Which theoretical interpretation of the role of religion in society do you find most convincing. Give reasons for your answer.

Authors Avatar

Which theoretical interpretation of the role of religion in society do you find most convincing. Give reasons for your answer.

The fact that religion seems to have continually played an important role in every known society should highlight the idea that religion serves some sort of purpose. The various sociological explanations of this purpose are what the key is. The questions that arise include, why people believe in "gods", "spirits" and "supernatural beings" and the reasons for the existence of religious beliefs and practices. When we look at theories of religion, the focus is therefore on the way religious behaviour differs between and within societies and the consequences for social interaction of religious activity and organisation.

Functionalist sociologists focus their attention on the nature of institutional relationships in society. This Structuralist perspective focuses on the ways individual behaviour results from the nature of institutional relationships in society. According to Parsons, for example, all institutions in society (family, work, education, religion and so on) have a particular set of functions. Cultural institutions, from a Functionalist perspective, develop to create and maintain of a sense of order and community in society. Their main function is to provide the individual with a set of meanings (values) that make sense of society. Religion, which is a cultural institution, serves to reaffirm existing values and maintain social stability and order.

The functionalist view is that societies cannot be physically sensed or seen and touched, people have to be encouraged to feel that they belong to a society; they need to be integrated into society. One way this is achieved is by creating a system of common values, people see themselves as having things in common and this helps to develop social cohesion and a sense of belonging to a society. Religion is a very important source of cohesion and integration in society, since it can provide people with common values such as a belief in some form of god, common experiences for example at religious ceremonies and common interpretations such as the world was created by God. Another point of the Functional theory on the role of religion that is convincing is that educational and media institutions only develop in complex societies but religion develops in all known human societies. This shows that religion must have a role in supporting cohesion and integration as people need to be given a sense of belonging to society by having something in common with their fellow human being and in societies where there is no media and educational institutions, religion must be the best means of providing a sense of social belonging and cohesion.

Join now!

Durkheim was one of the first Functionalist sociologists to write about the role of religion in society. He saw religion as an integrating force in society. His view was that societies consist of individuals with their own consciousness, in order to exist as individuals we have to bond with others to create a sense of society. Shared values can only be upheld by constant, collective, repetition. Without this collective activity, central value systems would cease to exist. This need for reaffirmation has to be in some form of collective ritual and it is perfectly served by religious belief and ...

This is a preview of the whole essay