Social institution:

Religion
Annabelle Lee
Sociology 1

What is religion?

Religion is a social institution that brings

every individual in a group together
through sharing a same belief and rituals.
People seek peace and salvation through
their belief; also, religion limit their
behavior, set moral rules for the followers.

Religion over the world

Christianity
Christianity is the belief of
Jesus Christ, and is developed
from Judaism. It teaches
people the meaning of life
through the book, Bible. In
the late 20th century, most
Christians are in the west,
but now Christianity had
become the major religion of
the world and in America.

Formed

33 CE

Origin

Palestine

Followers

2,100,000,000

Deity

God (Trinity)

Sacred
Texts

Bible

Headquart
ers

None

Islam
Islam is the belief of Allah, it
started in the seventh century
by Muhammad. Islam teaches
Qur'an, Islam's holy book to its
followers, Muslims. They
believe that they can enter
paradise by following Five
Pillars, which is different from
Christianity who believe they
have to earn the forgiveness
from the God in order to enter

HINDUISM
Hinduism is known as the
oldest religion in the world.
Hinduism believes in million
of gods, Hindus believe that
every creature or things have
spirits and there are gods
who can protect and guide
them in everyday life.
Although Hinduism has over
million of gods, Brahma is the
only one god above them all.

Buddhism
Buddhism is the belief of
Buddha, also known as
Siddhattha Gotama, who was
born as a price in a small
country. At age 29, he leaves
his family to study the
meaning of life. In the rest of
his life he taught Dhamma to
everyone, no mater who they
are.

Impact of religion
on society
Positive

Negative

Keep the society more unite

when the majority believes in
the same religion.

Religion gives people an idea

that whoever believe in god
can go to heaven; whoever
doesnt go to hell.

Religion gives people moral

values and limitation on their
behaviors, which keep the
society peaceful and
organize.

People in different religion

may go against each other.

Impact of religion
on individuals
Positive

Negative

Strength the family, make

family members become
more united.

Individuals may do some

inappropriate behaviors
because of their religion.

Keep you healthy, mentally

and physically.

The intense religious person

may have a negative effect
on others.

Keep individuals away from

the social problems, such as
drug abuse, crime and
violence.

People are afraid of hell and

evil power.

functionalist perspective of
religion

Functionalists focus on how to keep the

society stable and function, and what is
needed in order to maintain the balance.
Functionalist perspective of religion
emphasis how religion fulfills the basic
needs of the society.

Conflict theory of religion

Conflict theory focus on the inequality and

injustice of the society. Conflict theorists
believe that religion brings the inequality
and conflict to the society. Religion makes
people satisfied with their status and do
not want to change it.

Citation
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