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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
This 3 page paper explores the theories of Marx, Durkheim and Weber as it examines religion in society. For the most part, a functional perspective is taken. Bibliography lists 2 sources.
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3 pages (~225 words per page)
File: RT13_SA350sor.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
also serve as a function in society. Marx saw it as the opiate of the people, meaning that they desired it almost like a drug. In truth, people do cling
to religion in one sense as something that they can hang onto and in fact, some see religion as harmful and that it essentially becomes a drug. Of course, one
must separate God from religion. Mainstream religions for example embrace doctrine and the leaders of these religions project not only ideas, but dictums. The rules become all encompassing. In sociology,
different theorists have had different takes on religion. Durkheim, under his functionalist perspective, saw religion as being attached to both positive and negative cults and for example, prohibitions would
be considered negative ("Durkheim," 2003). The positive aspect was when people experienced many positive emotions from a group service for example (2003). One can see that people experience positive and
negative things from religion, but while that is the case, people do not look at religion as a function, but rather as something that is more important. Of course, sociologists
can see that religion does serve a function and whether or not one believes in a higher power, the perspective does have merit. Indeed, religion is used to control the
masses to some extent and people use religion for functional reasons. It helps them to cope with life. Marx in "The German Ideology" and "The Communist Manifesto"
does make some definite points about the relative importance of ideas for social and historical development, which is in contrast to material conditions and material interests. He has made
a great deal of points about religion and its ability to mystify reality. Calling it the opiate of the people, Karl Marx has noted that religion is something detrimental
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