Elementary Forms of the Religious Life

According to Emile Durkheim, religious beliefs and rituals are real and reflect the societies in which they exist. I agree that religion plays such a role that penetrates the nature of society. But looking to another perspective, religion can be a very delicate and powerful instrument that when used in a negative way would lead to an undesirable issue.

Religious faith can be a dangerous instrument that could destroy and as well as construct the social integration. The church serves as a refuge and sanctuary in times of troubles, but when a crime has been committed it is also used by people as a refuge. The impact of religious beliefs have great impact on society. It used by other forces to control as well as to hypnotize people. It had been evident during the Spanish colonization. Spain used the church as a unit of social control. Rules and regulations are being imposed inside the church. The church and government had been combined into one. It had been a clever idea that until now it has been innate to our society.

The experiences that we encounter inside the church leads us to a belief that such reverence to the church should be given.

If we will follow what Durkheim stated, religious beliefs and rituals reflect the societies which they exist. In the Philippines, where roman catholic is the dominant religion has been a country dominated by poverty, corruption, and lots of human rights violation, is it the religion that is responsible for the country’s backlash economy? Or is because people doesn’t believe about the reality and significance of their religious rituals?

The answer to the question is difficult. Even the ministers of this church couldn’t figure out the nearest or possible answer as they continue to ask the same question. Comparing it to Islamic countries, most of them are in good condition in terms of economy.

Its definitely true that religion has been used as an instrument to bind people to the society and as well as to ensure social integration, but the abuse of the power given to the church gave rise to questions. The acceptance of religion shall be a question of how people exercise their rituals.

For me, I truly believe that religion affects the society where it exists. Whatever the society manifests goes back to the religion where you belong. For example, people think that the Moslems are rebellious. Their beliefs accompany them along the way. They act or somewhat act this way because its within their cultural norms.

What a society manifests is affected by the beliefs that their church have. Their rituals and norms are usually imposed within the religion. The validity of the premise of its total existence and reality is within one’s perception.