Emile Durkheim was one of the earliest sociologists
to study religion in a systematic way. What seemed
to impress him was that religion was universal in
human society. He wanted to know why this was so.
His answer was that religion had a vital function in
maintaining the social system as a whole.

Durkheim believed that the origins of religion were
social, not supernatural. He pointed out that,
whatever their source, the rituals enacted in any
religion enhance the solidarity of the community
as well as its faith.

Religious rituals such as baptism, bar mitzvah, weddings,
Sabbath services, Christian mass, and funerals. Rituals
like these serve to bring people together; to remind
them of their common group membership; to re-affirm
their traditional values; to maintain prohibitions and
taboos, to offer comfort in times of crisis, and, in
general, to help transmit the cultural heritage from
one generation to the next.

In fact, Durkheim argued, shared religious beliefs and
the rituals that go with them are so important that
every society needs a religion, or at least some belief
system that serves the same functions.

The cause of much of the social disorder in modern
societies he contended, is that "the old gods are growing
old and are already dead, and others are not yet born".

In other words people no longer believe deeply in
traditional religion, but they have found no satisfying
substitute. Lacking commitment to a shared belief system,
people tend to pursue their private interests without
regard for their fellows.

I've known a few people who all of their lives did not follow
a set religion yet on their death beds they asked for a
priest. Which still goes to show - that you're not going to
hedge your bets on your death bed - so to speak.

Foxy,

In relation to what Durkheim was studying, perhaps it helps to remember that, as someone said, explanation is where the mind finds rest. That might give an indication as to why some people get very upset when their explanations, what they take for granted, are questioned. Well, pretty much all of us actually :)

Love,

Joe

Hi Joe,

I think it's important to talk things out. Talking is
important because some of our ideas may need modification -
based on what we learn, while other ideas may get re-inforced.
And we may even realize some of our presuppositions were flat
out wrong. We need better answers, more convincing facts.
More passion.

Conversation is key - hopefully that's how we learn and
grow.

Dear Contributors,

I posted the first entry in this thread but went to the hospital before there were any responses. I had hoped the discussion would be on faith. Unfortunately some of the posters expressed the view that their brand of mumbo jumbo is somehow superior to other people's brand of mumbo jumbo. Apparently the mumbo jumbo most people follow is that of their parents. It is probably wise to accept one's parent's mumbo jumbo. I would have had far fewer arguments with my parents had I just accepted their religion. Of course, arguments with my parents probably contributed greatly to my development. If you can argue with those you love, you can argue with anybody.

I don't think Christianity is the worst religion. It has done the most harm because it is the biggest. If Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism or Judaism had been the biggest one of them would probably have done the most damage.

I questioned and am still questioning. Some answers are to be found in philosophy. One philosophical observation is that most things are beyond our control. What we can control is our feelings and beliefs about the things that happen.

Dear David F.,

I hope that you are well.

Welcome back.

We go from moment to moment worried about one thing
or another. Sometimes these worries manifest
themselves into highly stressful situations -
not only mental issues but physical problems as well.
I find that having faith is the pathway to solutions.

My faith has gotten me through some difficult times.
Faith is the core of a persistent heart, of never
giving up just because you've found some set backs.
My parents taught me that. So I think that having
faith is important. Our strength comes from faith -
whether its faith in God or in something else.

It's easy to allow stress, anxiety, and fear to ruin our
lives. Having faith - gives us the strength to keep
going.

david f,

you suggest that Christianity has done the MOST damage.
I vehemently disagree.
I in fact found that the Muslim and Jewish "religion", to be evil and overbearing and anything but, what "I" would call or even consider a religion.
My understanding about the purpose or function of a religion, (faith), is that it is a welcoming and inclusive, loving entity, but with certain rules of conduct.
For the Muslims and the Jews, (to name but two), they promote a doctrine of almost military subservience, and total dominance of the people.
The kind of words and attitude of someone who lacks compassion, love, respect, and inclusivity of the very people they seek to attract or appeal to.
Although it's not unusual, for women to stay with partners who beat them up and are forever putting them down, so I suppose being part of a CULT with similar ideologies must come naturally.
If that is the case, then I say let them be and make sure that we don't get infected with their vile, degenerate, anti-social, secular and narrow minded preaching/grooming.
Before anyone even thinks about accusing me of being anything but truthful, look up the appropriate disgraceful so called "holy books" of these cults, and all will be revealed.
I didn't make this stuff up, they did, I'm just relating it.
Anyone who considers these evil self centered animals beliefs as religions is seriously twisted and must have issues themselves.