Is religion a conservative force or a force for social change? Some Functionalist and Marxist approaches believe that religion is a conservative force meaning that they want to keep things how they are. However, Neo Marxists see it as a force for social change. Functionalists believe that religion makes to the wellbeing of society- its contribution to social stability and value consensus. They have 5 key functions of religion in modern society.
Durkheim argues that religion functions to reinforce the collective unity or social solidarity of a group. He says all societies divide the world into the sacred and the profane. His view on sacred symbols represents society's collective consciousness which is the shared norms, values beliefs and knowledge that make social life possible without such consciousness it would crumble. While participating in shared rituals binds individuals together reminding them that they are a part of a community. The individual sees religion performing a significant function allowing them to feel apart of society and seeing that religion strengthens us to face life's trials and motivates us to overcome obstacles that would otherwise overpower us.
Another similarity is that both religious traditions reflect the geographic nature of the environment through their creation stories which expresses the religious beliefs. Christians and aboriginals both use rituals and ceremonies as a way of celebrating their faith. Throughout these rituals symbols are used in both traditions to express sacredness, beliefs and a way to connect with the higher
For some sociologists this is a positive effect - the view of the functionalist theorists, for some is a negative one - the view of the Marxist theorists. However, both adopt the view of religion as a conservative force, ‘conservative’ meaning that it favours keeping things the way they are and inhibiting change. Restraining change can be seen as a force for stability and social order, and is thus reflected in the majority of conservative thinkers. Emile Durkheim, a functionalist theorist, supports the view that religion is a conservative force in society, reinforcing the existing society of society. He believes that society’s religious basic shared beliefs, values, traditions and norms that make the society run smoothly through group worship and celebration serves to create cohesion and group solidarity.
The Nature of Religion Kathy Legare rel/134 May 10 2012 University of Phoenix The Nature of Religion Describe the common elements of religion. An important element in a religion is to have a Supreme Being or person to worship. Where this supreme being(s) guides and teach people how to live. That does not help or hinder the control of the nature of mankind. (Johnson, 2009) There is an unwritten code that religions have that tells the believer how to live, how to bring more in to the religion and what do if the person does not want to believe.
Dreamtime can also refer to a specific geographic or topographic point or a totem spirit (animal spirit recognized as a kin group's ancestor). It is an all–pervasive philosophy that permeates all aspects of Aboriginal life (Nowak, 2010). A group associated with a totem shares a mystical connection. Aboriginal people believe that they are like their totem and that the totem gave birth to their ancestors in a mythical time. The association between people and their totem is so strong that Aboriginal people believe their health is linked to the totem's wellbeing.
Organisations like Caritas and St Vincent De Paul have realised that to be a good Christian, Muslim, or Jewish person you must also help others and not expect anything in return. “One who is gracious to a poor man lends to the LORD, And He will repay him for his good deed”. In conclusion, Australia has freedom today because of the guidance and influence that religion has had on our society and individuals. It has taught us to seek purpose in life, gives us comfort, gives answers to the unexpected and provides the framework for a person’s life. Therefore, I compel you to continue your support of religions in Australia, as they have contributed gallantly to society and individuals and have compelled us to “ihsan” (realise) “amen” (believe), “amal” (hope) and “tfgl” (act) in the right and just
Their religion consists of human sacrifice, rituals, mythic and cosmic elements from the culture groups. They would offer up the human heart to their god. The human sacrifices was a show of dedication to their religion. Many of the humans sacrificed were war prisoners or childrens. They felt that human blood gave the gods strength.
Assignment 1: Reflective paper While a variety of factors have shaped the diversity of Indigenous Australian philosophy and practices across the Australian continent, one of the central characteristics of the Aboriginal worldview is the concept of the ‘Dreaming’. Outline some of the key aspects of this belief system and reflect on this in comparison to your own worldview. The land is a living entity and the relationship Indigenous Australian people have with the ancestral spirits form the basis that is known as The Dreaming. In the beginning of The Dreaming, the Sacred Ancestors gave life to beings; human, bird, fish and animal and through this remarkable conception, the spirits travelled in human form, creating and shaping. The creation
Most groups were semi-nomadic, meaning they moved around within the territory to find food. Land was important for indigenous survival and spiritual life, but laws and rules also played an important rule. 3. Kinship Aboriginal Australian Kinship system was a complex one in the world. It was the basis of all social interactions.