Unit 3 religion

Name of student

Institution

Tutor: Lisa Gavans

Introduction

Religion refers to the specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices that are agreed by a group of people in the society, while interactionism is a sociological perspective that generalizes fundamentals of every form of social interactions. According to Schaefer and Lamm (2000), interactionism focuses on the very small group-acts in order to understand the whole society.Interactionists study people’s daily behaviors and its reactions towards the surrounding environment. Surroundings may include actions, people, symbols, and material things.Feminism is associated with some disadvantages which include the exploitation and oppression of women in society. For many years, feminists have created awareness in respect to gender role perspective, in society. Important issues relating to feminine social roles and masculinity are raised without reflecting on biological differences. Religion plays an important role in society by promoting stability in social interaction, and social integration.

According to Daryl (2011), interactionists perspective view human beings as symbols of certain interactions. Daryl argues that human beings have the potential to think, and shape social interaction.They learn symbols and meanings through social interaction. In addition, they alter or modify meanings of some symbols they use in interactions to suite certain norms and values of their society. Therefore, socialization is one of the ways people or individuals understand the use of symbols or meanings.Interactionists also views religion as something that shapes social interaction in the society. Many religious groups have certain symbols that people attach meaning to it. For example, interactionist may view a wedding ring as a financial expense but religious people may view it as a symbol of never ending love.

According William (2007) interactionist sociologists do not have a common line of argument regarding religion and change in social interaction society. However, some view religion as a sacred canopy that gives meaning to the world and helps in explaining questions, in terms of a larger purpose of a society. The view of interactionist is that, the more religions help to make sense of the world the more they promote or contribute to the inhibition of change in an individual social interaction

Polytheistic religions had both goddesses and gods while monotheistic religions in the society had one god, which is almost exclusively male. A feminist sees that within the public sphere, men always occupy important positions, women are excluded, and public pronouncements always made by men. In the private spheres still like homes, women normally do most of the religious work like socialization of children into some values and religious norms of a society. Liberal feminists in society are optimistic feminists who see education to be necessary to move the society to a greater equality. This applies to such churches as, the Church of England and, other denominations that have the clergy as a woman. Nevertheless, in some churches such as the Roman Catholicism there is no gender progress. Women are discriminated in certain church opportunities such as to be a bishops or a priest. The term, false consciousness, by Marxist describes the proletariat unawareness of its class position in a society where religion serves to justify oppression of women on a basis that suffering on earth has a reward after one dies. This has led to the interpretation of it as a false consciousness in the society. Here women are discriminated and oppressed into a false gender position described by the radical feminist writer Simon de Beauvoir as second sex (William, 2007). Radical feminist also argue that all religions are patriarchal, serving in the oppression of women in a way that benefits men (William, 2007).

According to William (2007), family is the key source of oppression of women according to feminists. Such feminist as Sylvia Walby noted, religion embraces the idea that legitimizes and justifies the roles of traditional beliefs in a family (Laura and Scott, 2009). Women had no chance to rise up the hierarchy and gain roles such as priest and bishop. In certain religions, women bodies are polluting in the sense that they promote menstruation and promiscuity. In addition, Marxist feminist shares the Marxist idea of religion as a significant force that inhibits social change, and acts in promoting false consciousness.Marxist feminists show marginalization of women in society, and argue that women experience poverty as compared to men (Laura and Scott, 2009). They recognize how religion can act as a compensator for women discrimination, oppression and offersolace redemption for being a person, particularly as servants for their husbands in the world. Religion acts as a compensator amongst women for exploitation workers. Marxist feminists argue that it is just merely at the level of false consciousness.

According to Brown (2006), many feminists adopt the view that, religion is parallel to Marxist phenomenon of false consciousness. They position that women should be tolerant and passive of their inferior position, in return for a reward after life. One of the Egyptian feminist Saadawi (Brown 2006) describes how female circumcision serves the interest of men. Saadawi argues that men enjoy sexual intercourse while women’s sexual pleasure is limited. However, she blames the misinterpretation of the Koran for the practice rather the Islamic religion itself.

Increasing scientific authority and rationality, increasesthe strengths of fundamentalism, as evidence of continuous influence on religious ideas .Fundamentalists gained prominence by spreading globalization. To them, the world seems increasingly morally bankrupt and uncertain. Meanwhile Bruce in his defense of secularization thesis (2002) argued that, fundamentalism is a response by some people to spread western values and norms in a globalized society that lacks moral integrity. He argued that fundamentalism is deeply rooted in traditional principles to attempt and reclaim the past and redress a balance in society. It is not clear, though, whether there is displacement of religion by science in society.

According to Nick and Brown (2006) religion and science are competing in a society while secularization supports the growth of influence of science in a society. Globalization believes in the idea of postmodern society, while fundamentalism supports continued influence of religion. The growth of fundamentalism challenges Marxist ideas on religion and change. Fundamentalism is all aboutkeeping values and traditions constant but they can also be forces for radical change to return traditions and values of holytexts.Islamic fundamentalist challenges the western norms and values and seeks to reverse the changes that have transpired. To some point,fundamentalists are prepared to engage in global terrorism. Certain groups such as Muslim brotherhood were active in the Arab spring revolution that happened in 2011.This is one of the examples that tries to challenge the Marxist idea of religion inhibits change in society (Nick & Brown, 2006)

According to SteveBruce pre-modern times churches were powerful and a significant portion of the population were active members .But since Martin Luther broke away from the Roman catholic church in the year 1517 competing Christian institutions have been on the rise. Steve Bruce sees religious pluralism as an evidence of secularization since most churches can no longer give a definitive truth or single religious voice. This is to remind people that their values and beliefs are personal preference or choice (Nick & Brown, 2006).

In conclusion interactionist views interaction as something that human beings have an influence over it since most people attach meanings to certain interactions in society.Moreso to religion whereby certain symbols are attached some meanings to signify a certain thing. While feminist perspective views the inequality based on gender as the central point to interaction and behavior

Reference

Schaefe, R.T., & Lamm, R.P. 2000. Sociology. New York: The McGraw Hill companies Inc.

Daryl,B.2011.Symbolic interactionism and feminism.New York:Mcgraw hill companies inc.

William.K.2007.Sociology in a changing world.Amazon: Cengage learning Inc.

Laura, D. & Scott, A. 2009.Sociological theory in the classical era.Amazon: Pineforges press.

Brown, D. & Nick, F. 2006 .Surfing, and social theory. Experience embodiment and narrative

of the dream guide. Amazon: Taylor and Francis us