like after the application of Kantian theory of Religion? This religion could not call itself “Christian” because they do not worship a Christ of Faith. Nor could they be called “Jesusists” because they are not following the teachings of Jesus the historical figure. What a Kantian “religion” would look like today is related closely to what we call the “New Age” faith. Although New Age best describes what Kant would accept as a pure religion, a Kantian religion would be comprised of a group of extremely…
Taylor Lauer 11/23/14 Evolution of Religion’s Purpose Politically Religion was a strong source of stability in the world historically. First with the God-Kings of the ancient world, Gilgamesh up to and including the Roman Cult, religion was used to gain unquestioning loyalty from the believers. This changed a little from god-incarnate to we humans have received God’s grace and glory, so you should listen to us. Kings were now human, and merely ruled through the grace of God. Kings were the major…
If we look at the evolution of how religion is defined and the various theories in which it can be studied through sociology, it gives us insight as to how religion is still relevant in the modern world. Émile Durkheim (1858-1917) the French sociologist, defined religion as "a unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things, that is to say, things set apart and forbidden -- beliefs and practices which unite into one single moral community called a Church, all those who adhere to…
Rudolf Otto describes religion as numinous. The numinous is describes as the power or being of divinity. Rudolf Otto defined it himself as “non-rational, non-sensory experience or feeling whose primary and immediate object is outside the self”. Rudolf Otto refined his theory into three distinctive segments; numinous mysterium, numinous tremendum, and numinous fascian. The numinous mysterium is the wholly other. OR something that is entirely different from the ordinary things we experience in life…
An Investigation into Durkheim’s Sociological Theories of Religion and how they relate to the Supernatural. “By this [the supernatural] is understood all sorts of things which surpass the limits of our knowledge; the supernatural is the world of the mysterious, of the unknowable, of the un-understandable” This is the definition basis of this discussion and using this, the idea and belief of the supernatural can be explored using Durkheim’s theory. Emile Durkheim’s Functionalist view lead to the…
There are plenty of theories about emotions, and their purpose in our lives. Modern society tends to suggest that emotions lack purpose and derail us from our path in life. When we experience negative emotions, friends and family may tell us to "suck it up" and to "get over it", as if experiencing these emotions are at best pointless and at worst detrimental. Even positive emotions sometimes are prey to this idea. For example, many say that love makes us blind and that ignorance is bliss. However…
Religion is an important aspect of most societies because each country’s religious practices influence ethics, human dealings, social customs, and the ways in which members of a society relate to each other and to outsiders, as well as workplace behavior. Religion is becoming an increasingly polarizing issue in the workplace, forcing managers to balance the respective interests of employees, coworkers, and patrons of establishments. The annual debate about whether an evergreen is an appropriate public…
segregated and discriminated against for their ethnicity. Have individual characteristics really melted to one uniform culture that describes all Americans? The following examines the strengths and weaknesses of the melting pot theory by looking at intermarriages, religion, and assimilation process of different ethnic groups to see if America is truly a “melting pot”. One of the first indicators that amalgamation occurs within the US is the increasing rate of interracial marriages “In 2010, approximately…
Agrarian Magic: 20 Theories on the Origin of Religion Religion is a species-specific human universal phenomenon, complex, full of paradoxes, and found in all cultures. Social scientists and anthropologists since the late 17th century have attempted to rationally answer questions about religion, and while we can't evaluate the veracity of religion’s claims, we can attempt to understand its functions. The methods of comparative religion, comparative mythology, with interdisciplinary analysis…
these life altering questions. Some search for answers by way of spiritual beliefs and practices. Others would look for scientifically supported theories. Which is better? The choice is yours. There are many different religions and scientific theories about who we are and where we come from; though they are different in many ways there are times when religion and science coincide. Since the beginning of time and civilization humans have searched for the answers to questions regarding the origin of humans…