10. Religion
To avoid thinking about religion from a culturally biased point of view, sociologists first define what religion is not. Religion is not necessarily monotheistic, which is the belief in monotheism, or a single deity. Instead, many religions embrace polytheism, or the belief in multiple deities. Still other religions, such as Confucianism, recognize no gods at all. Religion is not necessarily a body of moral rules and demands concerning the behavior of believers. The notion that deities somehow keep track of how believers behave is foreign to many religions.
3. Religion is not necessarily a belief in the supernatural, heaven, hell, or even life after death. Confucianism, again as an example, emphasizes acceptance of the natural harmony of the world, not finding truths that lie beyond it. 4. Religion is not necessarily an explanation of the origins of creation. The Christian story of Adam and Eve explains the origins of humanity. Many religions, but not all, have similar myths of origin.
Sociologists generally define religion as a codified set of moral beliefs concerning sacred things and rules governing the behavior of believers who form a spiritual community. All religions share at least some characteristics. Religions use symbols, invoke feelings of awe and reverence, and prescribe rituals for their adherents to practice. Religion has numerous rituals and ceremonies, which may include praying, reading a holy book, eating certain foods, fasting special months or days, and so forth. These rituals, because of their religious nature, may differ quite a bit from the procedures of ordinary daily life.
Organized religion and religious beliefs tend to include all or some of the following features: • Religious beliefs: they include the belief in a Gad, Gads, or symbols which some way are regarded as sacred. Theology: a set of beliefs and teachings, usually based on a holy book such as Koran. • Religious practice. • Religious institutions. • Religious consequences
The role of religion in society Religion provides different forms of support for individuals and society, as follows: Religion can provide a source of comfort, explanation, and meaning for individual when faced by constrains or any problem in their lives, such as accidents or death. Religious ceremonies provide the believers with a feeling of identity and security and a sense of belonging to a group that cares about them and unit them.
Religion can provide explanation and understanding of questions such as the meaning of life and death. Religious groups provide important welfare role for individual though Zakat, and Sadaqah or volunteer jobs. Religion works as a social glue binding society together as it part of its culture which provides it with morals and values. Religion has important role in social control.
Religion and Science There are two major opinions regarding the relationship between science and religion. Religion and science are mutually conflicting and Religion and science are not mutually opposing-. It is possible for a scientist to have belief in Allah and still work as a good biologist or a physicist
Two important causes for the conflict between religion and science. • Science deals with the known or the empirical world. Religion is concerned with the unknown or supernatural world. • Science believes in empirical truth whereas religion pursues the nonempirical truth.
Magic Two opinions describe magic: Magic is often regarded as a form of religion, and religion and magic are different. Max Weber used the term magic to refer to religious action believed to be automatically effective, whether the goal is empirical or non-empirical. Malinowski defines magic as the use of supernatural means tottery to obtain empirical ends.
James Frazer mentioned two aspects of magic: 1. magic by imitation in which an individual imitates what he wants or expects to happen. If an individual wants rainfall to take place he may fill his mouth with water and squirt it around in different directions. 2. Magic by infection which is based on the belief that whatever would come into contact with the supernatural power will be influenced by it. Thus the forehead of a person may be rubbed off with some ashes so that he may be free from headaches.
Magic and Science Magic like science seeks practical ends, conceives that certain effects follow certain causes takes an impersonal attitude towards causation and has little to do with morality. In magic the facts are not used to test the theory as in science. Magic deals in absolutes whereas science deals in probabilities