Example Of A Sociological Analysis

I observed as well as participated in one of the fundamental traditions in the Catholic Church, Sunday Mass. A key element in the Christian faith is the idea of community. Mass is defined as a religious community gathering together under one roof to receive the grace of God. The aspect of individuality is not as important in Christian religious worship as the central idea of community. The sacrament of the Eucharist as well as the church itself signifies the relationship between the worshippers and God. However, the sacrament can be further interpreted to reveal additional indistinct conceptual indications of communal importance. In the local congregation I observed, the typical sense of community was faint due to the lack of participation …show more content…
The theme of unity can be observed through participation, sharing, equality, hospitality, respect, and unanimity (Orobator 84). These elements lead to the conclusion that the church is equivalent to family. Participation alludes to the attendance, singing, praying, receiving the Eucharist, reflecting, and learning at mass. Sharing can be linked to the breaking of the bread and distribution to the congregation. The idea of the church as family is rooted in the African Christians’ approach to family in their culture. Family is mentioned persistently in the culture due to the great importance it has in their lives. To them, their family influences who they are today. The African culture follows the teaching to love God and love one another. They apply this teaching to their family life and their place within the community (Orobator 87). Another model of the church, the community model, states the church must be in communion by God’s grace, and that in the power of that grace, the members of the congregation must treat one another with love through communion (Dulles 194). Everyone should be loved equally and there should be no factor considered that leads to inequality in the …show more content…
The indistinct symbolism in the celebration of the Eucharist helps understand the central point of community, and how the connection with God is strengthened by learning His teachings as a family. Once transformation is realized through sharing the Eucharist with the other members of the congregation, the community can achieve salvation and celebrate the grace created by Jesus Christ. When the congregation as a whole participates during mass it gives one a sense of communion, such as singing, attendance, praying, receiving Holy Communion, reflecting, and learning. When I observed a local community, the amount of participation by the small group that attended was lacking. There was no spirit in the chapel like there typically would be during mass. This goes to show the decrease in religious importance in the lives of people in the modern day in the United States. A majority of the people who attended were Hispanic. They grew up in societies centered around the Catholic faith and they are simply doing what they see as important, especially in their