Religion s Influence On Society Essay - 1562 Words

Religion has taken on many forms over the past 5,000 years. From the gods of ancient Egypt to Christianity as we know it, one aspect remains static. Religion has acted as a binding agent between individuals. It creates a group of like-minded individuals and sets guidelines in accordance to the core set of beliefs. What came first: society or religion? According to Emile Durkheim, religion is a product of society’s need for a social order. The role of religion in the society reflects the state of humanity at that time, not the state of God. Religious behavior in the United States, as recorded through a survey done by the Association of Religion Data Archives, is reflective of Durkheim’s central point that religion’s role in society is to act as the structural bones, and keep people contained. Society stands on its own, whereas religion stands on society. A religion is a unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things, that is to say, things set a part and forbidden--beliefs and practices which unite in one single moral community called a Church, all those who adhere to them. (Durkheim, 2012). When understanding the role of religion in modern society through Durkheim’s theory, it is important to look at history. In the case of the birth of religion all together, Durkheim argues that societies as a collective created religion because it gives them meaning, a group consciousness, and tells them how to act (Durkheim, 2012). Religion is argued as an inherentlyShow MoreRelatedKarl Marx, Emile Durkheim And Max Webers Influence On Religion1727 Words   |  7 Pagestransformation. 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