law religion

1. Religious Institution
Religion refers to a system of belief in some supernatural forces or
God/gods. Though not all religions subscribe to the existence of
supernatural sources as in Buddhism. Religion is universal and as old
as man kind.
Durkheim defines religion as a “unified system of beliefs and
practices relative to sacred things, that is to say, things set apart and
forbidden.”
James G. Frazer says religion concerns a belief in “powers superior
to man which are believed to direct and control the course of nature
and of human life.”
MacIver and Page defined “Religion as we understand the term,
implies a relationship not merely between man and man but also
between man and some higher power”.

2. Religion as a System of Belief
Religious belief is the cognitive aspect of religion. It explains the nature
and origin of sacred things. It gives us information about the universe,
creation of life and death, relationship between the world we live in and
other worldly matters. But the belief rests upon an attitude, not upon
observation. “It is belief based on faith rather than upon evidence; it is
in Biblical language the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of
things not seen”.

3. Religion as a System of Ritual.
Religious ritual is the practical aspect of religion. It refers to symbolic
actions concerning the sacred (M. Douglas). It can include any
behaviour such as wearing of special clothing, recitation of hymns or
special formulas, emersion in water/rivers, singing, dancing, weeping,
bowing, prostrating, crawling, feasting, reading etc. Ritual is the means
to remind the individual of the holy world. Rituals when performed
together becomes an effective unifying factor (Durkheim).

4. The Sacred and the Profane
The terms were conceptualized by Emile Durkheim in his work The
Elementary Forms of Religious Life to differentiate ordinary mundane
objects from things considered holy.
Profane: It refers to mundane ordinary things that are part of our
everyday life. The profane or ordinary or “unholy” includes “those
ideas, persons, practices, and things that are regarded with an everyday
attitude of commonness, utility and familiarity”. It is that which is not
supposed to come into contact with or take precedence over the sacred.
Sacred: The sacred is that which is considered holy and differentiated
from other worldly matters. It demands moral obligation from the
believers and includes God, spirit/ghosts, moral or philosophical
principles, totems, supernatural forces etc.

5. Theories of Origin of Religion
Fetishism: It is considered both as religion and magic. Fetishism also
known as animatism involves ascription of supernatural or mystic power
to inanimate objects for good or evil purposes. It is considered to be the
most primitive form of religion. The person who possesses fetish can
ward off bad luck and will experience good fortunes.
Animism: Animism as propounded by E.B. Tylor is rooted in belief in
the existence of the spirit of the dead. It is the ascription of supernatural
characteristics in animate beings and inanimate objects or things. Tylor
holds that primitive men began to believe in the existence of supra-
physical being or soul/spirit within the body through experiences in
their dreams. Later, the primitive men extended the belief to include
animate beings and inanimate objects as being with spirits. Animism,
according to Tylor, lies at the very basis of religions.

6. Contd.
Totemism: Totemism refers to a system in which a tribe establishes
relation with a totem – an animal or plant or an object whether real or
imaginary, towards which they behave in a reverent manner by adopting
its name and offering sacrifices or adoring it. The totem is a collective
religious symbol having supernatural or mysterious powers for the
group. The totemic symbol sacred and is forbidden to be eaten or
mistreated. Some are of the view that totemism is the basis for the origin
of religion.
The Fear Theory: This theory propounds that the fear of the natural
uncertainties of life gave rise to belief in gods in man kind. David Hume
asserts that as early men could not make sense of the natural physical
forces which often trouble them, they began to ascribe them to gods
who they hoped would eventually intervene to save them.

7. Contd.
The Functional Theory: The functional sociologists try to establish
relationship between society and religion. They try to account for social
origin of religion, mainly recognized for its indispensable role in maintaining
social cohesion and solidarity. Kingsley Davis is of the view that religion
ensures social solidarity as it binds the individuals to group interests/ends by
virtue of sharing “common beliefs through common ritual”. Durkheim says
that religion has no divine origin, it is a social construct. By studying the
totemic system in Australian aborigines, Durkheim shows that totem (with
which tribal clan identify) is not only a sacred symbol but it is a symbol of the
society itself. According to Durkheim, the two basic components of religion
i.e. beliefs and rites which he called collective representations, are products
of the underlying social structures and rites which pertain to the operative part
of the belief system, i.e. various modes of action produced by beliefs. So
when people worship religion, they are really worshipping nothing more than
their own society.

8. Structural and Functional aspects of Religion
Structural Aspects:
• Theologies and Creeds: Religions have their own tenets, doctrines,
beliefs, dogmas, ideas and ideologies, articles of faith, etc. which
basically define the relationship between the believers and God and
the universe.
• Ceremonies and rituals: Every religion has its own rituals and
ceremonies as a way of connecting with the supernatural God.
Sacrifices, sacred music and hymns, drama, dances, prayers, fasting,
feastings, festivals, scripture reading etc. represent various forms of
rituals.
• Symbols system: Religions have symbols which represent an object or
situation. Examples include the crucifix of Christians, the crescent of
Islam, the Swastika of Hinduism and so on.

9. Structural Aspects
• Religious Code: This refers to a body of rules prescribed by a
particular religion to its members. It instructs members what to do and
what not to do.
• Sects: Often religions have several sects within its own fold. A sect is a
body of believers with similar religious attitudes and interests.
• Festivals: Every religion has its own festivals which are observed from
time to time.
• Sacred literature: Religions have their own sacred literature or
scripture which explains its core beliefs.
• Myth: Religions have their own myths which are “statement of reality,
products of a living faith, intimately connected with word and deed.”
• Mysticism: It refers to a habit of religious thought and feeling in which
one tries to establish a direct relation the divine being.

10. Functional Aspect
• Religion provides religious experience: Through prayer, worship and
meditation believers try to connect with the supernatural God and
undergo some sort of peculiar and inexplicable experience.
• Peace of Mind: Religion ensures peace of mind. It provides a
mechanism to console individuals in times of hardship, difficulty,
sorrow and pain. Durkheim, therefore, calls religion as an escape route
for human suffering.
• Religion promotes social solidarity, unity and identity: Religion
contributes to social cohesion and solidarity. It unites the believers and
provides them a sort of group identity.
• Religion conserves the value of life: Religion promotes and inculcates
the values of life among its adherents.

11. Contd.
• As agent of Social control: Religion regulates the conduct of life. It
provides moral principles and guidelines to be followed by its
members.
• Religion promotes welfare: Religion encourages social services and
philanthropy. It teaches one to love, help and embrace another fellow
being. It seeks to promote the well being of human beings.
• Recreation: Religion also provides space for recreation of its members
by arranging festivals, fairs, musical concerts, lectures etc.
• Self-Image: Religion improves one’s self-image. Man considers
himself to be the noblest creation of God with whom he shall be
united.

12. Dysfunctions of Religion
• Religion inhibits protest and social change: Religion teaches man to
be docile, weak and feeble (Karl Marx). It consoles believers to accept
the situation as it is, thereby, discouraging protests which may actually
lead to positive outcomes.
• Hampers the adaptation of society to changed situation: Religious
norms may inhibit society’s adaptation to changing social condition
and environment.
• Religion increases conflict and makes the evolution of realistic
solution more difficult: Religious thoughts may become incompatible
with the existing social values that it muddles even genuine human
issues and rights. Religion always seeks to see its demand as the will
of God, and in that, it may impart extremist view rendering
compromise impossible.

13. Dysfunctions of Religion
• Religion may foster dependence and irresponsibility: Religion often
makes its followers become dependent on religious institutions and
leaders instead of developing in them an ability to assume individual
responsibility and self-direction.
• Conservative and retards progress: Religion upholds traditionalism
and supports status quo. It is not readily amendable to change.
• Promotes evil and inhuman practices: Religion, particularly in its
early course of evolution, has promoted despicable and inhuman
practices such as human sacrifice, untouchability, killing of the aged
etc.
• Contributes to inequalities and exploitation: Religion perpetuates
inequality between the rich and the poor. It is accused as an instrument
to exploit the downtrodden and depressed class. Karl Marx calls
religion “the opium of the masses.” for this reason.

14. Dysfunctions of Religion
• Promotes superstitious beliefs: Religion has promoted superstitious beliefs
and practices causing more harm than good.
• Religion causes division and undermines unity of man kind: Religion draws
lines and boxes between various groups causing disunity and hatred among
different peoples.
• Religion undermines human potentiality: By attributing all social and
natural/physical phenomena to some unknown divine power, religion
renders human helpless and incapable. This retards human creativity.
• Religion hampers scientific advancement: Religion is intrinsically opposed
to the core of scientific principles and enquiry. In effect, important scientific
discoveries have been opposed tooth and nail by religious forces.
• Religion promotes fanaticism: Faith without reasoning is blind. Religion has
often made people become blind to reality.