Religion as a Group Phenomenon Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Religion as a Group Phenomenon - Essay Example So religion, in a sense, is depended upon certain social relation. Religion is a group phenomenon, which has grounds on sacredness. Religion is a sacred phenomenon followed by a group of people, unlike sect. Religion is a group phenomenon which comprises more than two persons who have constructed a certain pattern of sacred interaction. This group has common goals and is directed by shared norms and every member has a particular role to play, which functions collectively to form a religious system. The people in a religion share the same beliefs, values, norms, perspectives, technique and means to achieve their goals. 2. What is the church-sect theory? Church-sect theory is one of the significant middle-range theories that the sociology of religion can contribute to. Although the words â€Å"church† and â€Å"sect† are more mentioned by church historians, the real credit for its exploration can be offered to Max Weber. The church-sect theory has been greatly helpful in understanding the development of many twentieth century sects developed, including charismatic and Pentecostal groups. When defining the church-sect theory, it can be said that church is a religious group which embraces the social environment in which it exists. On the other hand, a sect denounces the social environment in which it is existent. Church is organization which has ancient investment and a complex infrastructure. As these churches mature, they become more centralized and tend to form a hierarchical administration that depends on professionals such as educated ministers and administrators who are specialized and theologians to supervise the religious activities. Although the term â€Å"sect† has played a role in both sociology and political arena at the hands of many theorists and sociologists, its primary connection has been with church sect. 3. How does one become religious? So far one of the best ways to turn religious is to be raised by a religious family. To b e born in a religious family is a safe way to become religious and also allows the fundamentalists and sects to remain in a confined boundary. However, many a times children are forced to follow a particular religion because their parents have chosen to have one. Until one individual is of mature age and has the capacity to think for oneself, his prospects of being religious are in a dwindling stage. Once people become adult, they have the understanding and right to choose whichever religion appeals to them. However, it may be rather difficult to convert a person who is not vulnerable in nature. The people normally become religious when they are convinced by the principles and laws of a particular religious .The conversion of religion in a person is changeable according to the personality of such person. When one individual identifies oneself with the ideology and principles of a religion, he gets convinced with the religion and gets involved with it. Being religious is only possibl e if one person has conditioning attitude as people who are obstinate hardly get influenced by the ideas and principles of a particular religion. 4. Why is there religious conflict? In order to perceive the religious conflict, one must primarily understand that every person has unique personality, experience and religious experience. When these complex personalities belonging to various geographic setting interact to evolve by religious standards, then they bring out different religion experience with social expressions. This feature of human beings is inevitable and this aspect is reflected in all the social relationships he is involved with. Since

Who Cares About Writing Anyway Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Who Cares About Writing Anyway - Essay Example is about the self, including the individual and the collective inside the â€Å"I.† I would like to think that people, however, should think more about what, why, and how they write, because writing renders significant power that should not be diluted by constantly writing about personal and superficial strifes alone. Freedom of speech is a responsibility that is too important to be wasted on empty status updates that do not, at least sometimes, mean something more to people as human beings and as communities. This paper argues that people should care about writing, because whoever writes well can re-tell the past, appreciate and affect the present, and re-define the future. History spawns power; whoever writes and re-tells it, owns it and the future. Benjamin Franklin has written his autobiography that some praise, some criticize, or some just feel nothing for. But he knows the power of the written word. The written word can be the basis for the said word too. The written word can bring meaning and lessons that can impact the way people think and act. Lawrence undermines Franklins moral values in â€Å"On Ben Franklins Virtues,† but he does so through writing too. He wants to document his own views, because he knows that writing will re-tell the past the way he wants it to be told. He wants the past to not be interpreted and spread by a white man alone. He wants his own viewpoint as a â€Å"dark forest† (367). I want to stress that writing consists of expressing how people want others to see themselves as individuals and as part of their people/s too. Indeed, each race has its individuals. Lawrence is an individual and Franklin is too; th ey belong to their â€Å"groups,† whether these groups intersect or not. They can clash in their arguments of virtues and write about it, because that is part of shaping who they are. At the same time, they want to influence others, whether they are in the same racial community or not, so that they can make sense of their past as