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Religion and Society

The document discusses the role of religion in society. It states that Durkheim viewed religion as representing the distinction between sacred and profane objects in a society and as producing admiration and respect. Sacred symbols must represent something, such as supernatural beings that govern life. While religion relates to social institutions, Marx argued it also justifies inequalities in society by legitimizing the distribution of wealth and power.

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Radha Charpota
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559 views1 page

Religion and Society

The document discusses the role of religion in society. It states that Durkheim viewed religion as representing the distinction between sacred and profane objects in a society and as producing admiration and respect. Sacred symbols must represent something, such as supernatural beings that govern life. While religion relates to social institutions, Marx argued it also justifies inequalities in society by legitimizing the distribution of wealth and power.

Uploaded by

Radha Charpota
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Religion and society

The totality of sentiments and beliefs of the people belonging to the same society forms as
distinct functional system which has its own life, one may call it the collective or common
conscience. To understand the role of religion in society, the relationship between sacred
symbols and what they represent must be established.

Durkhiem does not connect religion basically with the inequalities in the society,
infact it revolves around the nature of the system and institutions of the society He
described that any subject could be approached from a sociological perspective but also
that without sociology, we are likely to misunderstand the social life in a society. He defined
religion as the contrast between sacred and objects and profane objects in which sacred
objects produce admiration as well as respect and disrespect.

Sacred symbols must be symbols, they must represent something. It refers to the
existing supernatural beings that have a governing effect on life. It focuses on the
relationship between religion and the social institutions and this was taken forward by the
founder of structural functionalism , Talcott Parsons. However, religion has a strong
ideological perspective because of which religious beliefs, values and practices often leads
to the justifications for inequalities in the society on the grounds of wealth and power. And
thus what Karl Marx stated that religion has been working as an opiate for the people in the
society.

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