Religion

Religion is a social institution that answers questions and explains the seemingly inexplicable. Religion
provides explanations for why things happen and clarifies the ideas of birth and death. Religions based on the
belief in a single deity are monotheistic. Those that encompass many deities are polytheistic.

Pioneer sociologist Émile Durkheim described it with the unearthly 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. 

Religion can be defined as a social institution involving beliefs and practices based on the sacred. To better
understand this definition, let's also define two other terms: profane and sacred. We define most objects or
experiences as profane, which is an ordinary element of everyday life. Objects, like beds, computers, and
phones, are profane, as are experiences, like going to work or brushing our teeth. Beyond the profane, most of
us also consider some things sacred, which is set apart as extraordinary or holy and worthy of honor. Objects,
like the Bible and the cross, and experiences, like taking communion, are sacred to some people.
The dichotomy between the profane and the sacred is at the heart of religion. However, the objects or
experiences that are considered profane and sacred aren't universal. For example, although most people regard
most books as profane, there are others that certain religions consider sacred: Muslims venerate the Qur'an, and
Christians revere the Holy Bible. Regarding experiences, Muslims remove their shoes before entering a mosque
to avoid defiling a sacred place with shoes that have touched the profane ground outside. Christians do not use
the sacred name of God while cursing, which is actually where the term 'profanity' originated - to profane the
name of God.

Animism is a belief that natural objects are animated by spirits is animism.  The term comes from the Latin
word for soul (anima).  This belief can take diverse forms.  Things in nature may all have within them different
spirits--each rock, tree, and cloud may have its own unique spirit.  Alternatively, all things in nature may be
thought of as having the same spirit.  This latter version of animism was characteristic of many Native
American cultures.  In both forms of animism, the spirits are thought of as having identifiable personalities and
other characteristics such as gender.  A belief in a powerful, mature, protective "mother nature" is an example. 
The spirits may be kind, wicked, or neutral.  They can be lovable, terrifying, or even mischievous.  They can
interact with humans and can be pleased or irritated by human actions.  Therefore, people must be concerned
about them and will try to avoid displeasing them.

Monotheism, belief in the existence of one god, or in the oneness of God. As such, it is distinguished
from polytheism, the belief in the existence of many gods, and from atheism, the belief that there is no god.
Monotheism characterizes the traditions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, and elements of the belief are
discernible in numerous other religions.

Polytheism is the worship of or belief in multiple deities, which are usually assembled into a pantheon of gods
and goddesses, along with their own religions and rituals. Polytheism is a type of theism. Within theism, it
contrasts with monotheism, the belief in a singular God, in most cases transcendent. 

Uniting Traditions
When families attend religious services or put up decorations in honor of a holiday, they are teaching their
children about their religion and how to observe it. By engaging in these activities and traditions, children are
united with others of the same religion around the world. In this way, families teach their own culture as well as
the culture of the society at large.

Major World Religions

Most of the world subscribes to one of the following religions:

 Christianity: The most widespread world religion, Christianity derived from Judaism. It is based on the belief
that Jesus Christ was the son of God and the redeemer of mankind. There are many different Christian
denominations.
 Islam: Followers of Islam are called Muslims. Muslims believe that the true word of God was revealed to the
prophet Muhammad around 570 a.d. God in Islam is the same god as the Christian and Judaic deity.
 Judaism: Judaism is a monotheistic religion that predates Christianity, built on the belief that they are the
“chosen people” of God.
 Hinduism: Hinduism is the oldest major world religion, dominant in India. Hindus do not worship a single
person or deity but rather are guided by a set of ancient cultural beliefs. They believe in the principle of karma,
which is the wisdom or health of one’s eternal soul. Karma can be strengthened with good acts and harmed by
bad acts. Hindus believe that karma plays a role in reincarnation, a cycle of continuous rebirth through which,
ideally, the soul can achieve spiritual perfection. The state of a person’s karma determines in what form he or
she will be reborn.
 Buddhism: Buddhists, most of whom live in Japan, Thailand, Cambodia, and Burma, follow the teachings of
Siddhartha Gautama, a spiritual teacher of the sixth century b.c.e. Buddhism, like Hinduism, does not feature
any single all-powerful deity but teaches that by eschewing materialism, one can transcend the “illusion” of life
and achieve enlightenment.

Types of Religious Groups

Sociologists group religious organizations into three categories: church, sect, and cult.

 A church is a religious group integrated with society. A church is a large, bureaucratically organized religious
organization that is closely integrated into the larger society.
Example: Catholic Church, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism…

 A sect is a religious group that sets itself apart from society as a whole. A sect is a religious group that is a
subset of a religion or denomination. Sects typically share the same beliefs as the religion that is their
foundation but will have marked differences in some areas. A sect is a relatively small religious organization
that is not closely integrated into the larger society and that often conflicts with at least some of its norms and
values. Typically a sect has broken away from a larger denomination in an effort to restore what members of the
sect regard as the original views of the denomination. Because sects are relatively small, they usually lack the
bureaucracy of denominations and ecclesiae and often also lack clergy who have received official training.
Example:

 Sunni Islam: Sunni Islam is the largest Muslim sect, and differs from other groups in the matter of the
prophet Muhammad's successor.
 Shia Islam: Shia Islam believes that Muhammad did appoint a successor, in stark contrast to the Sunnis. 
 Iglesia ni Kristo
 Mormon
 Born Again

 A cult is a religious group that is outside standard cultural norms, typically centered around a charismatic
leader. A cult is a small religious organization that is at great odds with the norms and values of the larger
society. Cults are similar to sects but differ in at least three respects. First, they generally have not broken away
from a larger denomination and instead originate outside the mainstream religious tradition. Second, they are
often secretive and do not evangelize as much. Third, they are at least somewhat more likely than sects to rely
on charismatic leadership based on the extraordinary personal qualities of the cult’s leader.

http://www.sparknotes.com/sociology/social-institutions/section4/
 Theoretical
perspective Major assumptions

Religion serves several functions for society. These include (a) giving meaning and
purpose to life, (b) reinforcing social unity and stability, (c) serving as an agent of social
Functionalism
control of behavior, (d) promoting physical and psychological well-being, and (e)
motivating people to work for positive social change.

Religion reinforces and promotes social inequality and social conflict. It helps convince
Conflict theory the poor to accept their lot in life, and it leads to hostility and violence motivated by
religious differences.

This perspective focuses on the ways in which individuals interpret their religious
Symbolic experiences. It emphasizes that beliefs and practices are not sacred unless people regard
interactionism them as such. Once they are regarded as sacred, they take on special significance and give
meaning to people’s lives.

The Functions of Religion

Much of the work of Émile Durkheim stressed the functions that religion serves for society regardless of how it
is practiced or of what specific religious beliefs a society favors. Durkheim’s insights continue to influence
sociological thinking today on the functions of religion.

First, religion gives meaning and purpose to life. Many things in life are difficult to understand. That was
certainly true, as we have seen, in prehistoric times, but even in today’s highly scientific age, much of life and
death remains a mystery, and religious faith and belief help many people make sense of the things science
cannot tell us.

Second, religion reinforces social unity and stability. This was one of Durkheim’s most important insights.
Religion strengthens social stability in at least two ways. First, it gives people a common set of beliefs and thus
is an important agent of socialization. Second, the communal practice of religion, as in houses of worship,
brings people together physically, facilitates their communication and other social interaction, and thus
strengthens their social bonds.

A third function of religion is related to the one just discussed. Religion is an agent of social control and thus
strengthens social order. Religion teaches people moral behavior and thus helps them learn how to be good
members of society. In the Judeo-Christian tradition, the Ten Commandments are perhaps the most famous set
of rules for moral behavior.

A fourth function of religion is greater psychological and physical well-being. Religious faith and practice can
enhance psychological well-being by being a source of comfort to people in times of distress and by enhancing
their social interaction with others in places of worship. Many studies find that people of all ages, not just the
elderly, are happier and more satisfied with their lives if they are religious. Religiosity also apparently promotes
better physical health, and some studies even find that religious people tend to live longer than those who are
not religious (Moberg, 2008). We return to this function later.

A final function of religion is that it may motivate people to work for positive social change. Religion played a
central role in the development of the Southern civil rights movement a few decades ago. Religious beliefs
motivated Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights activists to risk their lives to desegregate the South.
Black churches in the South also served as settings in which the civil rights movement held meetings, recruited
new members, and raised money (Morris, 1984).
http://open.lib.umn.edu/sociology/chapter/17-3-sociological-perspectives-on-religion/

SEPARATION OF THE CHURCH AND STATE

The Separation of Church and State shall be inviolable.

-Art II. Section 6, 1987 Constitution

No law shall be made respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. The free
exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimination or preference, shall forever
be allowed.

No religious test shall be required for the exercise of political rights.

-Art. III, Section 5, 1987 Constitution

Religious denominations and sects shall not be registered (as a political party, organization or coalition, by the
Comelec)
-Art. IX, C, Section 2(5)

One-half of the seats allocated to the party-list representatives shall be filled, as provided by law, by selection or
election from labor, peasant, urban poor, indigenous cultural communities, women, youth, and such other
sectors as may be provided by law, except the religious sector.
-Art. VI, sec. 5(2).