Government Gordon College Rawalpindi

Submitted To: Prof. Qudrat Ullah Asghar

Subject code: SOC-101

Submitted by: BS IT 3rd Semester

Name Roll NumberMuhammad Saad Sattar 11051556-015Abdul Wahab 11051556-021Muhammad Ali Mir 11051556-011Raja Farhan Mehboob 11051556-027Arslan Mughal 11051556-024Haseeb Ahmad 11051556-028

Date: 20-Dec-2012

Topics

1. Religion as Institution2. Structures of Religion Sacred Beliefs

Religious Values Rituals Religious Experiences3. Functions of Religions Questions About Ultimate Meanings Religion Provides Mental Piece Guidelines For Everyday Life Religion Promotes Welfare Religious Influences Political System Religion Strengthens Self-confidence4. Important Concepts Related to Religion Profane Secularization Cult Sect Fundamentation Hope

Religion as Institution

Definitions:1. As a social institution, religion is a pattern of

social action organized around the beliefs and practices that people develop to answer questions about the meaning of existence.

2. “Emile Durkheim”. Religion is an integrative force in society because it has the power to

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shape collective beliefs. It provides cohesion in the social order by promoting a sense of belonging and collective consciousness

Structure of Religion

The structure of religion depends on the Sacred, Beliefs, Religious Values, Rituals and Experiences because every religion has its own Beliefs, Religious Values and their own Experiences.

1.Sacred:

Sacred is that which people set apart as extraordinary , inspiring awe and reverence. For example:

Masjid-e-Nabvi is Sacred place. The Data Darbar is Sacred Place. The month of Holy Ramzan is also Considered

as Sacred.

2.Beliefs:

Belief are the statements to which member of a particular religion adhear. A specific statement that people hold to be true. For example:

The Jewish, Christian, and Muslim belief that there is only one God.

God wants us to prostrate ourselves and face Mecca five times each day.

3.Religious values:

Religious values can be considered to be the high moral and ethical values that people of all faith aspire to achieve. All religions teach high moral values. Examples

Islam provides spiritual guidance through the Quran and hadith.

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Judaism provides the Ten Commandments. Christianity adds the teachings of Jesus.

4.Rituals:

Rituals is formal, ceremonial behavior or repetitive practices. That help to unite people into a moral community. Examples are:

Eid-ul-Fitar & Eid-ul-Azha for Muslims. Christmas for Christians. Holy, Basant for Hindus.

5.Religious Experiences:

The term religious experience refers to a sudden awareness of the supernatural or a feeling of coming into contact with God. For example:

St. Francis of Assisi said that he became aware of God’s presence in every living thing.

Functions of Religion

1.Questions About Ultimate Meaning:

Around the world, religions provide answers to perplexing questions about ultimate meanings such as the purpose of life that why people suffer, and the existence of an afterlife. Those answers give followers a sense of purpose, a framework in which to live.

2.Religion provides mental peace:Human life is uncertain. He struggles for his

survival amidst the uncertainties, insecurities and dangers, sometimes he feels helplessness. It is the religion which consoles and encourages him in all such time of crisis. Religion gives right shelter to him. He gets mental peace and emotional support. It encourages him to face his life and problems.

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3.Guidelines for Everyday Life:The teachings of religion are not all

abstractions. They also provide practical guidelines for everyday life. For example, four of the ten commandments delivered by Moses to the Israelites concern God, but the other six contain instructions for getting along with others, from how to avoid problems with parents and neighbors to warnings about lying, stealing, and having affairs.

4.Religion promotes welfare:Religion teaches to the people to serve the

masses and promote their welfare. It gives message that “The service to humanity is service to GOD”. For this reason, people spend money to feed poor and needy. Great religions like Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity etc. put emphasis on aim-giving to the poor and beggars. It developers the philanthropic attitude of the people and thereby injects the idea of mutual help and co-operation. With the influence of religious belief different religious organizations engage themselves in various welfare activities.

5.Religious influences political system:Religion has played a significant role in political

system in the ancient and medical society. Even in modern times in many countries of the world the religion directly and indirectly also influences political activities. During ancient and medieval period, the monarchs were treating themselves as the representatives of the God or ruling the society in the name of God. Even today, Political leaders take oath in the name of God. The political system of the countries of the world like Bhutan, Pakistan, Italy, Germany, England etc. are influenced by religion.

6.Religion Strengthens Self-confidence:

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Religion is an effective means to strengthen self-confidence. There are certain beliefs like 'work is worship', 'duty is divine', 'result in predestined' etc. which is found in various religions gives strength to the individual and promotes self confidence.

Important Concept Related to Religion

1. Profane:

Profane is an ordinary elements of everyday life and the ordinary reality in which material technology can help to determine the outcomes.

2. Secularization:

Secularization is the historical decline in the importance of the supernatural and the sacred. Wilson says that Secularization is the process whereby religious thinking, practises and institutions lose social significance.

3. Cult:

A cult is simply a new or different religion whose teachings and practices put it at odds with the dominant culture and religion. Because the term cult arouses such negative meanings in the public mind, however, some scholars prefer to use the term new religion instead.

4. Sect:Sect is a type of religious organization that

stands apart from the large society. The term is occasionally used in a malicious way to suggest the broken-off group follows a more negative path than the original.

5. Fundamentation: 6

Fundamentation is a conservative religious doctrine that opposes intellectualism and worldly accommodation in favor of restoring traditional, otherworldly religion.

6. Hope:Hope is the emotional state which promotes the

belief in a positive outcome related to events and circumstances in one's life. Hope is the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best or the act of looking forward to something with desire and reasonable confidence" or feeling that something desired may happen.

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