Religion, Social Networks, And Life Satisfaction

Religion has held an important role in society since the beginning of civilisation and it has such power over people’s minds and shape the way our world developed. Whilst some sociological theories such as functionalist sees religion as performing a positive function in society as it can lead to social solidarity, integrating people into society, other sociological theories such as Marxist and Feminist totally disagrees with this and would argue that religion leads to instability and conflict in society.

There are many Mexicans who attend church on a regular basis but do not adhere to a religion. These people have the same moral and spiritual values as any of the other churchgoers, only they do not share the actual religion (Euan Alvarado). In a study done on suicide rates in Mexico for the Journal of Religion and Health, it was found that regular church attendance did more to lower suicidal thoughts in teens than regular internal or private worship (Hoffman 263). The importance of the community is shown in these results, as well as in the action that groups of Catholics take to build their community. Communities that form social movements to better their society justify their actions and make them sacred through their religion, which gives citizens a sense of belonging (Doran 84). The author also says that since Mexico has such a high percentage of religious practice, the less fortunate are brought together by Catholicism to create these communities (Doran 76). This is contradicted by the results of Hoffman’s study, which show that religion and communities bound by it are closer and more effective in helping their members than groups of the same kind in highly religious areas (Hoffman

Religions affect the lives of its followers greatly because if you're a Muslim you have to pray five times a day, if you're a Jew you can't have any other gods, and if you believe in Buddhism you have to follow the middle path to stop suffering. All these rules you have to follow can take away time from you and can make you give up stuff you have, even make you leave money behind.

Some individuals find a sense of comfort in practicing religion that they cannot find elsewhere. Additionally, religious events can be a source of social interaction and the basis of some friend groups for some individuals. Also, some individuals feel as though they become better people as a result of practicing their religion and worshipping God. Despite the resources the worship requires, some individuals find fulfillment and a sense of accomplishment from doing so. Not all individuals view worshipping God as an opportunity to deprive them of a high quality of life on

When studying American culture, Tocqueville (1840) noted that religion acted as the first social network that promoted equality among its members. People have individual freedom, but an individual does not have a sense of equality because the individual has no one else as an equal. Dooley (2014) illustrates how religion and European philosophy had a substantial impact on the formation of institutions and equality in the New World in the 1600’s. For Tocqueville (1840), religion provides that sense of equality among individuals, which binds them into a community or social network. Social networks promote political discussion and the merging of resources to act in ways in which individuals have less impact (McClurg 2003). According to social capital theory, individuals in a group are more likely to conform to societal customs when exposed to a particular group and cooperate for a mutual utility (Putnam 1995). Some scholars suggest that individuals with friends that participate in social networks have a higher propensity to participate in such groups (Kenny 1992). Putnam (1995) established that societies with improved social capital leads to the development of social trust. He further explains how social trust promotes collective communication and action to be resolved when individuals trust, or believe, in the other individuals within the social network (Putnam 1995). These arguments are important in the context of religiosity and political engagement because religious institutions function as social

But for many communities, social support, networks, demographics of the area, and daily activity also determines spirituality and life satisfaction. The study by Park, J., Roh, S., & Yeo, Y. (2012) states that social factors; social support; and family had significant influence on religiosity and life satisfaction. Patricia Wilkerson also found out that in the African American community, other social conditions and economic situations also affect life satisfaction. Health conditions limit activities which might in turn affect happiness and spirituality. Other factors included family structure (widowed, living alone etc.) and income (fixed income) (Wilkerson, u.d.).

“Religion is a ritualized system of beliefs and practices related to things defined as sacred by an organized community of believers.” (Basirico et.al. 379). Religion is an important element in the society because it influences the way individuals act and think. It has shaped the relationship and bonding among families as well as influenced the decision made in economics and politics. Religion in general has contributed to shape a society and a government structure which will influence the way the individuals under certain governmental structure behave. Sociologists are interested in religion mainly because religious belief is heavily rooted in individuals’ lives and it helps sociologists to interpret human’s actions, expression, and

Religion is a major foundation for many cultures. It is present all over the world in many different shapes and forms. But all religions have one thing in common, communality. Naturally, with rituals such as congregation people of religion are brought together. This community worships together, but this relationship extends further than the confines of a church. Members of the same church, or religion, have the same core values, and these commonalities result in a community that would not have otherwise existed. When there is a disregard for religion, there is a loss of community and thus a step

In this essay we will discuss the importance of religion in society. We will attempt to explain why societies have religions and what functions their belief system has for them. We will also ask if these functions are now out-dated and if religions have any meaningful function in today's world or are they just stained glass windows into a bygone era? 'Religion' can be defined by two main groupings. 'The inclusive definition' covers all topics and subjects of a persons life including, not only, their belief in a deity but also their belief and belongingness to music, sport and any other interests the person may hold. 'The exclusive definition' refers to just their belief system regarding a 'supra-human' (Browne 2005, p. 311). It is mainly

There are many aspects of religion that causes positivity in the life of its followers. For one, religion is composed of a congregation of followers who share the same faith and beliefs that unite them with one another. Studies show that people, especially those without a family, feel comfort in religion because they feel welcomed by the members, along with being accepted by them. In many religions, members often gather together not only to partake in religious activities but also to pray together in

Both religion and family are essential parts in the running of any society. Religion is the belief in a supernatural authority which unites a group of people. Normally, a family consist of people who share the same bloodline; however, it may also consist of a group of people who are legally bonded such as adopted children. In whatever type of the family, strong and healthy bonds are necessary. Among other factors, religion plays a significant role in strengthening the family bonds. In many religions of the world, family comes first. For instance, in the Bible, God created man and woman so that they could reproduce and fill the earth. In addition, God gave man power over all other living things. This shows how important people are to God. Notably, various religions have different values and expectations on families. For instance, Islam allows polygamy while Christianity allows monogamy. The relationship between family and religion can be evaluated using the functionalism perspective of sociology. This essay explains the functionalism perspective and analyses the interactions between religion and family.

We all have some experience with religion. Whether our parents are religious, our own religious views, or others who try and convert you to a religion, we have all come in contact with a religion. But what do sociology and religion have to do with each other? The answer to this question is that religion meets sociology in the affects that it has on an individual or society (Schaefer, Richard T, 2009, pg 323).

Religion, as defined by the High Court of Australia, is ‘a complex of beliefs and practices which point to a set of values and an understanding of the meaning of existence’ (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2005) and can be studied either substantively or functionally (Berger 1974:126). Substantive studies of religion fall predominantly in the realm of theology and are more concerned with defining religious beliefs; their historical accuracy; and the existence of supernatural entities (Holmes, Hughes & Julian 2007:425). Sociology however, concerns itself primarily with the relationship between religion and society, examining religion as a social construction (Van Krieken et al. 2010:350-1) and concerned only with the substance of

To understand the religion as a social control tool, it is necessary to understand the term socialization. Many sociologists have placed more focus on defining the term socialization. Ward (2011) defined the term socialization as the process through which an individual acquires the ways of a social group or a society so as he or she can fit in it. In his invitation to sociology, Koenig (2013) defined the term ‘socialization’ as the process through which acquires knowledge of how to become a member of the society. It is only through socializing that an individual is able to learn normative values, skills, beliefs, languages as well as other essential arrangements of action as well as thoughts significant for any given social life.

Everyday life and the Internet is entwined, the Internet has transformed modern behavior, and virtually every aspect of living, is both widely known and a source of ongoing study. In plain terms, such unlimited access to information and communication has radically altered concepts of self and community. It gives us up to date information to start our day from finance, work schedules, family. Marshall McLuhan quoted: “When something becomes commonplace people don’t identify it as everyday life, it becomes almost invisible”. This unconscious control associated to other elements of everyday routines, such as showering, cleaning, from a long inner structure we recognize, these activities are built into our psyches from a very young age, fabrics of living from generations of ones family or society in which we live, a formula for everyday routines. These activities vary from culture to culture; both reflect each community or environment in which they live. Faith and Spirituality was main focus for my subject choice, raised in a large extended strict catholic family, although my immediate family today do not participate in partaking rituals, but religion hold a strong fabric. Within all of this lies the critical component of how spirituality, traditionally so fundamental an element in everyday life, is affected as well. Community and identity connects directly with religion, belief and faith are the foundations to religious communities and help