Sociological Approach to the Study of Religion Free Essays

Outline and assess one of the main approaches to the study of religions. Religion and ‘The Study of Religions’ has many approaches which try to investigate the core of what religion is and what it means to the people who practice it. Sociology is one such approach that this essay will be looking at through its founding fathers Emile Durkheim, Max Weber and Karl Marx. We will write a custom essay sample on Sociological Approach to the Study of Religion or any similar topic only for you Order Now Sociology in general looks at people’s dynamics and explains a group’s influence. It demonstrates how religious belief and practices have become so important over time and emphasises their role and significance throughout. Each of these three sociologists has a link to these ideas which will be the main thesis in this essay. Emile Durkheim looks at religion from a functionalist perspective in the sense that he assumes that religion has a positive role in society, as it acts as an important socialisation process for all members. The theory is largely based on the Arunta tribe in Australia, where he discovered objects worshipped which he calls ‘totems. ’ These totems according to him were an important factor in the society; seeing that the objects became a symbol of the group’s identity and unity. These objects he claims are â€Å"collective representation† (Fish, Jonathan S. 2005: 30) as they have reinforced the importance of integration into the community via the worshipped objects. The worshipped object have an emotional significance to them as the â€Å"totems serve as evocative device for reminding individuals of their initial feelings long after the assemblies† (Fish, Jonathan S. 2005:51) therefore evidently it becomes more about the idea and symbolism of the object rather than the object itself that unites all. Thus making the idea of rituals of greater significance as it generally binds people together which for Durkheim is always a positive thing. On the other hand, Durkheim does not offer a real explanation on why some deviate from such society’s e. g. Islamic fundamentalists such as the Taliban. Perhaps his theory generally works on a tribal base rather than bigger societies, where conflicts and divides are more common; in a smaller community less people are likely to go against the status quo. Moreover, to say that religion only plays a positive role is absurd. How can one explain the atrocities that occur on the name of religion for instance? For this reason I find Durkheim’s theory limiting as it does not look at all aspects of religion or religious life but merely draws a quick conclusion to it. Also according to this perspective religion instils the same norms and values for everyone, making it a regulatory function in society. Religion for Marx then becomes a form of social control which provides guidelines through religious texts e. g. 10 commandments. These norms which are shared gives people the opportunity to unite to what may be seen as morally incorrect or sinful. This can be vital in a society as it can allow social stability. Durkheim argument is plausible as there has been a significant rise in New Religious Movements. This evidently shows that people still require religion in their life. Moreover, the recent increase on religious fundamentalists can be a point that strengthens Durkheim argument as it can be evidence for people being threatened by a weakening society. Karl Marx similar to Durkheim starts with the assumption that religion is in fact a product of society. Importantly, however, he disagrees with Durkheim as he does not see religion as beneficial for the whole of society but argues it benefits only the ruling class or what he calls the ‘bourgeoisie’. Religion, according to Marx only transmits bourgeoisie ideologies to convince the working class or ‘proletariats’ that inequality is natural and fair phenomena in the world. Making religion as a whole a â€Å"collective smoke-screen† (Connolly, P. 1999:100) as it distorts reality which gives explanation for inequality as being of religious significance i. e. sin. For Marx this is the core idea behind religion making it a tool for oppression and a form of social control. Religion is claimed to be the â€Å"opium of the people† (Hamilton, Malcolm B 2001:81), making it a drug which is used by people as an illusion to hide or cover up the real causes of suffering, which for Marx is primarily capitalism. Capitalism covers up religion and manages to help the bourgeoisie greatly, as it becomes a â€Å"comforting illusion† (Hamilton, Malcolm B 2001:80) as the proletariats do not question the status quo due to their belief in getting a greater reward in the afterlife. Religion itself is used to justify hierarchy in the world, a verse in a hymn such as the following are used, â€Å"the rich man in his castle, the poor man at his gate, god made them. Highly or lowly, and ordered their state†. This stresses Marx’s point that as it’s believed to be sanctioned by God it is unlikely to be challenged by anyone. The Marxists perspective generally makes many valid arguments which society can relate to even today. The idea of caste system is still relevant in many Hindu traditions (although generally frowned upon). Buddhism has the idea of karma meaning if you are a poor person in this life then it’s to do with your own bad karma in the previous life. Therefore Marxism is correct in this aspect, that religion is used in order to justify inequality. Another key piece of evidence for the Marxists perspective is the fact that the Catholic Church is arguably allowing the spread of aids due to its stance against contraception. As a result of this, there is a continuation of social deprivation especially in Africa which further illustrates that religion is generally used to keep social inequality. Marxism disagrees that religion can bring about social change, this, however can be disputed. This is mainly due to the fact religious leaders have challenged the status quo in order to bring about change in their societies. Two main examples being Father Camillo Torres Restrepo and Martin Luther King whose works brought about a vast amount of change to Colombia and America respectively. Evidently this contrasts to the Marxists view as it shows that religion can in fact bring about social change and consequently allow for equality. Personally, I feel that the Marxists view limits human nature as it assumes they will simply follow rather than stand up to injustice. More importantly sociology in general claims to work in an objective and scientific way but I cannot see how it is possible with Marxists ideas such as on the religion being a drug and comforting as these ideas are impossible to measure. Max Weber is regarded as a social action theorist due to his claim that religion can shape and define society. He argues that religion can indeed bring about social change; he bases his argument on a Christian group named the Calvinists whom according to him brought about a form of western capitalism. This form of â€Å"ascetic Protestantism† (Johnstone, Ronald L. 2004:196) allows for the growth of capitalism because of their belief on disciplined hard work which to them emphasised the Glory of God. This â€Å"spirit of capitalism† (Furseth, Inger and Pal Repstad 2006:36) did not allow for the accumulation of wealth but actually encouraged reinvestment back into the society according to Weber. The so called Protestant ethics approach leads him to believe that this led to social change as society turned to mass producing mechanised industries. Another way the Calvinist were able to bring about social change, was thorough the apprehension people had. Calvinists believed in predestination which led to the belief that having a good business or being successful could have indicated that you were one of God’s chosen people. This gives the perception that people were competing over heaven and failure was not an option for people. However, Weber does not limit the growth of capitalism to the Calvinist alone as he is aware of other factors. Weber’s argument must be treated with a degree of caution. Evidence suggests that Protestant nations were not always capitalistic and vice versa. Also many believe that Catholic countries were already flourishing before the breakaway from Catholicism occurred. The study of Religions deal with many wide and opposing issues some of which have been covered in this essay through the works of Durkheim, Marx and Weber. Although, each sociologist does give a good account of explaining the dynamics within a religious group but with each case a very simplistic and generalised view was given by the sociologist about religion. It is plausible to argue that religion brings people together through rituals but is it not a natural thing for people to unite whilst doing something together? In this view then perhaps anything can be said to have religious significance as long as it brings people together. Additionally, the idea of a greater reward in the afterlife is not the only justification given about inequality. In the greater sense inequality within religion can be about anything from the roles of men and women to dress code. Therefore once again this idea has been limited to it being about capitalism. Religion is said to be able to bring about social change which arguably is a factor but for it to be the only thing is for me far fetched. It is an inherent thing for people to fight when they are being wronged. It is about something within rather than it being about religion. How to cite Sociological Approach to the Study of Religion, Essay examples

International Issues in Management Accounting for Paradoxes

Question: Write about theInternational Issues in Management Accounting for Paradoxes. Answer: The perceived differences and advantages of Australian dairy product in China and how this should be reflected in manufacturing of the export product. When it comes to the Australian dairy products, it is famous in China due to its high standard and safety. When it comes to the health and benefit of the toddler, the product that has the highest safety and benefits is chosen that makes the Australian dairy products to rank among the highest. Further, it needs to be noted that the reach and availability of the Australian products are more thereby providing the customer's ample benefits in terms of choice and availability. The difference that can be observed in the Australian dairy product as compared to the China dairy product rests on the quality along with a huge choice. The choice of dairy products of Australia is more as compared to the China products and hence a noticeable difference can be found. It is not only beneficial in term of competition rather provides a strong advantage to the families. With the huge advantage and demand, the supply and manufacture of the dairy products of Australia are on the increase (Gao Knight, 20 10). This has led to a strong supply chain. Further manufacturing of the dairy product and export deems to be a profitable venture for the company. any differences that Deirdre can expect to encounter between Chinese and Western approaches to management accounting; and There is some difference when it comes to the approaches of management accounting between the Chinese and Western countries. When it comes to the Western countries, the amendments and revisions to the policies of accounting do not carry a legally binding power and the formulation is done as per the national legal framework that is given in the cases by Companies Act. Companies Ordinances along with other rules can be applied to industries on an individual basis like the Banking Ordinance for a financial institution and other listed companies. It provides a framework on which the professional bodies of the accounting and other standards rest. When it comes to China, new and improved thoughts to management accounting have always been observed (Balfoort, 2017). The majority of the firms uses joint product costing, as well as budgeting. The adoption rate of the Chinese firms in terms of standard costing is high. The normative and the standard costing have a similarity when it comes to th e matter of adoption. Deirdre wishes to understand how the concepts of guanxi and power distance will impact on her interactions with the current ChinaSouth DairyCo managers who will now become part of the team she supervises. Guanxi will help in gaining an upper hand in the conversation and influence the relationship thereby facilitating business dealings. Hence, the interaction will be aided by the social network and can help in arriving at a proper dealing (Woodbine Scully, 2014). On the other hand, power distance is the perception of the individuals of the management and going by the overall case it can be commented that Deirdre Lynch is carrying high prospect and that the interactions with the manager of China Dairy company will be in good stead and ensure a success. The prospect is beneficial for the population of China and this perception is already indicated to the manager. Australian dairy product can exploit the market and have a major market share owing to its popularity and the choices it provides (Hwang et. al, 2008). Since the customers have a strong reliance on the dairy products, therefore, the export will be beneficial. Hence, the interaction will hold to be good considering the viewpoint s. References Balfoort,F. (2017). Content and Context- 'fair' values in China. Retrieved fromhttps://interact2.csu.edu.au/bbcswebdav/pid-2070874-dt-content-rid-3019771_1/xid- 3019771_1 Gao, B., and Knight, J. (2010). Paradoxes and guanxi dilemmas in emerging ChineseWestern intercultural relationships. Retrieved from https://interact2.csu.edu.au/bbcswebdav/pid-2070873-dt-content-rid-3019770_1/xid-3019770_1 Hwang, D., Staley, Y., and Lan, Y. (2008). Confucian culture and whistle blowing by professional accountants. Retrieved from https://interact2.csu.edu.au/bbcswebdav/pid-2070878-dt-content-rid-3019775_1/xid-3019775_1 Woodbine, F., and Scully, G. (2014). Guanxi - a two-edged sword. Retrieved from https://interact2.csu.edu.au/bbcswebdav/pid-2070877-dt-content-rid-3019774_1/xid-3019774_1

Acquainted with the Night a Story of Night Walks Experience Essay Essay Example

Acquainted with the Night: a Story of Night Walks Experience Essay Essay Robert Frost’s verse form â€Å"Acquainted with the Night† is told from the point of position of an unknown individual. This individual tells a narrative about how he/she has taken legion late dark walks. specifically in the rain. Using tone. enunciation. the rubric. construction imagination. and linguistic communication. Frost writes a verse form about a person’s late dark experiences to associate to similar experiences that a reader may hold encountered. With Frost’s word pick and the rubric he chooses to state this narrative. the verse form comes to exhibit a glooming tone. Immediately after reading the rubric of the verse form. it can be derived that the lines to follow will chronicle some signifier of darkness because the word â€Å"Night† in the rubric is a natural incarnation of darkness itself. To assist back up the glooming tone initiated with the rubric of the verse form. Frost chooses words such as â€Å"rain. † â€Å"down. † â€Å"saddest. â€Å"dropped. † and â€Å"cry† to dwell the organic structure of his verse form. It should besides be noted that the talker in the verse form is invariably distancing himself/herself from life and visible radiation as he/she out walks â€Å"the furthest metropolis visible radiation. † attempts to conceal from the watcher. is â€Å"far off from an interrupted call. † and is â€Å"further still† from the visible radiation of t he Moon. The fact that the talker is unidentified gives more support for the verse forms glooming tone. These elements. the tone. rubric and enunciation used. contribute to Frost’s intent for the verse form because they characterize the dark puting that allows the poet to compose a narrative that is both credible and easy to associate to. We will write a custom essay sample on Acquainted with the Night: a Story of Night Walks Experience Essay specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Acquainted with the Night: a Story of Night Walks Experience Essay specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Acquainted with the Night: a Story of Night Walks Experience Essay specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Frost applies a construction and an facet of imagination to the verse form that allows it flux nicely while separating each separate happening that the talker references as he/she tells the narrative. Frost uses vowel rhyme as he rhymes â€Å"night† with â€Å"light. † â€Å"lane† with â€Å"explain. † â€Å"feet† with â€Å"street. † â€Å"good-bye† with â€Å"sky. † and â€Å"right† with â€Å"night† in an ABA rhyming form for each three line stanza and an AA form for the concluding two line stanza. These terminal rhymes give the verse form beat. The poet besides uses symbolism when speaking about the facets of dark versus visible radiation. Darkness seems to come from the below and visible radiation from above as Frost writes of a â€Å"city light† and a â€Å"luminary visible radiation against the sky† . The darkness in contrast is seen far off from the visible radiations and â€Å"further from the sky† . By using constituents of the actual linguistic communication in the verse form. Frost emphasizes of import points that he wants his audience to take note of to do the scenarios he discusses in the verse form easier to understand. The poet uses the scheme of repeat a figure of times as the words â€Å"I have† get down all three lines of the first stanza. the first two lines of the 2nd stanza. the first line of the 2nd stanza. disappears from the 4th stanza. and reappears in the 5th stanza and the last line of the verse form. Frost does this to foreground that the talker of the verse form is familiar with the dark of the dark. In add-on. the phrase â€Å"acquainted with the night† is. including the rubric. repeated three times in the verse form to underscore the fact the talker is so rather familiar with the scenarios that he/she is depicting. Through tone. enunciation. the rubric. construction. imagination. and linguistic communication. Robert Frost tells the narrative of how and why the talker has become â€Å"acquainted with the night† with the intent of associating what takes topographic point in the verse form to similar ordeals that a reader may hold experienced. The poet makes the tone of the verse form dark and gloomy so that the words the talker says incorporate a more baleful and powerful weight to them. This helps to do the verse form feel like an escapade.

The Bluest Eye- Difficulties within the Marriage essays

The Bluest Eye- Difficulties within the Marriage essays Have you ever known anyone with marriage problems? I fm sure you at least once or twice you have witnessed an argument, maybe even a separation or divorce. The main idea here is that this is all very normal. No marriage is at all easy, and it tends to come packaged with many disagreements and hardships. In the novel The Bluest Eye, Toni Morrison uses the marriage between Pauline and Cholly to symbolize the difficulties a marriage can bring to life. Cholly is a drunk, abusive husband who turns violent almost every time he comes home. Pauline seems to be stuck in the past with her happy love thoughts about when she and Cholly first met. Throughout the book we get a close look at the relationship between Cholly and Pauline and all the difficulties that come with it. It raises some interesting questions as to why they are still together. Throughout the novel, Morrison seems to be saying that while being in a marriage, a person should take the good with the bad and realize th ings change with time. No two people are exactly the same and that right there is enough to cause differences in opinions and attitudes. From the way it sounds, their relationship starts out like any other, there are the many happy times and laughs that they share together. The relationship is new and exciting, and it seems as though the two of them will be perfect for each other. Then they decide to marry and the truth sinks in, this is for the long run. In order to make a marriage successful, two people have to work together to make things run the right way. The excessive drinking and abuse that Cholly shows towards Pauline has a lot to do with his past. His mom left him in a dumpster because she decided she didn ft want him, only to be rescued by his uncle. That fs a lot for someone to carry over his or her shoulders. The idea of knowing that his parents didn ft want him must have been an awful feeling. On the other hand, that should be all...

Development plan for strengthening scholarship and professional life Assignment

Development plan for strengthening scholarship and professional life - Assignment Example A scholarship enables an individual to make educational advancement in improving professional performance within the nursing profession. The personal development plan remains essential in ensuring improvement of both the professional and scholarship lives. Within the professional life as a nurse, the fundamental role remains the provision of nursing care to individuals who require the services. The functions undertaken as a nurse have been fundamental in determining the quality of services offered within the profession. The fundamental requirements in undertaking the various responsibilities include different skills, which are essential in performing various functions. Communication remains a basic requirement within this profession as individuals must communicate in seeking to gather information from individuals being provided with care. Effectiveness of the services delivered in the nursing profession remains highly dependent on effective communication. This enables one to understand the other individuals and the patients receiving care as well. Working relationships with other professional employees also presents a significant impact upon the services delivered within the healthcare sector. Many of the care services are provided by different professional in achieving holistic care. The relationships existing between these professional have fundamental effect in care delivery and establishment of good relationships remains a basic requirement for the ole of a nurse. Knowledge and understanding enables one to effectively manage the various situations which commonly face nurses within the profession. The knowledge is commonly gained from educational training and work experience, as well (Sinclair & Ferguson, 2009). This remains one of the fundamental aspects required in ensuring effective delivery of healthcare services. Continuous improvement of the above aspects remains

Motivation and Concept Table & Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Motivation and Concept Table & Paper - Essay Example Therefore, each employee aims to provide the best service possible in order to reach the goal of guest satisfaction. In the hotel industry, cognitive motivational theory through goal-setting provides the operational framework in which the employees approach their work. In creating a successful atmosphere within a hotel, cognitive motivational theory has a significant use in creating the appropriate structure in which to help motivate the employees of the hotel to excel in their positions. An important part of cognitive motivational theory is goal-setting in which the employee sets standards and goals for themselves in order to meet a standard that is more than satisfactory for their guests. According to Bandura (2007), â€Å"By making self-satisfaction conditional on matching the standard, people give direction to their actions and create self-incentives to persist in their efforts until their performances match their goals† (p. 128). The goals of the hotel staff are to create a satisfactory experience for the guests. In order to do this effectively, setting personal standards and levels of service that is above the standard will create a better experience for the guests and a sense of satisfaction for the employees. Usually, the front desk manages the calls from guests who have requests and complaints. Sometimes a large hotel will have a phone center to field calls, but most often in an average through small size hotel it is the front desk who manages these calls. Job satisfaction through goal setting within cognitive based motivation occurs as an employee is able to achieve excellent service for the guest. The front desk is the front line between the operation of the hotel and the multiple departments that must accomplish their goals and missions in order to create guest satisfaction. One way in which management may reinforce goal-setting motivation will be

Wicca Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Wicca - Research Paper Example Nevertheless, an in-depth look into the nature of Wicca somehow dispels most of the previous negative concepts associated with it. Far from its reputation of destructiveness, Wicca is actually a religion of natural healing and deep spirituality. Due to the absence of higher authority, prophet or Bible in Wicca, it is difficult to specify the basic tenets and principles of the religion. Nevertheless, there remain 13 principles upon which Wiccan belief is based. First, Wiccans feel the need to attune themselves to nature or the â€Å"natural rhythm of life forces† (Robinson, 2010). These forces are usually determined by the movement of the moon. Second, Wiccans recognize the fact that they are stewards of nature and that this responsibility stems from their own intelligence and consciousness. Third, Wiccans believe in the possibility of achieving supernatural power, but would most likely believe that non-Wiccans cannot possess the same thing. Fourth, Wiccans recognize the creati ve power of sex as well as the role of the masculine and feminine polarities in achieving creative power. Fifth, Wiccans recognize the dualistic existence of a world which is both physical and psychological or spiritual. Nevertheless, unlike other religions which focus their attention on the latter, Wicca presupposes the equal purpose of both worlds. Sixth, Wiccans do not recognize any leader or hierarchy of leadership but only those who have shared their wisdom with others. Seventh, Wiccans recognize the unity among religion, magic and wisdom – and they consider this particular worldview as Witchcraft or the Wiccan Way. Eighth, Wiccans recognize that the title â€Å"Witch,† when ascribed to oneself, does not in any way have a negative connotation. Instead, a â€Å"witch† means someone who â€Å"[seeks] to control the forces within himself† in order for him â€Å"to live wisely and without harm to others and in harmony with nature† (Robinson, 2010) . Ninth, Wiccans regard life as a journey towards the continuous development of consciousness. As one’s consciousness develops, his knowledge of the universe also expands. Tenth, Wiccans feel a particular â€Å"animosity† towards Christianity and all other religions that declare themselves to be â€Å"the only way,† for this is tantamount to denying freedom to many other ways of achieving spiritual development. Eleventh, Wiccans basically do not want to dig deep into history and would consider themselves different from the wicked witches of the old. Twelfth, Wicca does not accept the idea of absolute evil but this does not mean that they recognize Satan or the Devil. Wiccans also do not rejoice in the suffering of others and do not advocate greed. Thirteenth and last, Wiccans believe that the secrets to good health and well-being lie within Nature (Robinson, 2010). In addition to the above 13 principles, Wiccans also believe that God, â€Å"The One† or â €Å"The All† is the one force that has created this universe and is still constantly creating it. God for the Wiccans is both male and female, and would regard the various Gods and Goddesses as mere aspects of â€Å"The All,† However, as Wicca is a decentralized religion with no clear higher authority, some Wiccans are pantheists, others are atheists, while some remain as agnostics (Robinson, 2010). Moreover, the Wiccan version of the Golden Rule is â€Å"Do what you want, as long as you harm none† (Cunningham, 2005). Harming none, however, means both not harming others and not harming oneself. Therefore, if one abuses his body and denies it the necessities of life or gives it too much pleasure, then one violates this moral principle (Cunningham, 2005