Why do sociologists study religion? For centuries, humankind has sought to understand and explain the “meaning of life.” Many philosophers believe this contemplation and the desire to understand our place in the universe are what differentiate humankind from other species. Religion, in one form or another, has been found in all human societies since human societies first appeared. Archaeological digs have revealed ancient ritual objects, ceremonial burial sites, and other religious artifacts. Much social conflict and even wars have resulted from religious disputes. To understand a culture, sociologists must study its religion.
What is religion? Pioneer sociologist Émile Durkheim described it with the ethereal statement that it consists of “things that surpass the limits of our knowledge” (1915). He went on to elaborate: Religion is “a unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things, that is to say set apart and forbidden, beliefs and practices which unite into one single moral community, called a church, all those who adhere to them” (1915). Some people associate religion with places of worship (a synagogue or church), others with a practice (confession or meditation), and still others with a concept that guides their daily lives (like dharma or sin). All of these people can agree that religion is a system of beliefs, values, and practices concerning what a person holds sacred or considers to be spiritually significant. (https://opentextbc.ca/introductiontosociology/chapter/chapter-15-religion/)
The following video does a great job at explaining in depth what religion is when we talk about sociology. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIgb-3e8CWA. I think that religion is a big part of society because it plays a huge roll in who we are. You build another family through church and that becomes a new community. For me, some of my oldest friends are people that I met in church. I think that church had a huge impact on my life because I was willing to do anything to respect my parents and our religion and from a very young age, I had a set of rules and morals that I would strive every day to fulfill.
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Sociology Through Heidi's Eyes 