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Importance of religion in today's world
How industrialization has influenced religion
Impact of science on religion
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Religion has always been of high social importance and influence within civilization and their society. This essay will argue that as modernity has progressed the social importance of religion has receded, but the gradient of this recession and by how much varies upon the society. Modernity typically refers to a “post-medieval historical period, one marked by the move from feudalism toward capitalism, industrialization, secularization, rationalization, the nation-state and its constituent institutions” (Barker, 2000). This essay will focus on the degradation of the social importance of religion, not spirituality, which is fundamentally different. Firstly, I will investigate, the impact of modernity on religion from the sociologists and modernisation theorists’ perspective. Secondly, as modernity has developed, scientific discovery has begun to question traditional religious views and hence has influenced the social importance of religion through this development. Finally, the sociological argument for why religion is expected to continue to decline in modern society. All of which will focus on modernity in western society. Sociologists like Bryan Turner (1991) argued and projected that modernity was not just about industrialisation, democratisation, or urbanization, but was also about secularisation of the world (Turner, 1991). Before modernity, societal characteristics like monarchy, class hierarchies, jurisprudence, cosmology and education were very much under religious control and justification. For the majority of the 20th century, a large quantity of sociologists assumed that religions role in the ordering of the world would reduce. It was also presumed that there would be a greater separation of Church and State. ... ... middle of paper ... ...hy of right' ... Translated ... by Annette Jolin and Joseph O'Malley. Edited with an introduction and notes by Joseph O'Malley. 1st ed. Cambridge: University Press. Rees, J. (1971). Equality. 1st ed. New York: Praeger. Sunar, L. (2014). Marx and Weber on oriental societies: In the shadow of western modernity. 1st ed. Farnham: Ashgate Publishing Ltd. Sweeney, D. (2014). ëModernityíand the Making of Social Order in Twentieth-Century Europe. Contemporary European History, 23(02), pp.209--224. Turner, B. (1991). Religion and social theory. 1st ed. London: Sage Publications. Wallis, R. (1984). The elementary forms of the new religious life. 1st ed. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul. Weber, M. (1958). The Protestant ethic and the spirit of capitalism. 1st ed. New York: Scribner. Wilson, B. (1982). Religion in sociological perspective. 1st ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Evans, C. Stephen. Critical Dialog in Philosophy of Religion. 1985. Downers Grove, IL. InterVarsity Press. Taken from Philosophy of Religion - Selected Readings, Fourth Edition. 2010. Oxford University Press, NY.
The United States is commonly thought to be on an inevitable march towards secularization. Scientific thought and the failure of the enlightenment to reconcile the concept of god within a scientific framework are commonly thought to have created the antithesis of religious practice in the rise of the scientific method. However, the rise of doubt and the perception that secularization is increasing over time has in actuality caused an increase in religious practice in the United States through episodic revivals. Moreover, practice of unbelief has developed into a movement based in the positive assertion in the supplantation of God by the foundations of science, or even in the outright disbelief in God. The perception of increasing secularism in the United States spurs religious revivalism which underscores the ebb and flow of religious practice in the United States and the foundation of alternative movements which combines to form the reality that the United States is not marching towards secularism but instead religious diversity.
It is common knowledge that in the past religion and myths were just ways for societies to explain events and occurrences that citizens of ancient societies did not have enough advanced knowledge to understand. It was also used as a way to oppress others, as seen in the explanation of class order and royalty as God placing a person where they were meant to be and that there was nothing one could do about it, because who can go against God himself? Religion played an even bigger part than that though, being a large part of every person’s identity and something for a country and its people to unit over. But as society slowly aged, and governments were reorganized and re-structured, one can see a reduction in religion being a part of someone’s identity. It is hard to imagine being without an identity so it came as no surprise when, as the void left by religion was opened, people began to create an identity that had to do with different ideas and ideologies. More specifically, new political movements, ideas of nationalism, and change of social norms brought on by many writers and theorists such as Karl Marx, John Mill, and many others. The spread of such ideas was also helped by the spread of public education and rising literacy rates in western society.
Richard Madsen, William Sullivan, Ann Swidler and Steven Tipton, eds. Meaning and Modernity: Religion, Polity and Self. University of California Press. Berkeley, CA. 2002.
The secularization paradigm Bruce argues ‘is a set of associated explanations rather than a single theory’ (Pg.43). To build on this argument Bruce provides us with a diagram of the secularization paradigm with 22 key contributing factors; some showing the religiosity of societies i.e. the protestant reformation and monotheism, some exploring other factors which have contributed towards secularization such as Industrial Capitalism, Technological Consciousness and Social Differentiation and he provides an explanation of these concepts in order to provide the reader with an analysis of these themes. This can however be problematic in the sense that the terminology of the paradigm may well be understood by individuals studying or in the field of sociology but for individuals who are looking to develop their knowledge on the debate of secularization and religion can make this difficult. Bruce argues that modernization is one of the main causes of secularization. ‘‘Modernization brought with it increased cultural diversity in three different ways. First populations moved and brought their language, religion and social mores with them in a new setting. Secondly, the expansion of the increasingly expansive nation state meant that new groups were brought into the state. But thirdly…modernization created cultural pluralism through the proliferation of classes and class fragmentation with increasingly diverse
Molloy, Michael. Experiencing the World's Religions. 5th Edition. New York, NY: McGraw Hill, 2010. 320-322. Print.
―"Religion in “Brave New World“." Religion in Brave New World. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 May 2014.
Winter, Gibson. Address. "Religious Social Ethics in a Postmodern World." Temple University, Philadelphia, 22 March 1995.
In his book The protestant ethic and the spirit of capitalism, Max Weber analyzes the influence of the Protestantism guide line on capitalism spirit. Since all human work is not parfait, Max Weber’s book contain strength and weakness.
Weber also took the same approach, but credited the rise of capitalism to the religious discipline of the Protestant faith. In fact, Weber believed that there was a connection between Protestantism and capitalism. Now, let’s not forget, that these people lived during a time of uncertainty, and if they felt protected and safe about their future they would invest in it. A central theme for the Protestant faith is the ...
Religion is considered as a pervasive force in this world. It shapes people as to how they behave and interact with almost everything present in the society. Influencing behavior, character formations, ideals, policies, standards are just among the dimensions and societal perspectives affected and impacted by religion. Because of these applications and implications in human lives and existence, religion should be understood deeply, particularly, on how it affects the world. Looking at the American perspective of the term "religion," it could be simply
Gollin, Gillian L. “Theories of the Good Society: Four Views on Religion and Social Change”. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 9.1(1970): 1-16
Even more appealing is Fromm’s innovative understanding of religion. He calls it “any group-shared system of thought and action that offers the individual a frame of orientation and an object of devotion”(Fromm 135). In this sense, every society in the world has had a religion. He says that modern society is characterized by a new religion – the Industrial religion. It developed because of the way modern society is rooted in the having mode.
Religion is an organized collection of beliefs and cultural systems that entail the worship of a supernatural and metaphysical being. “Religion just like other belief systems, when held onto so much, can stop one from making significant progress in life”. Together with religion come traditions that provide the people with ways to tackle life’s complexities. A subscription to the school of thought of great scholars
Molloy, Michael. Experiencing the World's Religions: Tradition, Challenge, and Change. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2010. Print