Theories of Religion
The Functionalism theory was coined by Durkheim whereby the theory views religion from a societal platform based on the way it influences the thinking and behaviour of people. The theory argues that sacred objects tend to have divine properties and people tend to separate them from profane objects (Pals & Pals 2006). Religion is viewed as an aspect that fosters good health and society continuation in general. It is a platform that helps societies to affirm their common beliefs and cultural values on a regular basis while also ensuring that societal order and cohesion is enhanced. The essay looks into religious theories, the components that are found in every religion, values in Tao te Ching and the human experience with God.
When it comes to the Social Change Religious Theory, Weber bases the theory on a large or global platform. The theory tries to explain the impacts that different religions have on social change. According to Weber, Christianity is viewed as a “salvation religion” vouching that people will get saved if they repent from sin and adopt a moral way of life. The Eastern religions on the other hand play a passive role in that have barriers to capitalism. Christianity has thus influenced the western Culture of capitalism and morality demanding that people should struggle against sin and immorality (Pals & Pals 2006).
The third theory is the ‘Conflict theory’ coined by Marx and tends to conflict with that of Feuerbach. The latter has had his theory claiming that people tend to project their own norms and cultural values on to powerful beings such as demons, spirits and Angels and believe that they can achieve them in the afterlife. However, Feuerbach explains that these values can still be achieved in this life. On the other hand, according to Marx, religion is the “opium of the people” whereby people tend to be taught on the acceptance of their current situation or lot in life irrespective of how bad it is. Marx’s theory outlines that religion serves as a sanctuary to society from the harshness of daily experiences (Pals & Pals 2006).
However, among the three theoretical views, Durkheim outlines the most outstanding religious view of religion. He ascertains that religion forms the fundamental pillars of a community. He outlines the way the identity of a society is identified through religion and the way the values of a society are maintained through religion. The association of religion to the ritual practice of different societies also explains the cultural way of life of people and the way they relate to supernatural beings (Pals & Pals 2006).
Human Experience with God
The experience of humanity with God or rather high Deity is an important aspect in religion. Humanity has attributed the success and failures of their life to a supernatural being. The experience, which is established to divinity through worship, tends to form a cultural norm that a society puts in their beliefs about God and the rise of rituals according to Durkheim’s view. Moral laws and cultures have thus developed in a bid to help people cope up with life. The experience with God has also defined the values and morals of a society and resolution to the mystery that exists between humanity and Deity (Harcourt, 2016, p.15).
Necessary Components of any Religion
The first element that must be encompassed in any religion is the “belief in God”. Humanity tends to find reasons and meaning of life and it is through the beliefs in higher beings that undisputable resolutions are found. Secondly, the aspect of spiritual ideal is a component possessed by any religion (Pals & Pals, 2006, p. 22). These are people who posses divine links and guidance spiritually between the people and the higher beings. For example, as for Muslims, we have Muhammad, Christians have Jesus, Sufis believe in one teacher to guide them and Buddhists believe in Buddha. This means that there is a person or spiritual being too sacred to interfere with.
Every religion also possesses a moral conception and that is the reason the followers of one religion dispute the morality of another. This is where the aspect of good and evil comes in and thus standards and rules are set in the religion to guide the followers so that they uphold the morals of a religion (Harcourt, 2016, p.21). Fourthly, worship is found in every religion. There are different rituals and modes of worship found in various religions depending on the cultures of the followers. Each religion has a place of worship and the activities that take place that can define the religion. Most importantly, each religion has philosophies that define it to distinguish it from the other.
Humanity Sense of Infinite point to the Existence of the Divine
There are myriads of arguments about the existence of the Divinity. Some people view Divinity as the “unmoved mover” and that God is the all knowing being holding unimaginable powers. Humanity view God as the most conceivable being that exists in the spiritual world. Moral and ontological arguments argue that Gods existence is real and infinite and that it would be logically contradicting to deny His existence (Harcourt, 2016, p.23).
Values in Tao te Ching (TTC)
Tao te Ching is a basic guide to Taoism outlining the main ideas that guide humanity in religious and non-religious philosophies. It is referred to as the “great flow of everything” and the explanations that lead to how things happen in the world. It tries to teach people how they should live their lives virtually. Some of the values taught under TTC include generosity, being non-judging, humbleness, peace and flexibility in life. The philosophy teaches that if people practice it they will succeed in life as it advocates for discipline in the execution of these virtual (Guo, & Wang, 2012, p.19).
References
Harcourt, H. M. 2016, Sociological Theories of Religion. Retrieved from https://www.cliffsnotes.com/study-guides/sociology/religion/sociological-theories-of-religion
Pals, D. L., & Pals, D. L. 2006, Eight theories of religion. New York: Oxford University Press.
Guo, Y. J., & Wang, W. 2012, The Tao: What Engineering Education Should Concern - Teachings from Tao Te Ching. Advanced Materials Research, 591-593, 2282-2285. doi:10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.591-593.2282
