Sociological Approach To Religion

Marissa De La Torre

ANTH 1500-05

Professor Arenson

3 April 2017

Religion is a symbolic representation of society. The sociological approach to religious belief looks at how society behaves on a whole, to answer the question, “Why are people religious?” We express our participation in religious events through plays, acts of confession, religious dances, etc. To begin to understand why we have such term, let’s understand the common elements of religion. There are different types in which people believe in or follow and that is: animatism, animism, ancestral spirits, god and goddesses, and minor supernatural beings. Beyond these different elements, such one is to have religious leaders to follow.

Religion can be used to justify things as well

Imitative magic attempts to control the universe through the mimicking of a desired event, for example voodoo. Contagious magic is often associated with witchcraft and sorcery. According to Gmelch’s article Baseball Magic, he presents his case with American baseball players, shows the various taboos and fetishes that these players have and they believe that these rituals are linked to their winning or losing a game. The most alarming factor is that these professional players forget or rather ignore the fact that they possess true abilities and skill, which is how they go onto the team in the first place. They idolize prized possession that they believe give them luck and the lack of these rituals or failure of these rituals doesn't stop them, but merely makes them create new ones to fit their needs. It is as if their skills got them into the sport, but their rituals keep them playing. “Most rituals are personal, that is, they’re performed by individuals rather than by a team or group. Most are done in an unemotional manner, in much the same way players apply pine tar to their bats to improve the grip or dab eye black on their upper cheeks to reduce the sun’s glare” (Gmelch). For others, people use magic for their prayers answered and/or to be a part of something to belong in; it’s the little things that make something come true or help in any way

People who are religious don’t want to be labeled. We are all human beings with different solutions to our lives. However, despite being religious and having faith, others will criticize, and judge by the way you practice. That’s because nobody knows every single culture they research or observe; they’ll think it’s interesting but scary or too different. According to Mark Hay’s article, “A West African Kingdom in the American South”, he observes a series of women, all in white, enter the courtyard, swaying to beat of drums; then walks a priest, an older man with a staff and gourd, rolling his shoulders, and chanting to the drumbeat. “They answer his incantations, and together, in a slow, circuitous choreography, they dance their way to the doors of Obatala’s shrine. One by one, they disappear inside to make offerings to the spirit” (Hay). You will wonder if we all do this, will we be equal? Everyone has different traditions they follow according to their culture and where they