about humanity and society in general.

Karl Marx, who lived from 1818 until 1883, had a very different opinion on religion, to Durkheim and Weber. His view on the role of religion within society contrasted greatly with Weber; whereas Weber believed that religion had an active part to play in the shaping of society, Marx thought that it was the economic and social structures hat gave rise and shape to religion. In contrast with the two previously mentioned sociologists, Marx regarded religion as a negative aspect of society. Alienation, he taught, was an economic and social condition of class society, which caused working people to be dominated by forces of their own creations. He declared that religion only encouraged alienation within society, as it offered illusory and spiritual gods, and distracted people’s attention from the world and situations around them. Marx made it clear that he wanted religion to be overthrown and he said this could happen through a social revolution to bring down the oppression and enable people to take responsibility for their own welfare.

By Rachel Breckner