The Four Social Functions Of Religion In Islam

There are four primary social functions of religion. They are as follows: to serve as a disciplinary and preparatory function, provide ceremonial and ritual that leads to cohesive function, revitalizing function, as well as a euphoric function. The first function is due to the imposition of self-discipline by religion, that is that the members of the religion “need to accommodate constraints, controls, and boundaries” (Johnstone 33). In Islam, there are strict dietary laws in that they must consume halal meats, avoid pork, blood, alcohol/intoxicating substances, among other things. There are also clothing laws to abide by. The hijab is used to cover the women’s hair and body; only the face and hands are revealed. It must be loose and dark …show more content…
Through these elements they are strengthened in their relations and may achieve a sense of solidarity. The elements of Islam that fulfill this function include the daily prayer positioned towards the Mecca. This provides a time for individuals to take out of their day and think about Allah and help them focus n what’s important – moving them away from the distractions of their daily lives. Prayer every Friday at the mosque is another example of its cohesive function being carried out. As the members of the mosque gather, they are able to bond and strengthen their relationships with each other and with …show more content…
The dilemma of mixed motivations concerns those who work to get into power and take advantage of it. They are no longer concerned with the true meaning of the religion and are focused on the power. The chances of this occurring increase when more individuals are brought into a group. Symbolic dilemma also occurs with increasing group size because there are different actions that lose their meaning as increasing/new members join a religion. Through time, followers of a religion become removed from the symbolic actions that are a part of their religion. Over time the act of praying the rosary or kneeling before the altar is done out of habit. In this way, it is removed from the reverent act that it once was because they don’t have the same connection to these actions as those before them. Ultimately, these symbolic actions lose their meanings and are almost irrelevant when not performed out of faith. The dilemma of delimitation is also important because it is hard for individuals to grasp ideals that are either intangible or archaic. Examples include old stories within the bible that are no longer applicable due to changes in societal norms or dynamics between people. Often, it’s hard to understand these ideals because they are not relatable. Lastly, a very