Cross-Cultural Religions and Their Functions - Essay Example

Cross Cultural Religions Cross Cultural Religions Introduction The world “Religion” has been used by different contexts by people of different mind sets. However, generally religion is defined as a link of the human beings to spirituality by believing in something which he has not seen but yet has faith that it exists. The world has seen the rise and fall of many religions through time. Some religions developed and are now followed by a major population of the world while some are confined to a particular area. Religion is considered as a key stone in the formation and development of a culture and society. In fact, the division the world today into different countries, societies and cultures is on the religion of respective societies. Religion is supposed to define the way of living of a society. Functions of Religion . The sociological functions of religion are far more than that could be written in words and explained. Religions serve in a society by affecting the life style of a mere individual and by affecting a whole society. Religion is supposed to be a key stone in a society on which the whole society exists and survives. Different religions serve as a form of identity for the societies of the world. They define the way of living and provide order to a society. “The ten Commandments” given to Moses served as a source through which the followers of that particular religion defined their way of living. However, religions are supposed to have both positive and negative impacts in a society. As man is considered as both the creator and the creation of society, religions is supposed to take away the supposed freedom from the man that allows him to rule this world in his own way. According to some people with a different mindset, religion is thought to create a social conflict by oppressing the people in the society and creating illusions to ease pain (Leming 1998). However this role of religion has not been accepted by a major group of people who consider religion as a source of harmony. Whether from a same region or not, from the same ethnicity or not, people of the same religion get together at specific times. This allows them to get to know each other properly and make the bond between them more and more strong. Christmas, Hajj and many other religious festivals are such examples when people from around the world get together at one place, families reunite; friends meet and enjoy the company of each other. Religions are solely responsible for such happenings which serve as an important factor in the strength of a society. All the important factors that contribute to the development of a society can be related to religion. Religion helps increasing welfare and brotherhood in as well as creates solidarity in a society. Religion is also supposed to influence the economy of a society. The central of religion in the organization and socialization of the society has been proved by many studies. Religion is supposed to provide order to a society. Religion defines the role of an individual that he is supposed to serve in the society. The culture of a society is usually based on its religion. Religion is supposed to make the existence of human race sacred in this universe (Leming 1998). Religion also is a way to communicate with The God. Religion provides a society with morals and decent and respectful way of living. Societies which lack religion or have forgotten their religious beliefs are supposed to have forgotten how to live and forgotten God. The role of religion in the growth and maturity of the society as well as in providing its individuals a sense of self awareness is indispensible. Apart from the role of religion in a society, the more prominent psychological effects of religion on an individual’s mind perception cannot be overlooked. Religions have been affecting the thoughts and actions of individuals from centuries. The psychological functions of religion have been helping the human race to understand the purpose of its existence mainly. Religion has helped man in understanding the feeling of self awareness. This feeling of self awareness means that a person knows that he is alive and that this life has to come to an end one day. Religion has been helping man in getting the answers of the questions raised by man since its existence. Religion has helped man in digesting the fact that he is going to die one day and such realities which he cannot control usually. Religion serves as a source of energy and motivation for and individual in coping with such realities like coping with death (Daniel et al 2004). Religion has also been serving as a source to fulfill individualistic needs and helping in the growth and maturity of an individual. Religion decreases mental stress levels of an individual by directing his life to an aim and helping him in reaching his goals by providing pepper guidance. It is the religion that enables an individual to accept the harsh realities of the world by showing him the more positive aspects of life and his existence. Religion makes a person believe that he has not lost everything and life has still a lot to offer. Talking from a psychological point of view, the religious festivals and rites that are usually celebrated in almost every religion of the country allow a person to take a break from his daily routine and give his mind some rest. It is the religion that is supposed to give the distinguishing life style and moral characters that differentiate man from animal. Spirituality and religious rituals are also supposed to show the mental character of person which is very important when it comes to religious psychology. Talking from the anthropological point of view of religion, one cannot find an example better than Geertz’s essay which defines and explains religion and its anthropology. The essay explains the functions of a religion in the society and its anthropology. Religion has totally omitted the crucial ideology of individual power but, diverted the sourece of power towards the society and its people (Morris 1987) . As religion is based on the idea of believing and having faith in a greater power that controls everything that is happening In this world, religion has taken away the concept of power to man thus enabling him to accept everything good or bad whole heartedly. “All mankind, Greeks or Non Greeks alike, believe in the existence of Gods” Religion and Magic Magic has been considered as an important integrity in many cultures and religions across the globe. However, this relation between religion and magic has remained controversial through the time. People belonging to different religions throughout the world believe in the existence of supernatural powers. According to different religious beliefs, ritual formulas can be used in several different ways to procure magic, to summon the soul of person and acquire the required information. Magic has also been used in many different religions to increase the fertility of a land and also to avoid or cure an illness. However this relationship between religion and magic gives rise to many speculations (O’Neil 2006). The use of magic being ethical, moral or according to the laws of a society, have raised many questions on it in the history. Some religious beliefs for example the use of voodoo dolls in folk traditions, can give rise to many social as well as psychological problems. As science is a complete antagonist of magic, the modern scientific era has raised questions even on the existence of such things as magic (Cnningham 1999). When talking about a whole culture and society the relationship between religion and magic is becoming somewhat in the modern era. This relationship can be regarded as dangerous both for the individuals and the society as it can give rise to too many sociological problems and conflicts in the society, leading to nothing but the downfall of a civilization. References Cunningham, G. (1999). Religion and magic: Approaches and theories. New York: New York University Press. SOCIOLOGY 265 -- Discussion Questions. (n.d.). St. Olaf College—A private liberal arts college of the Lutheran church in Minnesota. Retrieved April 9, 2012, from http://www.stolaf.edu/people/leming/soc265rel/questions/chBerger.html 10 most important functions of Religion. (n.d.). PreserveArticles.com: Preserving Your Articles for Eternity. Retrieved April 9, 2012, from http://www.preservearticles.com/201104296054/10-most-important-functions-of-religion.html Morris, B. (1987). Anthropological studies of religion: An introductory text. Cambridge [Cambridgeshire: Cambridge University Press. Discipline. (n.d.). JSTOR: Man, New Series, Vol. 18, No. 2 (Jun., 1983), pp. 237-259. JSTOR: An Error Occurred Setting Your User Cookie. Retrieved April 9, 2012, from http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/2801433?uid=3738832&uid=2&uid=4&sid=47698859662267 Batson, C. D., Schoenrade, P., Ventis, W. L., & Batson, C. D. (1993). Religion and the individual: A social-psychological perspective. New York: Oxford University Press Vail, K., Rothschild, Z., Weise, D., Solomon, S., Pyszczynski, T., & Greenberg, J. (January 01, 2010). A Terror Management Analysis of the Psychological Functions of Religion. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 14, 1, 84-94. Read More