The Role of Religion in Social Life

Religion is a particular set of ideas about paranormal creatures and the universe as a whole. Given that the majority of Americans believe in a deity, it is significant in American culture. Religion is a social institution because, although being viewed as personal, these ideas and ideals help societies achieve their fundamental goals (Durkheim 10). The role of religion in modern society is a subject of debate among theorists. Functional arguments view religion as the source of directives on how the society perceives the meaning and purposes of life, controls the social behavior of individuals, and motivate people while promoting their wellbeing towards positive social change. Conflict theory asserts that helps in perpetuating the social conflicts and inequality. Symbolic interactionism, however, argues that religion makes a significant change in people’s lives only if they take the teachings seriously and consider them sacred (Durkheim and Swain 209)

Different authors describe the role of religion in a contemporary society with a lot of divergent views. According to Smith in his analysis, religion does not interfere with the process of modernization in Britain during his time. Sociology of religion is different from philosophy of religion since it is not interested in setting out the validity of religious beliefs (Weber 26). They view religion as a source of cohesion and in relation to globalization and pluralism. Stll in their analysis, contemporary sociology religion may also include the sociology of religious rejection. According to Durkheim (196), religion was one of the turbulence forces for peace, integrity, and cohesion of a society. Although religious groups vary in their fundamental teachings, they share many similarities compared to the divisive elements in them. Durkheim and Swain (85) highlight that many religious histories and beliefs have risen during the times of persecution. Moreover, members of the society have faced challenges like persecution due to loyalty and adherence to their religious beliefs. Throughout civilization history, religion played a crucial role in building the society. The society culture was dependent on religious teachings and beliefs. Moreover, spiritual divine power and faith were contributed to the people’s lives.

Religion during its establishment in the traditional societies played an important role in creating a contemporary society. A contemporary society is characterized by at least three factors that include the rate of evolution of human ways of life, rising in human interconnections, and the rate of ecological change. According to Smith (45), in his analysis on the role of religion in creation of a complementary society, he found out that these religious groups provide essential services to the rural immigrants by providing a social-support network thereby aiding human interconnections that is one of the characteristics of a contemporary society. According to Veblen (17) in his analysis of social-economics, he focused on the creation industrial economics where people can work and get their daily income by discouraging conspicuous leisure and consumptions. Through discouraging these conspicuous consumptions and leisure, rate of evolution of human way of life increases, which is one of the characteristics of contemporary society. Polanyi (75) in his study on market price and financial management, found out that before the coming of religion, there was a lot of political dictatorship especially on the financial management by political class (Polanyi 77). Religion has brought a different class of social-religion whose structure of governance is human. Durkheim and Swain (27), highlights the roles of religion in contemporary society. He claims that the manner and degree in which a given religion serves a particular society depends on how it is practiced and the beliefs in which it favors. Moreover, the contemporary sociological thinking and the role of religion in the society depend on others factors affecting the religious and political systems. In the contemporary society, followers are using Christian, Jewish, and Islamic religious beliefs. According to Durkheim and Swain (115), the steadfast religious beliefs have contributed to the resiliency witnessed in the current society. The origins Christianity and Judaism are disregarded. Moreover, the interrelations between religious beliefs and traditional beliefs.

There exist divergent opinions concerning the role of religion in contemporary society. Smith (48) argues that religion and modernization have been shaping peoples social lives from opposing points. Religious beliefs tend to restrict the way the society explore new ideas as it is more conservative in accepting changes in the society. However, the current modern society tends to derive its cohesiveness from the religious teachings. Pluralism and globalization are seen as the avenues through which modernization is used to unite the various societies across the world. Veblen (17) adds that Modern societies focus on uniting different religions and their contradicting beliefs. Contemporary society has been judged as a drive of social change. Social change is however comes along with disruptive and not a smooth ride. According to Smith, creation of contemporary society has brought change in division of labor and free trade, reduced government intervention, general structure of the market and proper price control (Smith 54). All these are common indicators of modern economic transition and stability. Elias, through the emphasis on change of morals and manners and restructuring of state to explore sustainable development is a great drive in the modern social life. Elias also considered time as a substantive asset in driving social-economic development. According to Marx and Engels (75), proper understanding of historical development of society and the idea of capitalism serves as a great source and cornerstone of the modern capitalism thoughts.

Religion provides a good and stable foundation for the establishment of self-sustaining society. It provides and instills norms and proper way of humanitarian interactions and establishments. Religion nurtures and brings up a society which is discipline and responsible. It is therefore, according to common knowledge, important to live in a society with religion. According to Smith religion is important for a society but believed in competitive religion for the, which according to him can be achieved through government regulations and subsidy. Marx in his work Marxism and religion argued that it is almost null to think that a society can stand the oppressions and sufferings from the dictators and other forces without religion. Religion servers as a relief to the suffering oppressed. Therefore, religion suffering is one way of expressing the real suffering of the society and abolition of religion and common criticisms and propaganda are the tools used by the oppressors against the oppressed to tint and soot the image of religion for continues suffering and oppressions. Marx did not only see religion as stimulant to the people but also as a source of relief to their suffering. Durkheim (44) argued that religion is the major pillar, which holds complex modern society together. Therefore, a very important aspect in a society and he believed there is no society without religion. Religion and science has two main opinions in relation to their coexistence. Religion is regarded as based on beliefs and rituals while science depends of observations, proofs, and finding of facts. Religion deals with supernatural and unknown but science deals with empirical facts.

Different authors view contemporary society as a component of ecological change, increasing in human interconnections, and evolution in the ways of life to reflect the modern lifestyles. Durkheim and Swain (15), assert that religious groups provide the essential services needed for the establishment of contemporary societies. Currently. Religious groups are in the forefront in the provision of basic needs to the immigrants and vulnerable societies. Also, Veblen (15) describes the interrelation between religion and contemporary economic settings as a system where religion not only instills spiritual beliefs into people but also encourages members of the society to work hard and be rewarded for their hard work. By instilling the need for morality in society, both governments and institutions are slowly moving away from capitalism to communism doctrines where corporate social responsibility is prioritized (Veblen 18). Moreover, it has contributed to the structure and ways of governance by opposing the prevalence of dictatorship.

Durkheim and Swain (15), argues that elements of society such as religion and morality originate from history. They can be studied using scientific approaches to obtain the social facts. Moreover, he views sociology as the origin and functioning of the various institutions. Therefore, the modes of consults exhibited in society are reflected in the fundamental beliefs practiced by individuals in the society. Although various authors concur with Durkheim argument that society is not just a group of people living in a given geographical area but a collection of beliefs, sentiments, and ideas, sociology as a science alone cannot be used to understand the beliefs. Religion remains a major contributor to social beliefs.

Question Three

Social Inequality

Social inequality is the uneven distribution of resources in a given society through some sets of rules and beliefs typically along defined class of people in a society. These defined classes are classified according race, power, religion, gender ethnicity, race, age, class, and prestige. Social inequality has been regarded as the existence of unequal reward systems and opportunities for different groups in society. Theorists like Marx and Engels (80) viewed social stratification from a wider perspective that is of ethnicity and racism, power to the disparity in wages. Like other social conflict theorists, Marx and Engels (77) argue that social stratification is not beneficial for the functionality of the society. Due to the existence of the bourgeoisie and the proletariats in the society, one group tends to benefit at the expense of the other. Moreover, Weber (31) have pointed out the possibility of social conflicts arising between different members of the society due to social stratification. However, structural functionalists believe that social inequality dictates how smooth a society operates. For instance, most difficult tasks should have higher rewards compared to the others to motivate the individuals who perform them.

Social inequality is important to the society in a number of ways. It determines the trend of income and wealth. This is because the few favored class in a society control the flow and distribution of wealth thereby managing gross domestic product and per capita of a country (Weber 31). These small groups of people who own a lot of wealth also control, manage and determine the level of income to other marginalized groups. All these inequalities set up an equalization gradient for even distribution of wealth according to experience and knowledge but not simply because of social class. Polanyi (73), however, argues that equality in the reward system will be demotivating to individuals who perform heavy and riskier tasks compared to their people doing jobs that can be handled by anyone. Other theorists link social inequality to economic growth, democracy and governance, and social mobility. The presence of wider social gaps in the society not only affects the economic growth but also inhibits the ability to practice fairness in the implementation of the rule of law. Moreover, social conflicts like ethnic profiling, racism and interclass class conflicts between the distinctive social classes are the outcomes of the wider social gap in society.

Economic inequality is uneven acquisition of wealth according to the defined classes for means of production exploitation. According to Marx and Engels (70), modern society has only two defined class of people: the bourgeoisie and proletariat. Bourgeoisie are the class which owns the production unit of society. They own factories, industries, equipment needed to produce wealth, and proletariats are the employees and workers. Status inequality is the uneven distribution of wealth according to the kingpin classes. This class acquires wealth mainly for the status recognition but not for production. According to weber, owning properties such as factories and companies is a sign of power and prestige. Social inequality dictates how individuals perceive themselves and the society they live in. Individual’s motivation and social beliefs have a direct impact on personal health outcomes. On the other hand, income inequality has adversely affected societies and the world as a whole. Different indicators have been impacted the widening gap between social and income inequality in the society. From economic growth, educational outcomes, and public health to other issues, social and income inequalities are negative related to the social and economic indicators. Social inequality has a negative impact on health outcomes of individuals and the society as a whole (Smith 46). For instance, lower life expectancy, high infant mortality, higher prevalence of chronic and communicable diseases are linked to the existence of a wider gap between the social classes (mainly the poor and the rich). Moreover, greater economic inequality also leads to worse health outcomes given that individuals from the lower social and economic classes are not able to afford the cost of healthcare services.

Social inequality has direct effects to the individuals and society. The marginalized groups of people suffer a lot. Since they live below the poverty index, getting their daily meals is a problem if so they get what can sustain them on a daily basis these results into low living standard. When these individuals become sick, it is not easy to get proper medical care hence they risk losing their lives, resulting into reduced human resource and hence low production. These low-income wages and high poverty indices may affect gross domestic product and per capita of the society. Social inequality widens the gap between the poor and the rich thereby interferes with human integration; one of the main pillars of contemporary society. Major changes in education system can also be brought by social inequality. High number of dropouts can witness this from the families that cannot afford the cost of education and low quality working force. This can elevate the level of illiteracy in a society consequently rise in terrorism, leisure conspicuous and consumption conspicuous type of a society. The marginalized class may decide to migrate from the society this leads to reduced population and low work force for production. Lower social classes are linked with some beliefs that hinder their uptake of the proposed health interventions. According to Smith (46), poor health, poverty, and wider, greater social and economic inequality go hand-in-hand. Social inequality reduces social cohesion thereby leading to fear, stress, and insecurity due to the emergence of interclass conflicts. The increasing cases of violence and partisan politics are due to social inequality. Polanyi (73) argues that interclass conflicts undermine individuals happiness and morality. The rich tend to be affluent, and they do not care about the moral standards in the society because of their accumulated wealth. The poor admire wealth and superior natures of the rich hence blame their social problems to poverty.

According to Weber (31), social class is the result of power that is just the ability of someone to get a way, despite restrictions and challenges (Weber 21). Rich people are more powerful than poor people are since power comes with wealth and prestige. The solution for this problem is that society should work on merits of high quality services results into high pay and vice versa. Meritocracies system of stratification will help solve the entire problem of social inequality since every reward is based on merit. Smith (44) argues that alleviation of poverty is the key measure of a nation’s progress in fighting inequality. Smith (44) insists that equity must be practiced at all cost to ensure that the poor majority of the population is not deprived of their basic needs. Although critics view Smith’s concerns as more inclined to poverty reduction compared to economic and social inequality, ‘The Wealth of Nations’ demonstrates Smiths concern in addressing the existing economic inequality in the contemporary society. However, other than poverty reduction, Smith only focused on economic equality through equitable wealth distribution. Social inequality remained silent in his writings like “the wealth of nations.” Marx and Engels (74) argue that social inequality and economic inequality can be solved by doing away with capitalism. Like other classical theorists, Marx and Engels (70) believe that capitalism is profit driven and therefore employers tend to ignore the welfare of the working class. Addressing the issue of capital can help in preventing mass exploitation of the poor working class by the rich who only want to benefit at the expense of their laborers.





Works cited

Durkheim, Emile, and Joseph Ward Swain. The elementary forms of the religious life. Courier Corporation, 2008.p. 8-225

Marx, Karl, and Friedrich Engels. The economic and philosophic manuscripts of 1844 and the Communist manifesto. Prometheus Books, 2009 :70-81.

Polanyi, Karl. The great transformation:(The political and economic origin of our time). Beacon Press, 1957. P. 71-80.

Smith, Adam. "The wealth of nations [1776]." (1937). P. 44-54.

Veblen, Thorstein. The theory of the leisure class. Oxford University Press, 2009. p. 1-18.

Weber, Max. "The Nature of Social Action in Runciman, WG Weber: Selections in Translation." Cambridge University Press2 (1991): 13-32.