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]]>Structural functional perspective of religion begins with the work of “Emile Durkheim”. His analysis of religion is mentioned in his theory of “elementary forms of religion”. Emile Durkheim explained three elements of religion in this theory. he insinuated that these elements of religion are shared by adherents every religion these include;
1. Sacred and profane
2. Beliefs ( on supernatural power)
3. Rituals
According to Emile Durkheim, religions have divided human experiences in sacred and profane; sacred are those events which are beyond the understanding and control of human beings. It refers to the things which we regard with feeling of respect and those things from which we fear. On the other hand, profane refers to worldly things and events; which are controlled and manipulated by, people within a society. People have knowledge and are familiar with such events. Secondly, people belief on supreme power, which help them to cope with uncertainties. For instance, the death of the close ones, failure, crises and success. Religion answer many questions which are beyond the intellect of human being to answer like; how the world came in to being? Who is the creator of universe? What is the meaning of life? What is the purpose of life? What is death? And what will happen after death? Thirdly, every religion in this world have rituals. For instance, Muslims celebrate “Eid ul fitar” and “Eid ul “Aza”, Cristians” celebrate Christmas and Easter and Hindus celebrate “Holi and Dewali”.
According to Emile Durkheim, religion plays an important role in the society. If religion was not important, it would not have been universal. There are many functions of religion within a society. Religion is the source for the development of traditions, norms and values. Norms and values guides the behavior of an individual within a society. It teaches the people to differentiate between moral and immoral behavior. Rituals and beliefs of religion, work as support system in the times of need. Participating in religious ritual gives people satisfaction and feeling of belonging. Religion creates a moral, stable and peaceful community.
Karl Marx view about the religion totally differ from Emile Durkheim. According to Karl Marx religion is the opium of the masses. Religion is used by the elite to suppress the poor. The elite, with the help of religion; keep poor focused on the life after death and the perks which will be received by them after death. For the reason that, they could not realize that, they are being oppressed by the elite class. Religion support the poor to believe that, they should endure the hardship, inequality and suppression and not to revolt against oppressor.
Modern conflict theorist believe that, religion is source of conflict between the two groups. Conflict take place in two groups due to sectarianism and fundamentalism. For instance, “Shiite and Sunni” conflict in Middle East and central Asia, Catholic and protestant conflict in Ireland.
Another theory of conflict is dialect, which states that conflict between two groups or ideas can bring social change. The change in the surrounding society may bring change in the religion. Change in the attitude of people towards women compelled Jews to allow women to serve as rabbis.
Weber view on religion is the combination of structural functional and conflict perspective. He was interested in analyzing the function of religion and he was also interested in the correlation of social change and religious change. Max Weber focus was on impact of change in religious ideology on the social change.
Weber believed that, religion is the search of the information and knowledge of the things which is unknown to the mankind. This view of Weber make religion similar to science. Due to religion people get better understanding of the world. It may give the answer which can support the current condition or challenge it. To find the answer of unknown, people often turn towards the charismatic leaders. Charismatic leader are those who possess extraordinary personality traits. These charismatic personalities often becomes the source of social change. Prophet (P B U H) and Christ are the examples of charismatic personalities. However, Weber sees religion as both source of instability and progress (social change).
Weber argued that, due to protestant reforms capitalism came in to being. Protestants believed that, working hard, striving to achieve the objective and rationalism are virtuous behavior. Laziness and indulgence are considered to be vicious or sinful behavior. The Protestants moral values became the values for the capitalism and which brought the progressive social change in society.
Religion create contradiction between two complementary tendencies. Tendency of rejecting the world or tendency of compromising with the world. People who involve in adultery and have different sexual orientation are not accepted by the religious societies. Should religion denounce such people or take their short coming into account? Should those people forsake their worldly possession to become a part of society or should they forsake religion? Such dilemma create conflict between individuals within a society.
Written by; Khushdil Khan Kasi
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]]>According to, Structural functional perspective all parts of society (social institutions, groups and association) work together and make society as whole. Therefore, functionalist view as an important part of society which function contribute in the organization of society. Cultural norms provide a guideline to individual to have to behave within an institution and society, which contribute to the stability and fluid operation of society. Values teaches people what choices should they made in different scenarios, which are within the boundary of social morality. Those choices and decisions should be considered moral and accepted by the members of society. Culture fulfil the needs of members within a society, it contribute in the stability and order of society.
According to conflict perspective social structure of society is inherently based on inequality, those who are powerful and wealthy (upper-class) exploit people, norms, values and institutions for their own benefit and selfish desires. Conflict theorist view culture as a tool for powerful and wealthy people to sustain and maintain the inequalities and differences in the power between social classes within society. Conflict perspective is not only limited to power of wealth but, it also discusses the power which is related to gender, age and race. Such inequalities which are based on gender, class, age and race create conflict in the society between two factions. For instance, businesses promote their products through media, which promote the desired culture of wealthy class. Everyone within a society cannot buy or afford those products and life style which is promoted via media. Businesses and media promote things as, it is the only way to live within a society. Therefore, it creates a gap between the two classes the one who can afford those products and lifestyle and those who cannot afford and bye. Which leads to the conflict between two classes. Women did not have right to vote in early twentieth century which lead to the establishment of different association and organization for the purpose of securing right to vote. This the example of conflict between two factions on the basis of gender.
Interactionist theorist view society as, the product of social interaction. They believe that, culture is created and sustained because of social interaction between the members of society. The way people behave and interact with one another within a society, culture will be the reflection of their actions and how those actions are interpreted. Interactionist believe that, interaction is the continuous processes which drives meaning from objects and actions of others. Actions of people and objects in environment are considered to be symbols, which has meaning. Those meanings are interpreted and communicated through language to others. Interactionist believe that, culture is dynamic because it depends on how the symbols are interpreted and perceived by people with in a society.
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]]>Deviance simplify the cultural norms of society. Which aid the understanding of an individual about good and bad behaviors, in a society. If an individual behavior is deviant in a society other members of society will resent him for his wrong behavior, which will inform other uninformed members that, such behavior is unacceptable in a society. Deviance sets an example for the members of the group that, how an individual ought to behave and how an individual ought not to behave in society.
Deviance specify the moral boundaries in a society. When an individual is caught doing immoral activity, he is punished for his wrong doing in a society. Deviant behavior lead to punishment and resentment of other members in a society. Punishment for a crime sends the message to other members that, if an individual cross the moral boundaries, he will suffer the same fate. Which helps in maintaining social control.
Deviance promote solidarity among the individuals in a society. When members of society witness the deviant behavior, they become unify against the common enemy, which increase the sense of solidarity among the individuals. For example, world trade center 9/11 incident and Pearl Harbor incident unified the US nation against the common enemy of terrorism and resented the incidents with one voice. Due to which culprit suffer a severe punishment in the form of war.
Deviance plays vital role in social change process. Each society evolves with the passage of time, as the time passes individuals resent some old norms which they think are unfair to them, this deviant behavior of denouncing societal norms lead to the social change. For example women’s were not allowed to study and work in early 19th century, women unified together and created organizations to allow them to study and work and give them rights alike men. Such deviance lead to the social change, today every women has a right to seek education and work with men shoulder to shoulder.
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