Religion exists for society as a whole for various reasons and there are various theories as to why it exists. Some of the most popular theories or explanations as to why religion exists is that we needed a way to explain why we exist. Religion was also need to explain, not only why we exist, but to explain other worldly experiences and the world around us. If we think back to when Homo sapiens first came to be and as intelligence was increasing within Homo sapians there was no explanation for anything to our early ancestors. Science did not exist like it does today, so it would have been easy to say that they were created by an almighty being or a god and their purpose was to serve that god on Earth. Another reason religion may exist
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Not only does it provide humans with a belief system and a way to explain things but it does provide physical things such as health. As said by Martin E. Marty, “religious faith motivated much of the development of institutions of care and the personnel to staff them” (You Get to Teach and Study Religion, pg.2). Religious organizations provide a lot of relief in today’s society. They help underprivileged countries, families, individuals, they also help provide relief for major disasters and among many other things. The fact that they continue to provide the society in helpful ways keeps them relevant in today’s …show more content…
Functionalism is the study of the social functions within religion. This includes the “what religions do, how they work, what social needs those functions fill, and what the religions accomplish” (Weight pg.8). Rational choice theory is the approach that people will weigh the costs and the benefits of choosing such things as religions. Taking a look at what benefits them and what it costs them for that choice. Conflict theory is the view that there are groups or classes that are competing with each other. Symbolic interaction is a theory based on three assumptions; “communication occurs through the creation of shared significant symbols, the self is constructed through communication, and social activity becomes possible through the role-taking process” (Oregon State, Symbolic
Not only does it provide humans with a belief system and a way to explain things but it does provide physical things such as health. As said by Martin E. Marty, “religious faith motivated much of the development of institutions of care and the personnel to staff them” (You Get to Teach and Study Religion, pg.2). Religious organizations provide a lot of relief in today’s society. They help underprivileged countries, families, individuals, they also help provide relief for major disasters and among many other things. The fact that they continue to provide the society in helpful ways keeps them relevant in today’s …show more content…
Functionalism is the study of the social functions within religion. This includes the “what religions do, how they work, what social needs those functions fill, and what the religions accomplish” (Weight pg.8). Rational choice theory is the approach that people will weigh the costs and the benefits of choosing such things as religions. Taking a look at what benefits them and what it costs them for that choice. Conflict theory is the view that there are groups or classes that are competing with each other. Symbolic interaction is a theory based on three assumptions; “communication occurs through the creation of shared significant symbols, the self is constructed through communication, and social activity becomes possible through the role-taking process” (Oregon State, Symbolic