What is the role of religion in the life of each individual person and society as a whole - a question that many philosophers reflect on, starting from ancient times to the present day. How do religious beliefs change over time? Or do they remain unchanged?
Do the achievements of scientists, the benefits of civilization, changes in lifestyle, occupations and people's needs affect religious beliefs? How does it feel to be a believer today? All these and many other questions arise not only among philosophers or students, but also among those who want to understand whether there is still room for faith in God in the modern world or not.
What is religion?
Religion is a combination of views, worldview, sensations, based on an absolute belief in something supernatural. In addition to certain emotional manifestations and ways of thinking, it includes social, managerial functions, and is also an integral part of people's culture.
Due to the versatility of this phenomenon, religion has several definitions. The main ones are:
- a form of social consciousness based on a combination of beliefs, views that arose due to faith in one and the same supernatural power;
- the option of organizing relationships between people, characterized by its own rules, traditions, ethical standards and other signs inherent in society;
- spiritual essence is a special type of a person’s vision of himself, his own personality and the value of life, the world around him, everyday life and other things.
It is impossible to give a precise and unambiguous definition of such a phenomenon as religion. It directly depends on which particular aspect is being considered.
Can religion be classified?
Religious views, no doubt, relate to a particular religion of a person. However, regardless of the nuances that are given to this phenomenon by a particular religion, there is a general division into two large types.
According to this division, each religion can belong to two types:
- objective general;
- personal.
The subjective, personal type is the individual religious views of a person, his direct perception of God. That is, this type refers to everything that relates to personal thoughts and feelings associated with religion. For example, how exactly a person prefers to pray, to which saints he addresses, goes to a large temple or a small one - these are elements of a manifestation of religiosity related to the subjective type. Of course, the fact that a particular person thinks about God, the degree of his faith, and so on, which relates to thinking, is also included in the concept of a subjective type of religiosity.
The objective, or general type, includes all those characteristics that relate to religion as an institution, a social and cultural phenomenon. That is, this type includes the formation of social consciousness, traditions, standards of morality and behavior adopted in society, and much more. Everything that unites people is common to them, can be included in the objective type of religiosity.
What does the word mean? How and where did it appear?
Religion is a word about the origin and exact meaning of which they argued in ancient times. For example, Cicero believed that the term "religio" was formed from one of the Latin verbs, namely from "relegere".
The word "religio" is translated into Russian as follows:
- subject of worship, worship;
- piety, belief;
- piety.
One of the meanings of this term is also shamefulness, due to the traditions and ideas of the professed faith.
The relegere verb has the following meaning:
- "collect again";
- "reconnect";
- "bind";
- "especially eat".
It is impossible to accurately translate this word, an analogue in the Russian language, with all its wealth, does not exist. The most accurate meaning in the context of religion is considered to be “to associate with the Higher,” that is, to belong to any cult.
We shared the point of view of Cicero Lactantius and Augustine, interpreting religion as a relationship of man with God. In other words, lights defined the meaning of the term “religion” as a connection or reunion, a fusion of man and God.
In Sanskrit, the related term is dharma. Its value can be expressed as follows:
- order of the universe;
- doctrine of higher;
- the law of being;
- sample, standard of lifestyle.
In Islamic cultures, the term “din” corresponds to religion. Its main semantic difference is that the main meaning is “submission”. It is about subjecting a person to the will of God.
Every language or culture has a term similar to the word religion. Of course, there are differences in the subtleties and nuances of meanings, but the general meaning is the same.
In Russian, the term “religion” has been used only since the 18th century. Prior to this, their own Slavic expressions were used, for example, the word "faith".
What is the role of religion in life?
The role of religion in the life of man and society is diverse, its functions are literally related to all areas. Religion influences how each individual and society as a whole act in certain circumstances.
For example, faced with theft or violence, a Christian will act differently than a Muslim. At the same time, neither one nor the other will begin to think about their actions, they will act intuitively. Thus, one of the roles of religion in people's lives is the formation of mentality, characteristics, stereotypes of perception and behavior.
Another example of how religious ideas affect people and public consciousness is the traditional norms regarding appearance, behavior and lifestyle, family and everyday life. And often they exist in parallel with a completely different perception of reality. For example, divorce is still a terrible disaster for Catholics and is not approved by the church. The same applies to this phenomenon in Orthodoxy. Along with this, in the secular relationships of people, this is an absolutely normal event that does not become a disgrace or a stigma. Developing the topic of marriage, it should be noted that in different faiths, the relationships between people are not the same. Mormons believe in Christ, but polygamy is practiced in their society. Catholicism requires people to choose a single partner and be faithful to him.
Thus, religion dictates what is considered normal in society. This is its role. Modern realities, on the other hand, do not change the fundamental foundation of social consciousness, ethics, and the norms adopted in society, but only supplement and correct it.
On the example of family organization, this is clearly visible. Christianity considers building a relationship with one partner the norm. And secular marriage registration in countries with Christian cultures is also carried out with one person. After all, it is impossible, for example, in Moscow or London to register an official family alliance with several partners at once. However, modern realities, in which the person has much more opportunities, rights and freedoms than in ancient times, allow the possibility of an official change of partner, that is, a divorce.
But the main thesis of the norm of building a family, embedded in the mentality of a person by religion, does not change from this. At the same time, family relations with several partners are not formally built. Since the family is a cell of society and a miniature reflection of everything that is accepted in it, then, based on this example, conclusions can be drawn regarding other processes characteristic of society.
Thus, the role of religion in the life of society and individuals can be defined as fundamental, shaping norms, traditions, rules and mentality, influencing behavior, thinking, culture and relationships.
What are the functions of religion?
Religious views of a person form his behavior, attitude to the surrounding reality, perception of reality.
We can distinguish the following main functions of religion for society:
- regulatory;
- legitimizing;
- world outlook.
Each of these functions has specific features that depend on which religious teachings form their basis.
About worldview function
The formation of a worldview is one of the most important social functions of religion. Various religious teachings in this context are nothing more than the primary system of human values, which take the form of unconditional reactions.
In other words, this is a meaningful component of thinking, that is, a combination of views and stereotypes through which a person perceives objective reality. They form the traditions, rules and norms that characterize a particular society.
About the legitimizing function
The meaning of this term is the legality, legitimacy of something. In practice, this concept is expressed in restrictions on specific actions, actions and even thoughts. An example of the restriction of thought can be medieval religious education and other persecutions of scientific activity.
In the modern world, this function is reduced to the observance of religious commandments, which underlie the criminal law of any state. Most of them are described in the books of the New Testament and other sacred ancient texts. These are the prohibitions on murder, theft, adultery, profligacy and other similar acts.
About the regulatory function
In the context of this function, religion is perceived as an orientational, normative system that gives integrity to society.
In other words, religious relations become the foundation of secular relations in all spheres and areas of human activity. They regulate even spheres far from spirituality, for example, a typical diet. In countries with Muslim culture, it is impossible to find pork dishes in the menu of restaurants or cafes. Beef salad is not served in catering establishments in India.
That is, the regulatory function of religion lies in generally accepted standards, guidelines that each member of society follows.
What are religious centers?
This concept has several meanings. As a rule, it means a direct place in which religious rituals are performed, that is, sanctuaries, temples, cathedrals, mosques and so on.
However, the concept of “religious centers” has other meanings. These are governing bodies, administrative entities that regulate spiritual work, determine its goals and actually lead church activity. An example of this is the Vatican, the religious center of Catholicism.
Also, this term refers to certain places in the world that are traditional for pilgrimage. For example, the monasteries of Athos or Jerusalem are places that many Christians seek to see.
What is the significance of religious views and ideas in the life of modern man?
Despite the fact that religiosity is not the main feature of most modern people, they experience and demonstrate their influence almost constantly.
In the modern world, religiosity, religious beliefs about the world order, and views on the relationship between people are a stabilizing factor that gives solidity and meaning to everything that happens around.