What are The Impacts of Religion on Society?

Abstract

This study examines the effects of religion on society. The aim of this paper is to analyze the effects of it. The research is conducted by using secondary research already conducted through books, journals, and commentary. The research carried out provides a useful and original insight into this area of study. Since religion, which is described as the experience of the sacred, gives to its adherents the idea of worldview, it plays a significant role in the shaping of the social life. This impact can be seen in every period though it can be increased or decreased depending on the society and the dynamism of the religion. Moreover, religious values and ideas can play an active role in the transformation of societies. Additionally, this research concludes that religion is able to affect societies in a various way.

Introduction

Religion is characterized by different forms by moving from different viewpoints.Thus, we can define it from the perspective of divine dimension or perspective of society.Whether it is defined as the function of society, it is defined as "the experience of the sacred", which ultimately religion exists in society. That's mean, religion is at its apex when it assumes an institutional form, that is to say: if religious images and actions become standardized ways of thinking and acting(Borg, 2008).Hence, religion, the experience of the divine, tends to shape everyday social life in terms of entering into the most hidden corners of the human soul, offering a worldview and perception for believers. In this point, we have to clarify the relationship between them to identify the impacts of religion on society. In reality, religion is inherent in many aspects of society, and religious beliefs inevitably affect areas such as politics, economics, and cultural values(Admin, 2006). Moreover, in contrast to secular societies, some religious societies regulate their whole lives as suitable to religion. In these societies, what are the differences in lifestyle between religious or not religious societies? How can religion be effective to distinguish between these societies? Based on some academic articles and personal experiments regarding effects of religion on society, This paper considers these apparently contradictory statements and seeks to offer an account of the roles which religion did, and did not, play in the pursuits and aspirations of current societies.

Religion as a Power of Community Change

Religion is something essentially social (Dürkheim, cited in Robertson 1969:53). The one cannot exist without the other. Religion gives birth to all that is essential in society (Dürkheim, cited in Robertson 1969:48), and also, the God created all religions due to the fact that societies need to learn how they do whatever they will do. This has been valid during history. Peter L. Berger; has seen religion as the most common and most effective legitimization tool in history. "Religion gives social institutions a view of trust and durability by legalizing the humanity-defined reality into an infinite,

universal and holy reality. In other words, the notion (order) established as human beings (cosmos) gives a cosmic status. To make it clearer, one of the most important aspects of religion is its dynamism and social change. In the modern era, even though the effect of religion has been decreasing, it has not been finished completely. Actually, as mentioned before religion has played a significant role in society reach this level. These roles have materialized as a pioneer or obstacle. To explain clearly, Max Weber, one of the pioneers of sociology; emphasizes that religious values and ideas can play an active role in the transformation of societies. For instance, charismatic religious leaders can bring society into many different dimensions by making a strong reform and revolution in traditional society (Abuzar, 2011). A good example of this is the way in which the Prophets transform their own societies.In a society that is stunned by pagan beliefs and strict traditions, We see how the Call of the Prophet (PBUH) is short-lived, how to make radical religious-socio-cultural changes, and that it is not only limited to the Arab peninsula but also affects an entire world. Another example is that when Uighurs accepted Manicheism they lost their warrior features. Hence, religions can always be influential as conservative and transformative forces, as well as conservative.

On the other hand, religion can be one of the most effective obstacles in front of change, protecting and protecting society against change while transforming and transforming society from one side. In the meantime, it may also show some changes by being influenced by the customs of the society, cultural items, and lifestyle.It keeps conscience under control through unlimited reward and punishment system and prevents unification by social deviation. For this reason, religion has been regarded as a factor of stability in society, and as a result, it has been seen as a preventative of the social anomaly and a break for social resolution. That's mean is that spite of religion establish some laws and ideas to constitute an exact reason, it uses this laws and ideas to prevent the events that it doesn't want to be actualized. However, it is hard to say that religion is entirely in the face of social change. Whenever the meaning and dynamism that you have is turned back, then it can become the engine of social change again. The tender movements in the traditional religions are the indications. But it must be said that religion is also a conservative aspect. For this reason, in some societies, one of the obstacles to social change can be religion.

Another important point is that what is it that religion does for and to society? One answer, according to Herbert (2003:4, 5), is to divide the role religion has played in civil society over the past three decades into two distinct areas: the first one is providing education and/or welfare functions in societies where the state is unable or unwilling to provide these services. However, this situation can change in secular societies due to the fact that the state educates people just in field whatever they want or general topics. The second one is speaking or acting out against political oppression or the undermining of political institutions by the state. Briefly, religion is against to unfairness disarray. The conclusion Herbert (2003:5) reaches regarding the role of religion in civil society when it comes to the process of democratization, is that religion can have a dual effect: it can either bring about social division or social integration. To summarize, Whether you are focusing on religion, integrative, conservative, or modifier role, this phenomenon is considered as a factor of social change. Except for Marx, religion is indispensable for thinkers who are the focus of their scientific research, and these thinkers have appropriately placed religious movements in their role in social change and their political content. Max Weber's emphasis on Protestant ethics in the rise of western capitalism is important in this sense.

Conclusion

It is not possible to think religious society differently from society. Religion has always assumed a dominant role in social change and transformation (Abuzar, 2011). As mentioned before religion has many impacts on society such as change it or prevent in some points. Therefore, the task of scientists, and especially of social scientists, religion, which possesses important social functions, will be ignorant of social studies. It is important for the understanding of religion-society relations that the religion which is living in the society in some way is understood as living according to objective criterions. Such an approach will help to understand social problems in a healthy way. Finally, in this article impacts of religion are taken in some directions, but there are many effects that need to investigate.

References

. Ter Borg, M.(2008).Non-institutional Religion in Modern Society. [IR 11.2 (2008) 27(141]

Implicit Religion (print) doi:10.1558/imre.v11i2.127

. Durkheim, Emile. 1898. L’individualisme et les intellectuels.

. Herbert, D., 2003, Religion and civil society: Rethinking public religion in the contemporary world, Ashgate Publishing Ltd, Hampshire.

. Berger, p., 1967, the sacred canopy: the elements of a sociological theory of religion, Anchor Books, New York

. Abuzar, C.(2011), Dinin Toplumsal Yaşam Üzerindeki Etkisi, Harran Üniversitesi İlahiyat

Fakültesi Dergisi, sayı 26 , Temmuz-Aralık 2011