INTRODUCTION
Sociology is the study of the society; it is a scientific study of
social facts Sociology according
to Max Weber, is a science that attempts an explanatory understanding of social
action so as to institute cause and effect relationship. According to Weber,
human behaviour does not occur in a vacuum; it occurs within a particular
social situation. Therefore there is the need to understand the motive behind
such human behaviour or social action. He argues therefore that it is the responsibility
of sociologists to understand and explain motives behind certain social action. Sociology etymologically is derived from a
lexical conjunction of two words; Latin and Greek words. The Latin word ‘socius’, meaning society and the Greek word
‘logos’ meaning science or study.
Sociology then means the scientific study of the society.
Religion is any belief system that
appropriates the existence of God; it is an institutionalized or personal
system of belief and practices relating to the divine. It is a sacred engagement with
that which is believed to be a spiritual reality. Religion is a worldwide
phenomenon that has played a part in all human culture and so is a much
broader, more complex category than the set of beliefs or practices found in
any single religious tradition. The word religion etymologically
is derived from the Latin noun religio, which denotes both earnest
observance of ritual obligations and an inward spirit of reverence.[1]
By defining religion as a
sacred engagement with what is taken to be a spiritual reality, it is possible
to consider the importance of religion in human life without making claims
about what it really is or ought to be. Religion is not an object with a
single, fixed meaning, or even a zone with clear boundaries. It is an aspect of
human experience that may intersect, incorporate, or transcend other aspects of
life and society.[2]
Not all religions share the same set of
beliefs, but in one form or another, religion is found in all known human
societies. Throughout history, religion has continued to be a central part of
societies and human experience, shaping how individuals react to the
environments in which they live. Since religion is such an important part of
societies around the world, sociologists are very interested in studying it.
The concept of religion is based on an idea of
reality which goes back to the beginnings of humankind and provides an
explanation for the existence of itself as well as the world surrounding it.
Since the beginning of history, the idea of religion has manifested itself in
diverse forms, across human societies[3]. Religion is found in all known human
societies, religion has continued to be a central part of societies and human
experience, shaping how individuals react to the environments in which they
live.
Sociologists study religion as both a belief
system and a social institution. As a belief system, religion shapes what
people think and how they view the world. As a social institution, religion is a pattern of social action structured around
the beliefs and practices that people develop to answer questions about the
meaning of existence. As an institution, religion persists over time and has an
organizational structure into which members are socialized[4]
Religion
is a major social institution based on distinguishing the sacred from the
profane. Religion is a matter of faith, not scientific evidence, which people
express through various rituals. Sociology analyses the social consequences and
correlates of religion, but no scientific research can make claims about the
ultimate truth or falsity of any religious belief. This is basically left for
sociologists to decide because religion as an institution is social in
orientation and by nature. In other words, religion is a social institution.
In the light of the above, sociology of
religion is the study of the interplay between religion and the society. It is
the study of religion and its impact in the society; it studies the role of
religion in the society, how religion affects the society and how the society
affects religion. Sociology of religion underscores the relationship between
religion and the society. Sociology of religion is the study of how religion
forms the basis of interactions taking place in society. It could also be
defined as the study of how religion underlines social functions. It studies
every aspects of society from the perspective of religion because all aspects
of society have a religious dimension. Although religion is often seen as
having metaphysical, spiritual, transcendental nature, it nevertheless has a
social dimension. Religion is therefore a social phenomenon. There is a
religious dimension to every social event. Different religious beliefs and practices emerge in
different social and historical contexts because context frames the meaning of
religious belief.
Religion
is a major social institution based on distinguishing the sacred from the
profane. Religion is a matter of faith, not scientific evidence, which people
express through various rituals. Sociology analyses the social consequences and
correlates of religion, but no scientific research can make claims about the
ultimate truth or falsity of any religious belief. This is basically left for
sociologists to decide because religion as an institution is social in
orientation and by nature. In other words, religion is a social institution.
The essence of the sociological approach is to
view religion as a social phenomenon, on the same plane as kinship, economics
and politics, and to interpret and explain religious beliefs and practices by
relating them to other social phenomena and to the structure of society as a
whole.[5]
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 materials.[6]
Sociology of religion is distinguished from
the philosophy of
religion in that
it does not set out to assess the validity of religious beliefs. The process of
comparing multiple conflicting dogmas may require what Peter L. Berger has described as inherent "methodological
atheism".[7]
The sociology of religion is concerned with
the multiplicity of ways in which religion is part of human society and thus it
focuses on its institutional, cultural, and individual expression across
varying social, geographical, and historical contexts.[8] A
common typology is to distinguish between substantive and functional methods to
studying religion. The former is concerned with the symbolic contents or
meanings contained within a religious worldview and the latter with religion’s
purposes or functions in society.
The directions taken by the sociology of
religion reflect both the intellectual context in which the discipline of
sociology itself emerged, as well as differences in the general contexts in
which sociologists have studied religion. In studying religion from a sociological perspective, it is
not important what one believes about religion. What is important is the
ability to examine religion objectively in its social and cultural context.
THE INTERPLAY BETWEEN
THE SOCIETY AND RELIGION
Many people believe that religion occurs only in
the church, temple, or other spiritual places of gathering. They see religion
and society as complete, separate entities. While this view may appear correct
on the surface, a closer look at religion and society reveals that the two are
not separate at all, but intricately interconnected and codependent.[9] First one needs to know that there
is a mutual relationship between religion and the society. The society
influences religious activities and religion implements and imbibes societal
values and norms.
In reality, religion is inherent within many
aspects of society, and religious beliefs inevitably affect areas such as
politics, economics, and cultural values. This relationship between religion
and society can be seen in Islamic religion and Muslim social culture,
Christianity and economics, and Buddhism and politics. In each of these
religions we can find insight for understanding the society in which it exists,
as well as in the comparison of these religions and their relationships with
society.
In addition to influencing culture, religion can also have a profound
effect on economic changes. In Christianity, the Catholic Church provides an
example of a religion that has been institutionalized and become a powerful
economic force. Early on, the Catholic Church in Rome had a great deal of
wealth, which it used to assist other Christian communities during times of
hardship. The Catholic Church became even more influential later on, around the
time of the Reformation. After its excommunication with the Eastern Orthodox
Church in the middle ages, it began to develop independently from the state.[10]
Religions generally promote ethical,
law-abiding behaviour in their adherents, it bring creative diversity.
Religious adherents strive to obey the law and respect the authority of the
state. Religion thereby fosters “moral self-government”.[11]
Religion and its underlying beliefs have an extremely profound effect on the
society in which it is established. The way a society, as a whole, treats
certain situations, objects or institutions is directly related to the belief
system associated with the religion followed in that area. How people treat the
environment is correlated with their belief system, which deals with how a
person relates to the world and everything else surrounding them. The way
humans think of themselves, in relation to the world, stems from religious
beliefs and if further explored, these ideas would be found to be the cause of
their treatment of nature.
The differences between religions would account for the different
degrees of societal issues facing various parts of the world because of the
distribution of religions. Organized religion has had an abundant amount of
effects on society in the past and today. The first that came to my mind was
nationalism. What I mean by nationalism is common factors that unite a nation.
These factors include language, traditions, holidays, race, and religion.
THE EFFECTS OF SOCIETY
ON RELIGION
The society as a body or as a setup affects religion in so many ways.
Religion is part and parcel of the society; religion cannot exist without the
society, though the society can exist without religion. Within different
religious sphere, one can easily spot the society. The societal setup makes it
possible and conducive for the existence of different religion and their
respective movements. For an example, if the society has not brought the
different people of different families and background under an umbrella to be
referred as a group, it would not have been easy if not impossible for religion
to gather the people together. In other words, the society at the first instant
of existence, brought different peoples together and unite them under elements
of culture, norms and beliefs, thereby making it easier for religion to come
and group the peoples according to their belief with the supreme being;
Christians believe in God, Muslims believe in Allah, pagans believe in deities
etc.
The rules of the society with regards to the different norms and values
of different cultures equally affects or plays a role in the way people believe
or worship in religions. For an example, using our local communities as a point
of reference, for the sake of security consciousness, it is made as a rule that
people should not be outside their home after ten o’clock in the night. As a
result of this societal rule, some religious practices which are normally
supposed to be beyond ten o’clock would be shifted or scheduled in a way that
it will not collide or go against the societal rule of restricting movements
beyond ten o’clock.
Still on the matter of societal effects on religion, it is clear and
obvious that the society affects religion in so many ways. The societal culture
and values equally affects people’s response to religious activities. For
instance, in a society where men are not allowed to come in contact with women
especially those that are not their wives, commonly practices in the northern
part of our country Nigeria, it then requires that the religion that is
prevalent in the societies over there in the north to make an arrangement in
other to conduct services separately for the men and women so that the culture
and value of that particular society will not be tampered with or disregarded.
The society as an environment makes it possible for religion, religious
activities to flourish in it. The society as already establish, gives room for
other organizations, especially religious practices to be established. The
society makes the atmosphere conducive for religious practices to be carried
out; it creates an avenue for human relationship with others within the
environment.
THE ASSETS AND THE
EFFECTS OF RELIGION TO ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE
The notion that religions might be influential enough to help shift
whole societies in more environmentally benign and sustainable directions might
seem fanciful. But, religions can bring considerable resources to such an
effort; it creates a creative diversity. Providing people with a sense of
meaning and purpose is arguably one of the most powerful but least appreciated
assets of religion. A sense of purpose can unify entire societies around
national goals. Ritual communication has a special place in the movement to
create sustainable societies because it has long had the effect of protecting
the natural environment. Cultural ecologist E. N. Anderson observed that among
indigenous societies that have managed resources well for sustained periods,
the credit often goes to “religious or ritual representation of resource
management”. Beyond the capacity to provide meaning, religions carry moral
capital in their ability to project moral authority. While not omnipotent in
imposing their views, religious leader often have the ear of their
congregations, and major leaders such as the Emir of Kano, Sultan of Sokoto,
Archbishops, the Ecumenical Patriarch etc.[12]
Noting the limitations of the moral authority
of religious leaders on some issues should not be taken as an argument for its
general irrelevance, as the effectiveness of religious authority on issues such
as the death penalty or gay marriage attests. Consistent religious leadership,
particularly when combined with broader factors that reinforce its direction,
can move public opinion.
Although religion has sometimes fueled
revolution, it has often been a factor for social integration; it has secured
social order by making the orders sacred. Sometimes religion serves to codify
social identity, at other times it emerges as destructive practices for the
individual, for population groups, and for society at large. Religious action
is also shaped by its situational environment. An example is the Boko Haram
sect of Nigeria: this group of so to say religious terrorists kidnapped a group
of 276 girls in a Northern Government secondary school in Nigeria. This type of
religion is also one of the largest and well-known causes for war and
destruction. For one group of people to try and force everyone to believe the
same ideas and reasoning as him or herself is preposterous! We are individuals
and deserve the choice of what to believe in.
Religion affects the society in different ways
both on the negative and the positive aspect of life. Positively, religion
increases the economy of a nation state. Making references to our country
Nigeria, religion especially the Christian religion has always helped in
enhancing the economy of states and the nation at large; especially during the
festive periods like Christmas, Easter, New Year celebrations. During the
festive periods, goods increases in the labour market and many people are out
there willing to buy on a considerable rate, irrespective of the fact that
there are inflation some times. The penetration of religious values into the
economy significantly influences the course of economic development.
Still on the positive aspect of religious
effects on the society, religion influences many societal obligations like
morality, sanity, royalty to leaders, payment of task, observance of rules and
governmental laws, and to some extent religion enforces law and helps in the
implementation of laws. A classic example is the work and influence of religion
in the payment of task, in bill boards we can see religious leader, Bishops,
Pastors etc. advocating for the payment of tasks. Religion plays many roles in
social development. Religion has been used as a tool to maintain political dominance.
One of the major effects of organized religion
has had on society is it brings about a set of rules and patterns that people
follow from day to day. Another effect of religion on society is that it brings
a level of organization and unity in a large population where they bring about
a common goal. Religion, however, is now becoming a more personal and
interpretation of higher beliefs, rather than merely a set of guidelines
brought about by its leaders. Many citizens believe on the government of the
society because of the religious orientations they have.
Religion has several
effects on society which include bring the idea or notion of dividing people
between us and them. Religion has also encouraged people to believe in a divine
intervention and has brought about the tool of suppression. It has further
affected the society by causing people to have an attitude that reinforces the
belief in a deity. Religion fosters interpersonal relationship because most
religions denounces malice keeping, peace is always to be maintained.
At both the societal and individual level, religion also has another
considerable consequence. Because it
depends on a belief in the divine, it encourages a belief in divine
intervention. It is somehow thought that
prayer to the divinity will change the course of events. In that respect it is a substitute for action
and decision. Sometimes prayer can be
used to gain personal fortitude to resist fear, which can be beneficial on
occasions. However, the use of prayer
can also take the form of wishing ill to others, effectively acting as a
curse. It is thought that the divinity
will vent anger on those who are judged to be oppressors or sinners. This is a short step from believing that the
cause justifies evil in the name of the divinity.[13]
Religion can also be used as a tool of suppression. It is easy to maintain order and nullify
dissent by citing religious grounds. It
is often used to pour scorn on those who do not believe, so that when
individuals question the right to govern, the right to interpret religion or
the existence of the deity, indignant repugnance is generated in those who are
in a position to impose censorship. Secular laws are believed to be made with
religious principles underpinning them; it is easy for the judiciary to fall
into the trap of condemning individuals to cruelty and inhumanity in the belief
that it is ethical to do so.
Religion has had positive and
negative effects on society. The needy and poor get help in areas that are
plagued by famine and poverty, where no else one would help. On the other hand,
war and conflicts are waged in the name of religion. Many religions promote
evangelism though activism and donation of time, money, food and other tangible
items, in the form of missions.[14]
Religion affects the society
economically. The economy of those selling contraceptives and the medical
professionals who carry out abortion has been deeply affected by religion in
the sense that many religions denounce abortion of babies.
“The involvement of
religion in the abortion debate during the nineteenth and the first half of the
twentieth centuries, while significant, do not appear to have been as great or
as strident as more recently. Much of the oppositions to abortion by the
Protestants were either primarily expressing concern about the immortal
behaviour that produced an unmarried woman’s pregnancy, which in turn created
an interest in abortion as a solution, or concerned with the high death rate
among women receiving abortions. Among Roman Catholics it was not so much that
abortion was wrong because it ended human life (that of the fetus) and could
even be considered murder as one would hear today, but more than abortion was
an artificial method of birth control and interfered with the true purpose of
one’s sexuality and sexual activity, namely, procreation. Thus contraception of
any kind, including abortion and even masturbation, was forbidden by the
catholic church.”[15]
Religion equally helps to curb fraud in our
society today; it stops some activities like gambling. Gambling refers to
wagering money or other belongings on chance activities or events with random
or uncertain outcomes (Devereux 1979). By its very nature, gambling involves a
voluntary, deliberate assumption of risk, often with a negative expectable
value. Traditionally, heavy gamblers who sustained repeated losses and other
adverse consequences were considered derelict, immoral, or criminal. For much
of the twentieth century, the prevailing view of excessive gambling continued
to define that behavior as morally and legally reprehensible.[16]
Religion
has helped the society to overcome many social problems confronting the
environment. The issue of ganging in the society is reducing or being reduced
because of religious effects to the youth of the society through the religious
doctrines of different denominations: gangs shows the
images of young minority males,
outfitted in hip hop clothing, hanging out on street corners in impoverished
urban communities, and engaging in unlawful acts.[17]
In the negative part of religious effect on
the society, religion equally affects gender classification in the society in
the sense that most religions do not take the female gender to cognizance. The
woman is always made to be submissive to the man. For example, in Corinthians
11:7-9, it says “for man was not made from woman, but woman from man. Neither
was man created for woman, but woman for man. This issue has more or less
negative impacts in the society, it brings gender inequalities. It can also
lead to gender oppression. Gender oppression is defined as oppression
associated with the gender norms, relations, and stratification of a given
society. Modern norms of gender in western societies consist of the dichotomous,
mutually exclusive categories of masculinity and femininity. Femininity is
associated with a domestic sphere while masculinity is associated with a public
sphere.
Religion
promotes social inequalities. Religious ideals support both hierarchy and
motivate people to seek greater equality. For example, in the Catholic Church
under Christian religion is hierarchical in the sense that a priest is bound by
motives to respect a Bishop because they are not equal according to the
teachings and hierarchy of the Catholic Church. The Pope is at the top of the
catholic hierarchy of ranks. This is equally evident in other Christian
churches outside the Catholic Church like Pentecostal churches; a deacon would
like to become a pastor because the hierarchy of pastors is more than that of
deacons.
DIMENSIONS OF RELIGION IN THE
SOCIETY
Churches,
which are religious organizations well integrated into the society, fall into
two categories: ecclesias and denominations. Sects, the result of religious
divisions, are marked by suspicion of the larger society as well as charismatic
leadership. Cults are religious organizations that embrace new and
unconventional beliefs and practices.[18]
One
dimension of secularism is the rise of what Robert Bellah (1975) calls civil religion, a quasi-religious
loyalty binding individuals in a basically secular society. In other words,
even if some traditional dimensions of religiosity are weakening, new religious
qualities maybe found in such things as patriotism, membership in associations,
good citizenship and even sporting meetings which can retain religious
qualities.[19]
An example of the latter point in the context of our immediate surrounding is
the case where we see Pastors like E. A.
Adeboye and T. B. Joshua praying for Nigerian super Eagles to win the
nations cup and qualify for the 2014 Brazil World Cup.
Religion
in the society embarks on charity apostolate, we can see the Holy See of
Vatican City Rome, giving supports to refugees in many war torn countries like
Libya. Liberia etc. Religions equally give arms and support the poor and less
privileges of the society. Religious denominations are now involved in
different dimensions of apostolates like opening schools, hospitals,
microfinance banks, conference centers, children fun centers, tutorial centers
etc. and thereby they are in one way or the other creating job opportunities
for the jobless of the society.
Individuals
according to Emile Durkheim,
experiences the power of their society through religion. Religion promotes
social cohesion and conformity by conferring meaning and purpose in life.
Religious beliefs as Peter Berger
explains are socially constructed as a means of responding to life’s
uncertainties and disruptions. Religion is a paradigm for society in many ways.
CONCLUSION
The
two bodies or setup that is the case study of this paper has been more or less
proven to affect each other with regards to their activities and the ways the
function. Religion has a considerable effect on the society and the society in
turn equally affects religion in one way or the other. The effects of religion
and society on each other in turn affect the immediate environment in which we
live and in a way of extension, as an implication it affects the human persons
living in particular environments.
I
tried my best to cite examples from our immediate environment, how these
effects of religion and society on each other does to the environment. First
one needs to know that there is a mutual relationship between religion and the
society. The society influences religious activities and religion implements
and imbibes societal values and norms. Religion inculcates the value of
indoctrination because of its quest to conform and orient peoples with regards
to their worth and values.
Religion
in the society enhances social order and discipline. Society in religion
fosters good association in an interpersonal relationship between members of a
particular religion because from the society, human persons are being thought
or rather have learnt how to relate with each other exclusively and inclusively
in a mutual relationship and otherwise. The society socializes religion as a
social institution. Religion in return brings about or adds to the ethical
values of the society and inculcates bearing, focus, enthusiasm, courage and
motivation to the youths of the society. Love for religion extends to the
society that habours it and love for the society extends to religion it
habours. According to established structures, religious belief is a social fact
that has an objective reality beyond the lives and perceptions of particular
individuals.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. John J. Macionis and Ken Plummer. Sociology: a global introduction.
(third edition). Pearson Education Limited, 2005.
2. George
Ritzer (ed.) The Blackwell encyclopedia
of sociology. Blackwell publishing Ltd. 2007.
3. Ronald
L. Johnstone. Religion in society, a
sociology of religion. Sixth edition. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey, 1975
4. Gardner,
Gary T. Inspiring Progress: Religions’
Contributions to Sustainable Development. New York: W. W. Norton &
Company. 2006.
5.
Paden, William E.
"Religion." Microsoft® Encarta® 2009 [DVD]. Redmond, WA: Microsoft
Corporation, 2008.
6. Berger, Peter L. The Sacred
Canopy: Elements of a Sociological Theory of Religion (1967).
7. Winnifred Fallers Sullivan, Paying
the Words Extra: Religious Discourse in the Supreme Court of the United
States, (Cambridge: 1994)
8.
Nicole Comforto. Religion: A Study of Society. Grade 12
Annie Wright School Tacoma, Washington.
[1]
Paden, William E. "Religion." Microsoft® Encarta®
2009 [DVD]. Redmond, WA: Microsoft Corporation, 2008.
[2] ibid
[3] George Ritzer (ed). Blackwell encyclopedia of Sociology. Blackwell publishing Limited.
2007.
[8] Ibid
[10] ibid
[11]
Winnifred Fallers Sullivan, Paying the Words Extra:
Religious Discourse in the Supreme Court of the United States, (Cambridge:
1994), at 163.
[12] Gardner, Gary T. Inspiring
Progress: Religions’ Contributions to Sustainable Development. New York: W.
W. Norton & Company. 2006.
[13] L D Howe Serco Assurance, Culham Science Centre,
Abingdon Oxon, OX14 3ED, UK. 1999.
[14] http://www.studymode.com/essays/Effects-Of-Religion-On-Society-160822.html
[15] Ronald L. Johnstone. Religion in society, a sociology of religion. Sixth edition. Upper
Saddle River, New Jersey, 1975. P 142.
[16] George Ritzer (ed.) The Blackwell encyclopedia of sociology. Lucia Schmidt. Gambling as a social problem.
Encyclopedia of sociology. Blackwell publishing Ltd. 2007. P 1942
[17]George Ritzer (ed.) The Blackwell encyclopedia of sociology. Rod K. Brunson. Gangs, delinquent. Encyclopedia of sociology. Blackwell publishing
Ltd. 2007. P 1950.
[19] ibid P 507
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