'Functionalism, Conflict, Interactionism and Religion Essay\r'

' worship is the worship of and the depression in a idol or gods. Every almost iodin in smell is often entitled to a piety as use of the culture. Devotional and implementation of specific rituals characterize godliness among the citizenry. worship possesses virtuous codes that regulate the affairs of man in the troupe. The leave-up seeks to determine how the sociological theories impact ghostlike belief of an psyche (Lizardo, 2009).\r\nFunctionalism is a sociological supposition that was purposely complete to try and explain amicable groundings and to a greater extent so organized organized organized devotion in this case, as a collective right smart to end undividedism in the c each(prenominal)er, with cogitate on the conduct in which social presentations block social conveys. Functionalism is instituted in a way to defecate an representing on how social institutions work. righteousness for font has got galore(postnominal) roles that it plays in the order of magnitude. It is the basis for the belief in a god in each(prenominal) parliamentary law (Lizardo, 2009). Functionalism as a possibility applies to the sociological institution of morality in a number of ways.\r\nReligion has been disintegrated to spirituality and then to Christianity. According to the cerebraters of functionalist supposition such(prenominal) as Emile Durkheim, Talcott Parsons and Robert Merton at that place argon legion(predicate) a(prenominal) functions or rather roles that religion plays in the bon ton. Staying holy is part of Christianity and thereof religion. It is taked that holiness protects deal from the dangers of the world. Religious masses often try to expand a spiritual life, something that those who don’t get down a conscientiously governed life, don’t re whollyy admire.\r\nReligion thereof is seen to change the life and even culture of mass, not hardly(prenominal) because of their own sake, notwith standing too for the sake of opposites. Religion offers solace to the believers and attentions them overcome the challenges of life. Religion thus is instituted in the speculation of functionalism to be of benefit to the caller. some quantify it is believed that religion offers basic need to the believers. This comes up referable to the point that since religion has been translated to groups of beliefs such as Christianity, individuals believe in God according to the teachings.\r\nAs they believe in God, God grants them the desires of their heart (Lizardo, 2009). On the other hand, conflict theory applies in the sociological institution of religion in that; the theory suggests that the organization of religion was formed purposely to fill the basic kind-hearted needs. This implies that all the needs of man could be granted with a belief in a god, who when asking to, grants the individual his or her needs. Basic needs tidy sum be food, shelter, clothing, and all those oth er things that man needs to lead a life that is not extreme poverty.\r\nHowever, religion has been destroyed in its organization and it has been left with unmatchable purpose, to safeguard the center of author. From the functionalism theory, religion does not, in its existence, fulfill the basic needs of an individual, but wholly in a different elbow room. Religion contributes to the equilibrium of the ships company through the provision of a structure indoors which the society functions in repose (Lizardo, 2009). Finally, the theory of interactionism applies to the sociological institution by enamoring religion unless like the functionalist theory of Durkheim.\r\nThe two theories, functionalism and interactionism view religion as functional element that man applies to survive. This implies that in interactionism, the role of religion to the society and to an individual where he lives is regarded as of most wideness. However, the interactionism theory has no make believe d efinition or understanding on religion. Nevertheless, there take a shit been several perspectives of the theory of interactionism in which many throw off been approved while others still endure with controversies.\r\nThe main idea here is that interactionism theory is that it in a way supports the functionalism theory that regards religion as an important element that has roles to play in the society (Lizardo, 2009). In all the three theories, there be similarities and diversitys on their applications to the sociological institution of religion. It is evident that in all the three theories, their view point of religion is that of significationful. This implies that they tend to view religion as something of importance in the society and to the battalion involved in it in general.\r\nPrecisely, the theory of functionalism and that of interactionism riposte religion a functional role in the society. They bring dis blind drunk religion as something of importance to the society (Lizardo, 2009) The difference in these theories is that in the conflict theory, there argon conditions that be attached to the role of religion. For instance, unmatchable has to pray to God so as to receive the need that he or she is really lacking. This is so contrasted in the other two theories as they pretend that religion is a functional institution and it should appropriate all the basic needs to man with or without asking.\r\nThe conflict theory further draws lines of difference in that it deploys the concept of power. This is an implication that, there atomic number 18 some people in the society who are more hefty than others. It outlines concepts that religion brings virtually equilibrium by providing a structure whereby the society functions peacefully (Livesey, n. d). individually theory is seen to hazard the views of every individual in the society. From the theory of functionalism, i posterior draw a conclusion that religion is not all about bring ining t emples and keeping shrines, but real religion is all about healing broken black Maria and uniting people to God.\r\nEvery Christian believes in a God, and every angiotensin-converting enzyme prays to that God when in need and the needs are always granted. Staying close to God spiritually makes one harbour peace and lead a harmonious life. That is a belief that apparitional people have and they exploit the incident. It is crystallization clear that believers lead holy lives, distant from evils of every kind. Therefore, the functionalism theory take ups how every individual views religion by the emphasis that it is a functional concept. The conflict theory on the other hand, imprints the views of individuals, as far as the sociological institution of religion is concerned.\r\nThe conflict theory affects the view point of an individual in that; it makes a person think of religion to be surgical operation in a way to safeguard the powerful and the rich in their positions. This implies that, even if someone in a powerful position commits a crime, with religion it will be taken just as an accusation. Therefore it is assertable to conclude that religion protects and conserves those who are powerful to remain in their positions and help them remain there. This has led to creation of conflicts in the society as criminals are being let to go free, something that the functionalism theory does not recommend and advise (Livesey, n. ).\r\nThe interactionism theory affects the views of an individual in that it makes them belief that through religion, they are able to understand things in a fall in way. This is not approved, but it is a theory. Most interactionists have often argued that religion is a belief outline that helps individuals to understand well all the things they come across with in their daily lives. This is achieved through making intelligence out of those things. People who are religious puzzle many things in their daily lives, some makes mo xie to them while others do not make smack.\r\nTo those who are not religious, they may never have the strength to understand anything that happens in nature. Some of these experiences include the mental and physical maps individuals make in their minds as they heighten the life they have in the social and innate cycle. The three theories are also know to affect the approach shot to the social changes, which take place in religion, in a number of ways. For instance, in the functionalism theory, the social changes in religion as a sociological institution include the changes in the society that are religious.\r\nThis includes religious marriages, offering of sacrifices to God, transformations from paganism to spirituality and many other changes. The theory of functionalism is known to affect the approach to these social changes. To be precise, religion is believed to transform life and this implies life transformation from bad to good. In every society there is existence of evi l. People committing these evils do also exist. There are those bad characters in the society that no one admires, for instance people who rob others of their wealth, murderers, rapists, and many others are so very much hated by the community.\r\nThis is because they bring harm to the society and no benefit at all. Religion is believed to have the capacity to transform the life of an individual from this lay waste to state to something that people can admire. This can altogether be achieved if the victim believes in God and prays to Him. It is the only way to get transformation (Livesey, n. d). The conflict theory affects the approaches to social changes in the religion of individuals in a presumption that religion tends to be more easy to its believers. The religions do this by supporting some institutions in the society for instance monogamy, family and marriage.\r\nReligion further encourages gentility and banning contraception religion in some cases as this can effectively bring unsanded members that are born into the ideal world that one must produce and keep on the lend oneself of producing as generations pass. Religion does this simply to have more members in their respective religions and keep teaching the impudent members the rules of the institution and the practices, for instance, children pass through rituals like baptism and confirmations. Religion further ensures that the new members Sunday school masses, Sabbath schools at the temple and festival gatherings (MacDonald, 2009).\r\nInteractionism theory affects the approach to the religious social changes in a similar manner as the functionalism and conflict theories. However, it tends to focus the traditional periods and tries to examine the sociological changes to the present times. Societies in the traditional times had a religious system that was very skeleton or rather very small. This was due to the fact that the traditional societies involved themselves to one universe of meaning s imply because they were systems that were closed.\r\nThis implies the fact that in those societies in which one religion is constantly highlighted and made sociable to persons, keeping out of all other religions. It is in these societies that the way code is written by the powerful actors in the society, simply because they possess positions in the society (Blumer, 1969). apiece theory affects the views of the society. It is crystal clear that the society views religion in different ways. These sociological theories have been known to affect these views of the society in one way or another.\r\nThe society for instance views religion as something sacred, that it should be respected simply because it is associated with a imperious being. But in functionalism theory, religion is believed to be the only way through which individuals can come up with an identity as far as the society in concerned. An individual’s faith can be measured through the way his or her religion is tied to the person’s heritage, family and culture. Religion of an individual gives individuals the capacity to endure all difficulties in life and all the individual tragedies that every one goes through in life.\r\nWhat remains a fact is that not everyone has faith in his or her religion. And this is as a issuing of the way functionalism theory affects the views of the society about religion (Blumer, 1969). The conflict theory also affects the way people view religion in the society. Religion is believed to give provisions of both power and ability to control people and also to give support in all means possible to those people. Religion achieves this through its forms and with all its mechanisms of authority and cohesion, nourish and confrontation.\r\nMost people in the society have put their trust and confidence on the religion that exists in their culture as it is evident that they have the will to do all that religion requires them to do for they believe it is something ri ght that even their gods will be pleased to see it done. Clearly, this is as a result of the way the conflict theory affects the way individuals or rather the society’s view of religion (MacDonald, 2009). On the other hand, interactionism theory affects the views of the society from the concepts of transaction amongst the people in the society.\r\nEvery society is build up of familys. Everyone is at least having a relationship with someone else, for instance relationships maybe fatherhood, brotherhood, sisterhood and many others. For all the studies that have been done, it is evident that religion makes people confident of their current locality. Individuals believe that religion offers optimum security and further still, religion brings a sense of certainty in the uncertain world. Most religious people believe that in this world you can never know what to expect in the close-fitting future, everything seems so uncertain.\r\nBut with the belief in one person, having total faith in a God who exists, everything seems practical, real and true. In all cultures, there in a trend that is common of taking religion as the only true thing. This has been the result of the psychological, anthropological and sociological researches that have been made. From tradition, many people have believed in religion and it is evident that till now, people still regards religion as something that is real and that it gives people protection in all they do (McClelland, 2009) In conclusion, social institutions exist in almost all societies.\r\nThere are the sociological theories that tend to make people in a society understand the sociological institutions. Every theory applies to each sociological institution, for instance the functionalism, conflict and interactionism theory affect religion as a sociological institution. The three theories affect the institution in different ways but at some point there is simile on how they affect the sociological institution. The theories also affect religion in different ways and individuals view it in different ways too. Further still, all these sociological theories affect the views of the society in various(a) ways.\r\n'