The Role of Religion in Human Society - Essay Example

?What function does religion play in human society? Discuss why religion is universal. Discuss if there is an evolutionary explanation or a social phenomenon. Human society is very varied, and anthropologists have collected a great deal of information on how it has changed across different countries and through the many thousands of years of human history. One thing appears to be universal in human society, and that is the existence of religion in some form. This paper examines what functions religion plays in society, and why it is so universal. It also explores the reasons why human society appears to be so fond of religious expressions, looking at both evolutionary and social explanations for its popularity. There are many religions in the world, and they can appear very different to observers, but they share three main features in common: there is faith in something supernatural; there is a system of beliefs that adherents sign up to, and there is a set of ritual behaviors which believers follow as a way of expressing their religion (Palomar College, 2011). These things work together to help people formulate a world view, in which there is meaning and purpose. Human beings have a high intelligence compared to other animals, and religion appears to be both a result of the ability to reason with an advanced brain, and of the need to have explanations for things so that future actions can be properly planned. It could be, then, that religion serves an evolutionary purpose, in helping people to understand the environment and adapt to its changes. Its universality is due to the way that the human mind works, seeking out answers to things. This curiosity and search for understanding lies behind human progress through different stages of technology and is a fundamental feature of the homo sapiens species. This evolutionary explanation shows that the first function that religion plays in human society is therefore “to provide a sense of order in what might otherwise be seen as a chaotic existence.” (Palomar College, 2011) Religion provides a collective framework which people use to interpret inexplicable events like natural disasters or the changing seasons. The supernatural dimension arises because human beings know that their own power and understanding is limited, and that there are forces far bigger and stronger than they are. Religion is needed to explain how human beings fit into the universe around them. This has a dual function, first in providing a connection between humans and these greater forces, and secondly in allowing people to harness these powers and let them affect their daily lives: “religion tunes human actions to an envisaged cosmic order and projects images of cosmic order onto the plane of human experience” (Geertz, p. 90) This binds human beings to their environment more closely and explains why so many religions have connections with the sky, the sun and weather phenomena. By developing a set of beliefs around these phenomena, people make them more comprehensible, and less frightening. This is a psychological need which minimizes stress, and provides some security for people who could otherwise feel afraid and lost in a world that can bring unexpected events at any moment. The first and most important reason for the universal existence of religion in human societies is therefore the evolutionary advantage that it gives, but the second reason has more to do with the way that human beings live in social groups. Forming groups appears to be a common behavior in many different animal types, and these groups create safety in numbers against predators and a hostile environment. One of the ways that groups determine the boundaries between one another is to have different cultures, or ways of doing things. Religions are an important way of forming groups. Many of the rituals that religions have are initiation rituals, such as circumcision, baptism, trials of faith, etc. which demonstrate who has become a member of the group and who has not. Following the rituals of religion binds the community together, and reinforces individual beliefs into communal ones. This gives a sense of belonging, and at the same time the constant repetition of the rituals makes the force of religion stronger. People find comfort in familiar patterns, and they like to take a step outside the drudgery of daily working life to reflect on deeper ideas. Religion provides this in the form of ceremonies, temples or holy places where special events are organized. Often there is a hierarchy of religious personnel involved also, which gives an alternative power structure to the usual political structures of kinship or class. These are social phenomena which develop over time, and they reflect a deep need for human beings to participate in group activities. A further important function that religion has is to ease the transition between life and death. The birth of a child is a miraculous event, even in a modern technological world, and religion offers a framework in which to celebrate this creation of a precious new life. Similarly key moments such as becoming an adult, getting married, going to war, or death and remembrance are often marked by religious rituals. This enhances societal priorities by making these transitions more formal and memorable, thus encouraging an orderly and respectful attitude on the part of the community to the most emotional and significant moments in the lives of families and individuals. Death is one of the most difficult experiences for humans to deal with, since it involves deep emotions and great loss, both for the dying person and the people around them. Religion gives dignity to the process of dying, and comfort to all involved. Many religions also hold out hope of an afterlife, or a reincarnation, which is one way of lessening the pain of departure. In conclusion, therefore, it is clear that there are both evolutionary and social reasons why religion first emerged and why it still remains universal in the modern world. It is a part of human mental and emotional development, and though it may be expressed in different rituals, it is fundamentally an aid to understanding the world and coming to terms with inexplicable events which human beings cannot control. [1005 words] References Anthropology of Religion website. Palomar College, San Diego, 2011. Available at: http://anthro.palomar.edu/religion/rel_1.htm Geertz, Clifford. “Religion as a cultural system” in Clifford Geertz, The interpretation of culture: selected essays, Fontana Press, 1993, pp. 87-125. Available at: http://isites.harvard.edu/fs/docs/icb.topic152604.files/Week_4/Geertz_Religon_as_a_Cultural_System_.pdf Read More