Religion is a belief system based on moral guidelines and helps in social integration. It also serves as a source of material objects and moral guidance. People use religion as a guide for their lives and it establishes a sense of collective conscience. Many people consider religion to be a source of privilege. Some people, however, argue that the First Amendment gives people this right.
Religion is a belief system that helps social integration
Critics of religion see it as a system that perpetuates social inequality. They point to the Vatican’s enormous wealth, while the average Catholic parishioner’s income is pitifully low. Furthermore, religion has often been used to justify and support oppressive monarchies. Today, however, many evangelical churches have changed their beliefs to reflect a more secular outlook, placing a greater emphasis on financial prosperity and personal discipline.
It establishes collective conscience
Collective conscience is the totality of beliefs in a society. According to Emile Durkheim, an act is criminal when it offends the collective conscience. As a result, it is condemned by the public. All crimes are related to this collective consciousness.
It is a source of moral guidance
Moral guidance is an important aspect of religion. Throughout the Hebrew Bible, God’s commands about right and wrong are interwoven with morality. The first chapter of Genesis is a classic example, with God commanding humans and animals to be fruitful and to be in his image.
It is a source of material objects
The material culture of a religion supports its thought-world and felt-life. Though these three elements cannot exist independently, they are inextricably bound. Aesthetics studies this integrated body of experiences. Aesthetics is an important way to study religion.
It is associated with ritual
In religion, rituals are prescribed outward expressions of religious beliefs. Rituals may be associated with ancient divine practices or mythological stories. But they can also be secular and are used across cultures. While many religious traditions practice rituals, the term “ritual” also applies to customary family or cultural practices.
It is a source of violence
It is a polarizing question whether religion is a source of violence or not. While the concept of religion is not the cause of violence, it has the potential to cause it. After all, religion is the most powerful group creator in human history, stronger than nation-states, races, and political ideologies combined. In an age of globalization, religion has become even more powerful than ever. But the relationship between religion and violence is murky, indirect, and real.
