Religion is a rather diverse but also complicated concept to explain. Some of the reasons why it is so hard to depict it is because every religion has similarities and differences, does not provide an explanation for various phenomena prior to modern science, and does not focus on one specific aspect of life. To clarify the latter, it encapsulates ideals and motivates people to improve themselves. Another complication that defines the complexity of defining religion is related to the lack of differentiation between human and spiritual life. Thus, it creates multiple misconceptions and confusing debates on this multifaceted topic.
Four of the main approaches toward religion involve anthropology, social constructivism, ritualization, and lived practice. The first one reviews its influence on emotions and motivations. The second supports the belief that religion was created to create a set of firm rules in a disordered rule. The third one acknowledges the differences in practices, thus encouraging assessing them in a modern-day context. Finally, the last approach reviews how one practices religion, with their personal circumstances in mind. While both of the Gateway texts briefly review those perspectives, I would like to focus on their view of social constructivism.
In her text “Religion and Culture,” Eliza reviews the definition of religion, how it is practiced in different cultures and how it affects societies. One of the quotes emphasizes the effect religion has on people: “All of these religions teach that people who insist on choosing evil will be punished” (Rosenburg, 4). The second text, Religion, reviews the definition of religion and various practices as well. However, it brings more attention to how religious rules help control conduct in society, stating that there is a “third common characteristic: rules governing behavior” (Henniger-Renner, 5). Thus, one can see how the two authors depict this specific approach, although Sashur provides more detail.
I support Berger’s perspective on religion, as it not only explains one’s need to control delinquent individuals, but provides a perspective on how it motivates people to support morality as well. As he states in the first chapter, “what the religious man is “careful” about is above all the dangerous power inherent in the manifestations of the sacred themselves” (Berger, 34). This provides the context required for understanding the way religion may help society monitor dangerous behavior.
Works Cited
Berger, Peter L. The Sacred Canopy: Elements of a Sociological Theory of Religion. United States, Open Road Media, 2011.
Henniger-Renner, Sashur. Religion.
Rosenburg, Eliza. Religion and Culture.