Those who support the functional perspective are in agreement with French sociologist Emile Durkheim’s pioneering work in this area, which indicates that in the societal setting, religion is like an adhesive which holds the floundering individuals together in a connected existence of needing each other (Fisher, 2002). Durkheim and many contemporaries conclude that religion provides purpose and meaning for the otherwise unstable and scattered masses.
Countering the functional perspective is the stronger opinion that religious faith stems from a mystical experience which remains ineffable by many who have come to this realization. Some attempt to describe the experience as a connection with a higher power, an awareness of another existence, touched deeply within the core of the human soul; which inspire awe, dread, or strong attraction. In the work of Joachim Wach, this reality, “seems to follow a certain pattern: 1) it is an experience of what is considered Ultimate Reality; (2) It involves the person’s whole being; (3) It is the most shattering and intense of all human experiences; and (4) It motivates the person to action, through worship, ethical behavior, service, and sharing with others in a religious grouping” (Fisher, 2002). This concept of experiencing a ‘reality’ is perceived as being present in this world or existing outside of this world and can bring about beliefs that the deity of focus can be either one entity or many entities, multiple forms having one primary existence or may have no existence at all.
Atheism vs. Agnosticism
Yet another dichotomy of religious beliefs; or in this case, lack of religious beliefs, are the differences of atheism and agnosticism. These two concepts present challenges for many people and have been the topic matter of much discussion and stand-up comedy. By definition, atheism is a belief that there is no deity. Comedian Jerry Seinfeld argues that before a person can claim to be atheist, “don’t they have to acknowledge that there is a God before they choose to believe that there is no God?” (Seinfeld, 1998). Twentieth-century icon Karl Marx heightened the rise of atheism by attempting to replace religious doctrines with stronger faith in the political presence. Atheism became a choice and grew, for many individuals, from a sense of feeling abandoned by a previously believed-in deity.
Agnosticism, conversely, is not a discounting of the existence of God or any other identified religious Supreme Being, but rather a doubting or uncertainty of the existence of such a Being. According to T. H. Huxley, who identified this lack of acknowledgement as agnosticism, identified that this uncertainty exists because the existence of God are not provable.
Absolutist vs. Liberalists
Another juxtaposition of religions is experienced in the interpretation of sacred texts. Most organized religions have some form of sacred texts that are held to be an authoritative guide. Within Christianity, this text would be the Bible (in its many forms, fashions, translations and transliterations.) For Judaism, this sacred text would be the Torah, and for the Muslim religion; the Koran or Qur’an. How these texts are interpreted, and how the faithful follow the tenets of their religion can be divided as absolutists or liberalists. The absolutists (who have also been referred to as orthodox) live by the historical traditions of their religion. Some of these historical traditions deviate slightly from the intent of the basic premise of the faith, yet are accepted as proper or ‘right’. Such orthodox behavior might include the veiling of women in some faith traditions, “does not draw this doctrine from the foundation of Islam, the Holy Qur’an, but rather from historical cultural practice in some Muslim countries” (Fisher, 2002). Absolutists are unbending and rigid in their interpretation of the practices of the religious traditions.
In opposition to the absolutists are those called liberalists. These faithful followers are oftentimes chastised for contemporizing their religious rituals and rites to accommodate the changes of society and what society deems as acceptable. Liberalists might make use of metaphors and euphemisms to bring light to an otherwise difficult concept or religious truth. Where the liberalist perceives this activity to enhance their faith traditions, absolutists condemn the liberalists for bastardizing the traditions.
Science vs. Sacred
Presenting the largest amount of conflict and dialogue is the dichotomy of science being balanced or battled against the sacred nature of religion. When likening this skirmish of science and supernatural intervention to discovering how a clock functions, Fisher analogizes the discovery into its component parts which are mathematically quantifiable; however, the underlying work is still regarded as the work of a diving Creator or Ruler (Fisher, 2002). While scientists of the centuries continued to hone their skill, knowledge and understanding of the scientific world, many became increasingly skeptical of the religious rituals and touted religious leaders and their followers as being superstitious. Charles Darwin played a large role in this era of spiritual skepticism. Darwin spent years solidifying his concept of the competitive advantage of some organisms over another because of the continuous genetic mutations. Darwin presented strong evidence of man’s evolution from the apes. (But then, if we evolved from the apes and gorillas, why are there still apes and gorillas?) This evidence shook the religious world and brought about strong controversy between evolution theory and creation theory.
In his book The Supernatural Inside the Bible, Dr. Alvis B. Gainer, who holds doctorates in chemistry and theology, languishes over the, “mathematical recurrences of scientific certainties which proliferate these sacred texts…” (Gainer, 2004). Gainer’s studies directed him through many mathematical and scientific proofs to the prophecies within the Bible; which he indicates could not have occurred in the natural world without some divine intervention. There are many who discount these findings as being unsubstantiated by reputed scientific scholars. The battle rages continuously.
Conclusion
According to the American Heritage Dictionary, faith is a belief that is not based on proof (American Heritage, n.d.). By Paulo Coelho’s clarification, religion is the disciplined joining of people who share the same mystical experience. However, as simplistic as these definitions may seem, there is vast ground covered through the dichotomies or juxtapositions presented in the religious viewpoints and perspectives. These variances of opinion and counter-opinion provide for lively, and (at times) heated discussions of these differences. Yet the provision of these differences can provide healthy disagreement which can lead to intellectual or spiritual growth. However, these same differences can unfortunately, lead to the destruction of hearts, homes and lives through violent disagreements of opinion.
References
atheism. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Retrieved October 08, 2007, from Dictionary.com website:
faith. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Retrieved October 08, 2007, from Dictionary.com website:
Fisher, M.P., 2002, Living Religions, 5th Edition, Prentice Hall, Ch. 1, pg. 19
Fisher, M.P., 2002, Living Religions, 5th Edition, Prentice Hall, Ch. 1, pg. 24
Fisher, M.P., 2002, Living Religions, 5th Edition, Prentice Hall, Ch. 1, pg. 32
Fisher, M.P., 2002, Living Religions, 5th Edition, Prentice Hall, Ch. 1, pg. 37
Gainer, A.B., 2004, The Supernatural Inside the Bible, Dorance Publishing, Ch. 7, pg. 126
Seinfeld, J., 1998, electronically retrieved on October 6, 2007 from
