The Sociological Challenges to Religious Belief Essay

Marx saw contradictions in all societies; for example, in a capitalist society there is a conflict of interest. The company owners employ the workers at a low rate but subsequently gain substantial profits and rewards. In this instance one-group gains, at the expense of the other. Marx believed there would eventually be a revolt against the ruling classes (capitalist). This would result in the disappearance of the classes and therefore the disappearance of oppression and exploitation. This could only happen if the subject class knew they were being exploited but this would take time because the

Ordinarily, religion is one of the rationales of social orientations, that in one way or another influences the society’s social stability. This is because religion is the impelling force for regulations in the society as well as a destabilizing drive for transformation. Marx Weber together with Karl Marx and Emile Durkheim were very influential personalities in the course of the 19th century, and even now. In one way or another, these persons attempted to make plain as well as comprehensible social change, particularly in the aspect of religion in the society. Their perspectives on religion differ on some aspects. Even though their views on religion are diverse, they all seem to be in accord that

Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim, and Sigmund Freud were intelligent theorists that tried to reduce religion to simple explanations. Marx explained religion as a phenomenon created by economic position meant to give reason to people’s social economic position and thus provide them satisfaction, while they are promised salvation in paradise. Durkheim reduced religion as something created by the social interaction of people, thus making religion a social phenomenon, in which people interact and have rites. Freud, on the other hand, explained religion as being neurotic due to people’s obsession with security alongside the father. All in all, these three theorists attempted to reduce religion to its basic elements, which they later used to explain primitive life, and the reason for the continuity of religion in modern life. However, Mircea Eliade and Max Weber did not agree with the views. Weber and Eliade determined that the reductionist view did not give enough insight into religion, because they focused on primitive culture to say what religion was, information was confined to only western civilization, and in Freud’s case religion was neurotic. Thus, Weber and Eliade rejected the reductionist views of Durkheim, Marx, and Freud.

The U.S faces a unique dilemma when you factor religious and political debates in one sitting. Though not explicit in our Constitution, that there needs to be a separation of church and state, the majority of people act on the assumption that this is in fact stated. Our founding founders were aware that there are multiple religions (even at our nation’s start, in country) but it wasn’t about separation it was the First Amendment. “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof” (Madison, 1791, Page 198). Today a growing numbers of Americans view the separation of church and state as wrong and oppressive, as they reflect on the nation’s indisputably Christian origins. Faith

Durkheim and Weber both had distinct theories as they expressed and conceptualized religion and it’s impact to society in quite different ways however, they somehow overall parallel each others theories. Durkheim observed religion in the context of the integrated society and recognized its place in affecting the reasoning and conduct of society.Max Weber saw religion as how it fortifies other social organizations. Weber suspected that the religious belief setup contributed a social system that SUPPORTED the improvement of other social organizations, like the economy. Weber is also addressing the shrinking hold of religion in modern society.”(Veugelers) This notionally theorizes that both philosophers acknowledge the importance of religion as influencing and supporting society. As indicated by Durkheim, people consider religion to be adding to the wellbeing

Weber, Durkheim, and Freud each offered a fascinating account of the role of religion in modern life. Weber and Durkheim specifically asked how to act ethically in a world of fragmenting values. Freud largely bypassed ethics, looking instead at how the individual utilizes values in negotiating pleasures, pains, and disappointments. While these three thinkers range from attention to the individual (Freud) to the social (Durkheim), and from a general, primitivistic (? Do you mean that he looked at “primitive religions” – the reason he did that was he theorized all aspects of religion could be traced by to the most primitive religion thus the elementary forms of religious life) view of religion (Durkheim) to a very specific, well-articulated one (Weber), they all share attention to the role of rules, the place of the sacred, the source of religious authority, and the value (or lack thereof) of religion in procuring happiness in modern life. (do you mean source of religious authority being human beings? Socially constructed? As for happiness, only Freud articulated it that way. Both Durkheim and Weber were concerned with conflict (Durkheim as a pathology and Weber as a core of modernity and modern institutions)

Max Weber is a German sociologist, who studied the relation between religion and capitalism in sociology. His theory brings forth many interesting aspects and point of views. Many could argue of religion’s importance to sociology, but Weber informs us of how big of an aspect religion really is.

Religion has played a significant part in the foundation of our country. It is safe to say that religion has both united and divided our country in many ways. However, I believe that religion has helped in uniting our country more. Christianity is the religion that our country’s morals and beliefs have been based upon for decades. For the first time in history, religion played a role in unifying the country; Separatists (a small group of dedicated Puritans) came to America to practice religious freedom. They longed for a haven where they could live and die as purified Protestants. Religion has played a very significant role in the foundation of our country and has been a common factor that everyone has. It has divided our country several

Personally, I have always thought religion is the shared beliefs and practices of human beings. Religion is something that you can put your faith towards and believe in your life. Religion is the belief that that there is something larger than oneself and that you have to answer to for your good and bad deeds in life. There are so many different types of religions and cultures around the world. Religion is often used to label or identify a group of people. This label gives you some idea of people’s beliefs and morals. It defines our lifestyles, such as the way we act or dress, etc. Some people think their religious affiliation automatically predetermines the type of person that they are destined to grow up to be.

This theory stats that society is structured in a way that maintains its stability (Schaefer, Richard T, 2009, pg 14) How can one use this theory to look at religion? A famous functionalist Emile Durkheim divided the world in to the sacred which holds important significance such as a cross, and the profane which is just an ordinary object that holds no significance (Stevens, William J, 2008). According to William J Stevens, while Durkheim had removed God from religion, he still felt it was a positive force that could unite a society under similar beliefs and values (Stevens, William J, 2008). Bronislaw Malinowski found that religion can perform a function of creating societal solidarity due to religion being a psychological response to the needs of society during times of anxiety (Stevens, William J, 2008). Malinowski also stated that religion can provide security when one is faced with situations that may be out of their control (Stevens, William J, 2008). Talcott Parsons added to this by stating that religion makes the values of a society legitimate (Stevens, William J, 2008). This could in turn also cause conflict amongst society which would serve as a dysfunction such as the religions in the United States creating a battle against the liberal secular movement (Schaefer, Richard T, 2009, pg 337).

Karl Marx came up later with a theory of a classless society to help the working class fight back. Marx came up with many radical ideas to change the way society was proceeding socially which, caused him to be banished from his native land in Germany and then from France, eventually he ended up in England. (Compton's Encyclopedia, 121) Karl Marx believed that social conflict was needed for society to function. He showed people not to be scared of conflict but rather to except it as a way of life. Karl Marx believes that people have a "class consciousness" which means that people are aware of differences between one another and that it causes a separation between groups of people. People mostly look at material objects for a sense of class status. If you are wealthy in life then you have many material objects and if you are poor then you have very little. People need to be educated in order to move up in society, which is why the working class people rarely have a chance to be very successful. Karl Marx realized that the working class deserved more then they were receiving and he tried to help the situation. Marx wanted the wealthy people and the poor to become more economically equal in status. Karl Marx also discusses the economic issues that the working class faces with change. With capitalism growing there is a greater need for production in the factories. More products need to be produced and at

“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

Marx viewed society as a conflict between two classes in competition for material goods. He looked at the history of class conflicts and determined that the coming of the industrial age was what strengthened the capitalist revolution. Marx called the dominant class in the capitalist society the bourgeoisie and the laborers the proletariat. The bourgeoisie owned or controlled the means of production, exploited laborers, and controlled the goods produced for its own needs. He believed that the oppressed class of laborers was in a position to organize itself against the dominating class. He felt that it was the course of nature, that is, it is the way that society evolves and that the communist society would be free of class conflict, "the free development of each is the condition for the free development of all." (Marx & Engels 1948, 37)

Max Weber believed the religion is a deeply rooted institution that has shaped people’s image of the world, which in turn can impact their beliefs and motives. For instance, religion is used different amongst people of various class and statues. Individuals with high class and statues will use religion legitimate their circumstances and their situation in the world. On the other end of the spectrum, underprivileged individuals will lean toward religion that promise rewards for hard work and good morals (CSP). In addition, Weber believed that religion had supplied the framework that aided the development of various social institution, in particular the economy (PA).

The criticism made by Karl Marx, solely focuses on the social function of religion. Marx do not discuss the philosophical disputes, about the existence or nonexistence of God. He was a critic of the social role that religion plays, such as supporting and exploiting the social system. The nineteenth-century consists of two classes, the capitalist bourgeoisie and the proletariat class. The capitalist bourgeoisie found industrialists, manufacturers, and merchants, all whom engage in the business of profit. In the capitalist society human’s needs are defined by the system of private ownership. On the other hand the proletariat class is based on the hard laboring of men and women, whom both work for a wage. Marx theory serves as a social diagnosis to liberate the working class from its present oppression, inhuman treatment, and the exploitation of the oppressed class from the social system. This is used to uncover the laws of economic relations and class struggle of the people.