Page 42 - Flipbook: Sociology Shortcuts Issue 3

religion

Whether or not we see ourselves as Religious values are frequently displayed
“religious”, religion plays a significant role in through styles of dress, such as the Muslim
the general socialisation process in many "Hijab" or Sikh turban, something that
societies, particularly in relation to ceremonial indicates both religiosity (a measure of
functions, such as marriages, christenings and people's commitment to religion) and ethnic
funerals. It can also be argued important moral identity. They are also expressed through
values have been strongly influenced by notions of patriarchy and social control.
religious values; many of Christianity’s “10
Commandments”, for example, are reflected in Although, as Steggerda (1993) notes,
legal systems around the world. Christianity promotes concepts of love and
care that are attractive to women and Daly
In terms of moral beliefs, few people would (1973) argues that in a "male-dominated
argue you should be allowed to kill people or world" religions provide women with a sense
that theft is desirable. On the other hand, many of shelter (a "home and haven"), safety in a
of the world's major religions, from threatening world and belonging (a sense of
Christianity to Islam, are frequently personal identity), the price they pay for these
characterised, particularly by feminists, as benefits is submission to patriarchal authority.
promoting patriarchy through both their
general organisation - many religions have an The power of religions to apply positive
exclusively male clergy - and the gender sanctions to believers is evidenced in different
values they promote. Swatos (1998), however, ways:
argues many contemporary religions are
undergoing fundamental changes that make � Hinduism, for example, involves a belief in
them more "female friendly": God, for reincarnation (after death you are reborn into a
example, portrayed as loving and consoling new life) based on how well you observed
rather than as authoritarian and judgemental religious laws in your previous life; the reward
and clergy seen as "helping professionals" for good behaviour in one lifetime is rebirth
rather than ‘representatives of God’s justice’. into a higher social position.

Religious values are, of course, powerful � Notions of sin in Christian religions can also
forces for those who believe and these range be significant features of religious control,
from religion as a "design for living" - one that because the believer is encouraged to live a
provides help and guidance to live a life in life free of sin in the hope of heavenly reward.
accord with god - to religious beliefs and
values as a source of conflict: Negative sanctions on the other hand are many
and varied; Catholicism, for example, has the
� between religions, such as the history of sanction of excommunication (exclusion from
conflict between Christians and Muslims the Church) whereas some forms of Islam
dating back to the 11th century. specify a range of punishments for those who
break Shari‘ah law. Such punishments may
� within the same religion; Northern Ireland, also be applied to "non believers" in theocratic
for example, has experienced major conflicts societies, such as Iran, where government is
between Protestant and Catholic Christians. dominated by religious authorities.

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