Sociology- Seung Won Lee(이승원)

What functions religion may have?

 

 In class, we learned answers from different aspects to this question. One was the functionalist theory’s aspect and the other was conflict theory’s aspect. I think both are right but to be more specific I think there is difference of importance between the functionalist’s theory and the conflict theory depending on the era. At the past, it was easy for the ruling class to make people believe in religion. It is because back then science was not developed, so people tended to believe blindly to religions. Ruling class was able to use people’s belief in religion to make governing easier. Believing religion, subjects of the country could not think of disobedience to the rulers. So at the past the function of religion is more close to the conflict theory. However, with historical issues like the civil revolution and the development of science, the mass became smart and active. People started to question about religion and the unequal social structure. It became much harder to make people obey using religion. So the religion today mostly functions as a relaxation for individuals, like the functionalist’s theory.

 

 

Can you think of other examples in how religion can be used to control people?

 

Religion controls people who believe in it from the most trial thing to the whole life of the person. The trial things are like praying before eating. Sometimes I get caught by people suggesting to believe in their religion. This can be one example of religion controlling people. Other large controls can be found in institution like IS.