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Why religion? [View all]
From the article:
The structural-functional approach to religion has its roots in Emile Durkheim’s work on religion. Durkheim argued that religion is, in a sense, the celebration and even (self-) worship of human society. Given this approach, Durkheim proposed that religion has three major functions in society: it provides social cohesion to help maintain social solidarity through shared rituals and beliefs, social control to enforce religious-based morals and norms to help maintain conformity and control in society, and it offers meaning and purpose to answer any existential questions.
To read more:
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-sociology/chapter/the-functionalist-perspective-on-religion/
I was first introduced to Durkheim in a theology course at University. One part of reading in theology is to examine the why of things.
Why do humans self-organize into tribes, groups, nations, and other groups?
Religion, like every other aspect of tribalism, has the function of furnishing a group identity. And, like all human organizations, hat group identity can and does lead to positive and negative behaviors.
So when I read a comment in the vein of: "if only we could eradicate religion", I wonder exactly what the commenter feels is the point that is being made.
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Associating for common goals, identity and purpose are fine; however, doing so on the basis of fairy
LongtimeAZDem
Jan 2019
#1
His reputation among sociologists will not suffer too much from your opinion.
guillaumeb
Jan 2019
#7
Tribalism doesn't necessarily mean there is an "us" and an "other" and a need for dominance
marylandblue
Jan 2019
#9
You mentioned primates, there are different types of primate groups and interactions
marylandblue
Jan 2019
#11
It comes down to two ways of looking at what makes society work. Do we need myths to hold us
Nitram
Jan 2019
#12
STILL waiting for evidence that someone here has said "if only we could eradicate religion".
trotsky
Jan 2019
#42
Requires ... letting go of institutions that demand loyalty for the sake of belonging
muriel_volestrangler
Jan 2019
#48
national identity is not based on supernatural promises (or threats)
muriel_volestrangler
Jan 2019
#50