What social functions does religion (briefly)

The religious component of the life of human society is always more or less directly related to social processes. To determine the nature of this influence, it is necessary to find out what social functions are performed by religion.

The role of religion in society

Religious traditions affect the individual and society in many ways. The nature of this impact is not constant and varies from place to place and over time. However, in any case, it determines the results of such an impact that researchers define as the social functions of religion. The latter means the whole range of consequences of religious influence, taking place in a variety of historical conditions.

Degree of influence of religion on the life of society

The place of religious teachings in the life of society is a variable. For example, in the Middle Ages, religiosity permeated all civil institutions, having a direct impact on secular institutions: administrative apparatus, military institutions, professional associations, the sphere of art, etc. Today, the Western world is much more secularized, therefore, analyzing what social functions religion performs in the society today, we must proceed from the fact that religion has been ousted from many spheres of life. This is true for the developed countries of the so-called first world, but not for the states of Africa or, say, the Middle East, where religious values still play a primary role in organizing the life of society.

The Marxist theory of the social functions of religion

At the moment, sociology, like religious studies, does not have a certain standard of criteria, with which one can approach the study of what social functions are performed by religion. For example, according to a sociological theory oriented toward the authority of Karl Marx, the role of religion is assessed in connection with its influence on the progress of society. In other words, the short answer to the question of what social functions is performed by religion depends on assessing its obstacle or promoting public progress. As is well known, Marx himself compared this function in his contemporary world with opium. But at the same time he (like Friedrich Engels) recognized the enormous creative role of early Christianity and Protestantism, which, in his opinion, allowed social life to be brought to a new level, higher from the point of view of the progress of social relations.

Thus, Marxist sociology speaks of the two main functions of religion - revolutionary and reactionary.

Social functions of religion by Erich Fromm

A prominent philosopher and sociologist from America, Erich Fromm, proposed a different system of criteria for determining the functions of religion. Investigating what social functions the religion does, he identifies two of them, which, in his opinion, are common to all religious teachings of the world - humanistic and authoritarian.

The humanistic function of religion

Fromm's humanistic function makes it dependent on such a religious system that emphasizes the value of human existence in itself. As a consequence, such a religion stimulates the internal growth of the individual and society. In general, this function contributes to the development of intellectual, cognitive, ethical and other resources of the individual and society. As a natural consequence of her consistent accomplishment, Fromm saw a society in which the ideas of the unity of the world, nature and humanity predominate. In the list of such religions from Fromm turn out to be the teachings of the Buddha (early), Christianity, and a number of other religious doctrines, for example Taoism.

The authoritarian function of religion

But in order to fully understand what social functions are performed by religion, it is briefly necessary to touch upon the second role marked by Fromm, which is called authoritarian. Its nature is based on the doctrinal assertion of a higher power, in comparison with which man is recognized as the beginning of the weak and helpless. In contrast to the humanistic type of religiosity, where the focus is on the person and his development, authoritarian religiosity puts on the person and the society as a whole the burden of worship, groveling before the deity. All the best such religion attributes to God, and all the base qualities to man, thus robbing the creative, intellectual and moral potential of mankind. In a society formed by such a religion, a feeling of fear, guilt is cultivated. Joy and freedom acquire in it shades of sinfulness, and obedience is declared the main virtue.

A vivid example of this kind of religion in the world is Islam, and for modern Russia, the Russian Orthodox Church, the Russian Orthodox Church, whose mainstream of spiritual culture proclaims the principle of "obedience above fasting and prayer," is a vivid example of the authoritarian cult and actually declares repentance as the main business of faith.

On the other hand, it is important to note that Fromm religions do not divide strictly into two camps. All without exception, cults carry the potential for manifesting both humanistic and authoritarian functions. It is the nature of specific historical conditions that determines what social functions are performed by religion. The same Buddhism, like Christianity, at different stages of its development, under different conditions, performed both humanistic and authoritarian roles.

Other Functions

Along with, so to speak, the global functions of religion, designated by Marx and Fromm, you can specify more specific, local. Among them, the first will be the function of satisfying purely spiritual needs - the need for faith, mystical experiences, etc. The second function is ethical. It allows you to regulate the ethical standards of human society by asserting them with your authority and stopping their violation.

Another function is associated with spiritual and emotional anesthesia. Religious faith gives hope and encouragement in the situation of misfortune and sorrow - as an individual and society as a whole. In conclusion, one can also note the ideological function - religion plays the role of ideological bonds of the society, developing patriotic and other moods of the population.