Belief is defined as a psychological condition whereby a person holds a thought to be true (Collins, Randall 34-36). There are different types of belief including religious ones which are thought to be trusted in the supernatural being. With structures of belief, there are other topics related to it and each of the worldviews has different approaches when it comes to dealing with beliefs. Mankind’s creation in the image of God is believed by many but in the study of sociology this belief concentrates on the primary social institutions of humans. This essay aims at using sociological views in explaining how the belief of mankind having an identity of God affects how an individual interacts with people.
God is said to have love which is a great quality in Him and it is evident in Isaiah 54:10. Human beings are made in the image of God and thus are required to love their neighbors, God and themselves. Human interaction in sociology majors in placing the human in the society rather than how the religion places a higher value on an individual. Sociology argues that God’s existence in trinity is an expression of the social element within Himself and thus it plays the human being social unit. Love is expressed in human interaction in many forms including erotic and philial and for this love to exist there is a social unit which is the society. Sociology gives the human being a characteristic of being social and has to interact with the society in order to give and receive love. A social being will interact freely in the society with others who are made in the image of God and will find love in relationships, marriages, families and friendship. Apart from fellow human beings, the society is made up of other elements that are as well important to its operation. These elements include institutions like law, agriculture, medicine, education, business, enforcement and financial entities and Christians can still express love in these entities. All the entities are important for human life, but their smooth operation of the society will greatly be influenced with the decisions of the humans existing in there.
Sovereignty is the quality of God and is the ruler of all in Psalm 93:1. Humans were made in the image of God and are also rulers of the earth just like God is a ruler. The individual is worth according to sociology and despite the evil ways of human beings God is always willing to grant grace that is sufficient. The grace of God can help human beings to overcome their negative tendencies to a level that human choices will follow God and help in developing of a society based on the principles revealed. Humans interact with each other as the rulers of the earth and that’s why they treat fellow human beings different from other animals and that is why we cannot treat our fellows like other creatures but very special ones. In the sociological views, humans are created by God for purposes of fellowship with Him and further, the Bible identifies the humans to be valuable because they are created in the image of God. Their fellowship is to take care of the earth and worship the only one God thus a rebel towards God is seen as a terrible thing which should be dealt with. God created beings that are able to contribute to the society in a positive manner by making of right choices and that are why we are different from animals be it wild or domestic. The inherent worth of human beings has never been taken away despite the downfalls of humans and they still remain superior to all creatures. Being the most worthy creature, human beings have complex and more developed structures as compared to other animals and they are organized in social entities unlike the rest of the animals. People interact more reasonably and have their senses in relating with others, in fact, their interaction is best when compared to the animals and they reason maturely.
Forgiveness is a virtue expressed in God and He is said to be slow to anger as evident in Psalm 103:8. In sociology humans interact and in the process there exists rubbing of shoulders or in other words misunderstandings. These conflicts are normal and are forgiven for the continuity of the society just like God also forgives sinners. The interaction here is forgiveness of the human nature which happens in the society and is identical to God who does this day by day for humans. Humans are made in the image and likeness of God and when they socialize their forgiveness is important for eternity interactions since if they would not be forgiving each other there could be no interactions. The sociological far eastern thought describes everything as existing naturally including the life force and this is how forgiveness exists too. The far eastern thought worldview asserts equilibrium existing in lives of individuals when they interact and this is well established by forgiveness. When we forgive as human beings God also forgives us and this ensures the continuity of our society and the entire social being of humans. Since we are made in the image of God we see the other person just as God and learn to forgive them like He does to us.
In conclusion, there is freedom to choose a belief depending with interests and also that of adopting atheistic views. According to Donald Ritcher (Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) religious movements are emerging and controversies have come up too but it is advised to keep values and beliefs in place so that the human interaction is not interfered with. Human beings making in the image of God has made the understanding of one God existing although the connection of having God the father, Son and the Holy Spirit trips people up. In the vocation of sociology human behavior is studied and particularly the organizations, institutions, origins and development of the societies of humans. Our interaction with others is always guided by the fact that the next person is seen in the image of God and as discussed before they are loved, forgiven and give the sovereignty to be above all creatures.
Works Cited
Collins, Randall. Interaction Ritual Chains. Princeton, N.J: Princeton University Press, 2004. Print.
