Karl Marx and Emile Durkheim on Religion Religion plays a very interesting role in the world of Sociology because it is such a deep seeded and integral thread that holds many different parts of society together. A religion can be seen as a unified system of beliefs and practices which are relative to sacred things and beliefs (Giddens 1972, p.224). It can shape ones thoughts and feelings and gives people a sense of hope and something to believe in. However, although virtually no sociologist will deny the importance of religion in different societies, they differ greatly on their views on how it can fit into social and/or economic theory. Emile Durkheim and Karl Marx are two very well known sociologists whose opinions on religion differ a great deal.
Uses relevant world historic context effectively to explain continuity and change over time. 1 Point • Essay relates or describes extraregional (e.g., North Africa or Europe) connection or a global process (e.g., slave trade or expansion of trade networks) to explain continuity or change in patterns of religious beliefs and practices. o Using “relevant world historical context” CANNOT count for the analysis point (#5) but can be included in the evidence count (#2), if appropriate. AP® WORLD HISTORY 2010 SCORING GUIDELINES © 2010 The College Board. Visit the College Board on the Web: www.collegeboard.com.
The author uses the definition, “Religious stratification occurs when religion is institutionalized in the laws and/or customs of society as a criterion for the allocation of social positions and their attendant rewards (Pyle 57).” If the advantages of religious affiliation are not intertwined in the laws of society, religious stratification may not last. However, this was not the issue during the emergence of the Colonies. I find this a very thought provoking concept. Through a historical aspect, we can determine some actions made by the colonist. From a political aspect, we may understand some political ideals of the time.
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. Durkheim used the religion of Aborigines to develop his argument. He calls their religion 'totemism', as each clan of aborigines had a sacred symbol called a totem which was a symbol of their gods and of their society. Therefore, he argues the people are really worshipping society. However, Durkheim's analysis has been criticised as he only looked at small pre-industrial societies so his views do not apply to complex modern societies.
Relativism and Morality Barbara Johnson SOC 120: Introduction to Ethics & Social Responsibility Safiyyah Al-Amin June, 11, 2012 In the article “Some Moral Minima,” Lenn Goodman argues that there are certain things that are simply wrong. Yes, I do think that Goodman is right about most of the arguments. “People identify themselves in many different ways: through their ethnicity, race, country of origin, class, gender, sexual orientation, religion, among many others” (Mosser, 2010, What role does conscious play). Relativism is the observation that one's values are accustomed by one's culture, society, and/or community. Rejecting total claims, all statements must be assessed in terms of the perspective
Islam has been practiced in the far north for roughly seven centuries, shifting its appeal over this time from its strength as a world religion. Christian missionaries arrived at the coast in the seventeenth century but did not win converts in large numbers until the nineteenth century. Christianity's appeal was strongest among educated Africans and those who sought advancement through European contact. Christian holidays are officially recognized, but Muslim celebrations are also held, and, as in many areas of national life, tolerance is the general attitude toward the practice of religion. Many Ivoirians practice local religions, which are sometimes infused with elements of Christianity or Islam, or both.
The next argument that I am going to examine is what some people in the world think, but it is based around Cultural Relativists, who say that if morality was decided for by God then he could say one day to murder somebody and it would be fine. This would then agree with the statement above. An argument I’m going to examine is The Devine Command Theory. This argument goes against the statement as it says that you can only have morals if you believe in God because you get morals from revelations, scriptures or religious experience. This means that to have morals God has to exist.
Christianity is a very religious group that follows their bible. The Judasim religion has a lot of different beliefs and religious celebrations. And in the Islamic religion the Qur'an is the highest authority. Out of the few similarities in these three religions, some of their biggest ones have to do with having their place of worship and similar symbols. Each one of these religions have their own religious celebrations.
The Moral Dilemma of Religion and Politics Tanya Forbes SOC 315 August 15, 2011 The Moral Dilemma of Religion and Politics Within every culture and civilization there is a distinct and purposeful effort to define, divide, and identify one group of people from another. The methods are as old as time; as throughout history the means used to define a civilization’s identity were wrought through religion, language, culture, and governance. Understanding the events that took place which enabled America to become what it is, and discerning the religious underpinnings of our nation, we may ask if religion and politics is really a problem? What does separation of church and state really mean, and to what extent does it apply? Regardless of the argument for or against religion’s role in politics, it is clear they cannot be truly separated.
However, the provision of education may have differed depending on the social needs of the people in a particular society. Thus, it would be imperative to argue based its nature that African children in pre-colonial period learnt what they lived in every respect. He further argued that the aim of indigenous education concerned with instilling the accepted standards and beliefs governing correct behavior and creating unity and consensus. This looked mainly at the role of an individual in society. On the contrary, modern education or the type of education that was brought by the missionaries was aimed at making Africans learn how to read and write so that Africans can easily be converted to Christianity (Blakemore & Cooksey, 1980).