What function does religion play in human society Essay

What function does religion play in human society - Essay Example This paper is going to explore the possible function of religion that plays an active role in human society. Clifford Geertz opens his chapter on Religion as a Cultural System in a book called Anthropological Approaches to the Study of Religion, with a quote by George Santayana which explains the meaning of â€Å"living† and â€Å"healthy† religion as having a â€Å"marked idiosyncrasy† (Banton 1969). There is always a sense of security whenever one hears something about religion. It is like a belonging that one never wants to lose. At the same time, however, one feels apprehensive about it, especially in times of despair and hardship. In order to remain in touch with one’s religion, the American culture, which is said to be very religions, has developed the principle narrative technique, whereby it reflects moral deeds, illuminating the ways of living that have existed ever since a long time (Burton 2000). Hence, each individual of the society carries a narrative of his own, which allows him to embrace life through his own philosophy. Some people might tell a story with no mention of God/gods. They gear themselves for another life, probably after death. For some, religion clashes with medical interventions, which make them, doubt their own existence. They question whether religion will be of any help in these troubled times. A great political leader once said that it does not really matter what religion one follows as long as he is religious. To be religious has many possibilities and limitations. For humans to stay civilized they need to have a sense of moral duty towards their relative community. In a more philosophical speech, religion harmonizes â€Å"human actions† to a visualized â€Å"cosmic order and projects images of cosmic order onto a plane of human experience† (Banton 1969). Religion has a major role to play in human society. Society is