Classical Authors on Role of Religion on Contemporary Society

It is clear that the theories of the classical theorists had a big influence on the sociology of religion. Despite the fact that none of them could be classified as being very religious, Durkheim, Weber, and Marx were all intrigued by the force that religion may claim. Each contributor acknowledged the influences that religion has had on modern society. Marx contends that maintaining the status quo through religious beliefs is essential. Karl Marx consequently proposed that religion is bad for society, especially for the working poor who view it as a way to apply logical rigor. He therefore observes religion as an oppressive force and can be seen as a sigh of an oppressed culture. Marx is for instance renowned for his view that religion is the opium of the masses.

On the other hand, Émile Durkheim has a completely different from the postulates of Marx. Durkheim acknowledges the belief that there is no false religion and all of them answer to the human experience in various ways. As such Durkheim believes that all religious beliefs fit some societal needs and can be observed to emerge from some specific cause in the society in which they are applied. Since religion is largely something that is eminently social, the religious representations are largely used to represent collective realities. Similarly Max Weber also theorized that religion that is based on the cultural needs of humanity contributes significantly to human development as well as adding new dimensions to human life. For instance, Weber suggested that the protestant institution contributed to the economic development of the Protestants as he described in his book, “Protestant Ethics and the Spirit of Capitalism”.

A Society Without Religion

The question as to whether a society can exist without a religion is likely to generate debates from individuals given the belief that humans are naturally religious. Furthermore, the contemporary society is noted to have many structures based around religion. According to Marx a society without religion is possible and efforts should be made to abolish religion to lead to the real happiness of the people as compared to the illusory happiness that is associated with the religious beliefs. Marx therefore imagined without religion as that in which humans are free from illusions and hence ending what is referred to as human self-estrangement in which humanity is freed to know its true self. According to Marx a society without religion is possible in which people can live in total freedom and rationality. On the other hand, Durkheim believes that religion is part of life in a society. The works of Weber emphasize the necessity of religion in the society. Weber focused on understanding how religion interacts with the social aspects of human life. Weber outlines the importance of religion as noted in the essence that the motivation to the pursuit of the salvation becomes part of human motivation. Since religion is useful in defining human motivation, Weber believes that the aspect contributed to the development of the modern capitalism.

Social Inequality as a Recurrent Theme

Social stratification that leads to the creation of classes in a society is perceived differently by classical authors. Karl Marx perceives social inequality in terms of the ownership of material possessions and the control of wealth by individuals in the society. The control of wealth is further manifested in the ideological perceptions. Critiques of Marx however argue that the Marxism theory of inequality is simple and does not take into consideration the various types of stratification. While Marx primarily attached the comprehension of the phenomenon to the economic disparities only Weber argues that social inequality is a complex concept that comprises of status, class and party. Despite the differences in the definition of the class stratification both Weber and Marx attach an economic dimension as an importance of social inequality. Weber theorized that the inequalities arising from status concern the manner in which individuals relate with one another in the society while class entails the disparities that are associated with the marketplace and in the workings of capitalism. The Weber’s party social inequality is embedded in the politics.

Effect of Social Inequality on Individual Lives and Impact on the Society at Large

Social inequalities have direct effect on the lives of individuals and hence have significant impact on the society at large. The classes in which people belong affect the opportunities to which they have access. The wealthy and well educated people individuals are for instance expected to have access to better healthcare services as well as other social amenities. Impact on the larger society is observed in the sense that the individuals at the higher social classes are more likely to grow distant away from the lower categories as the people with more wealth and power will tend to live in different neighborhoods as compared to the poorer groups. The implication of the inequality on the society at large is demonstrated by Marx as leading to the class struggles.

Inequality as a Problem and Possible Solutions

The classicism authors perceived social inequalities brought about by the existence of classes in the societies to possible sources of problems. Weber for instance theorizes that the differences in the social classes are likely to lead to conflicts in a society. The class struggles are seen to be problematic by Marx who indicates that the conflict arising between the classes especially in a capitalistic society. Capitalism creates social inequality since there is inequality between the working class (proletarians) and the capitalists (bourgeois). Due to the capitalistic economic arrangement, Karl Marx foresaw that the gap between the poor and the rich will widen due to factors such as the unfair distribution of profits and the competing interests of the two groups that are observed as the major elements of capitalism. The social inequality is further recognized as responsible for the increased opportunities to the individuals in the higher class while the lower class will continue struggling to obtain the basic requirements in their lives.

Other possible problems caused by inequality are noted in the works of Karl Polanyi who points out to an overextended market as a possible area of exploitation of individuals especially by the people in power. Polanyi can thus be noted as building on the Marxism perception of the capitalism as exploitative to the members of the society. The author therefore associates the inequality with the marketization and commodification of the factors of production and hence leading to the exploitation of some members of the society. Polanyi emphasizes the destructive character of commodification: “To allow the market mechanism to be sole director of the fate of human beings and their natural environment indeed, even of the amount and use of purchasing power, would result in the demolition of society” (Polanyi GT: 76).

Both Marx and Weber suggested that the human development was progressing in a manner that was not suitable especially due to the growing dissimilarities due to the effect of capitalism. Marx for instance proposed the elimination of capitalistic economic system that he proposed communism as the most appropriate system that will eliminate inequalities. The Marxist communism is supported in the works Frederick Engels who proposes socialism as a means of eliminating class antagonism that are elements of social inequalities.