The Evolving Role of Education and Religion in Shaping Society

Abstract

Perspectives on Social Change in Social Institutions: Past, Present, and Future Holder. Student’s Name Institution Affiliation Instructor’s Name ABSTRACT Social change is how human interaction and relationships transform social institutions over time. Education and religion are profound social institutions that have transformed and profoundly impacted society. Society is responsive to change, and no society has ever remained the same. This paper will focus on two social institutions including education and religion and their function in meeting the needs of society and individuals. The various social forces contributed to intended and unintended consequences of change adversely affecting society. TOPIC STATEMENT Every social institution plays a significant role in society and determines the lives of every individual that inhabits it. Education and religion are two social institutions that interact and influence each other in everyday society. They influence each other both positively and negatively in an attempt to fulfill the needs of society. INTRODUCTION Education is a social institution that provides individuals in society with basic knowledge, learning skills, and cultural orientations of various groups. Early childhood manifests families offering informal processes of education. Education preserves culture and transmits it to the future generation. Through education, children learn about past occurrences and can integrate them with the present and future. Religion is a universal institution found in every society in one form or another. It represents the beliefs and practices that serve the needs of society. Religion plays a significant role in society such as providing purpose and meaning to life, control of social behavior, reinforcing social unity, and enhancing the well-being of humanity. Adherence to religious institutions preserves marriages, reduces abuse, restrains addiction and substance abuse by rebuking it, and enhances family and raising well-mannered children. The history of Religion is diverse and multidisciplinary. Religion has presented historical shifts before and since the 1980s (De Grot & Morgan, 2013). It has influenced social identity formation and future practices. Education has relatively changed due to the various social forces, and the future expects an alarming change in the education systems. Social institutions are centered on basic social needs. Religion and education are social institutions that have undergone major social transformations in contemporary society and will shape the future. According to (Delanty, 2021), future social societies are unvaried, uncertain, and contested. The question comes with imagining the future of education and religion. The future requires a clearer perspective on the past and present social struggles to deduce the likely transformations. RESEARCH FINDINGS The Social institution of Religion. Sociologists value religion as an important religious artifact used by society to define the meaning of life. Religion affects individuals’ life choices the impending real-life situations. There are various forms of the world’s largest religions, including; Hinduism, Judaism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism, and various characteristics of religion that make it distinct. The most obvious characteristic of most religions is the belief in supernatural beings. It is the most fundamental aspect of most religions. Religions are social and communal, and almost all religious institutions have a basic moral code attributed to their teachings. Religion gives stipulations on how people should behave and treat others. There exists a form of communication in almost every religion. Prayer is a common form of communication, and there is no single way of communication. They all have a common desire to reach out and out to their supernatural beings. When religious people come to places of worship, their sacred objects, and during the practice of the sacred rituals, they generate religious feelings attributed to divinity and their supernatural beings. Emile Durkheim, Karl Marx, and Weber’s View on Religion and Social Change Durkheim attributed religion to unified systems of beliefs and practices conforming to sacred assertions that converge in one moral community called a church. This sociologist defined religion in terms of societal impact. His assertions confirmed the analogy that religion binds people together, creating cohesion and a community. Religion enhances social order in society by enacting common values. People have different ways of expressing their spirituality, either by confession, giving, meditation, or worship. Religion is characterized by the various beliefs, values, and practices, and each individual adheres to what they consider spiritually appropriate and sacred. Karl Marx believed that religion is a tool used by the capitalists in society to marginalize the vulnerable and the poor. He added that religion perpetuates social inequality. Max Weber believed that religion and capitalist societies overturned the precipitator of social change the anti-materialist Christian values in the traditional setting. Weber used an example of the Catholics’ and Protestants’ work ethics to explain the analogy of social change. The Catholics emphasized community achievement while the protestants believed in individual hard work and achievements. The protestant ethic advocated for hard work and that is what earned them material gain. Wealth was seen as a sign of God’s favor; hence everyone had to work hard to change their social status. The Protestants had a spirit of capitalism which triggered them to opt out of the traditional values. The social institution of Education. Education has brought social change both to the individual and the community at large. It has effectively transformed the traditional approach toward economic and social problems for the past and present generations. Education is considered an instrument for social change. It enhances industrialization, which brings about social change in society. It also preserves cultural traditions ad transmits them from one generation to another. Various aspirations, attitudes, and values are transmitted to children through education. Education Perspective by Victor Rios, TED TALK Victor Rios focuses his energy on children with difficult upbringings such as poverty, stigma, and social exclusion. The talk is a tale of concern for young kids and the difficulties the education system often ignores. Victor Rios was a victim of incarceration and a difficult childhood, but a teacher made him believe in himself and focus on his life. Victor Rios argues that the notion that children from violent families and cultures of poverty are prone to truancy and trauma can be justified by providing solutions for these children. Victor Rios satisfies the analogy that when you teach to the heart, the mind follows. Valuing what children bring to school about their families and experiences is an essential tool in shaping their lives. Intersection Between Education and Religion. Most often, education has a positive correlation with Religion. Religion is an eminent factor that is in the public sphere. There has been a power struggle in school administration on how to provide religious equality. Islamic culture, Christianity, and various forms of religion have been incorporated into various educational institutions. This is evident through workshops and prayer meetings upheld by schools and universities. The 9/11 terrorist attack has since made Islam a hot topic of discussion in various institutions, but education set forth to educate the public on the distinct religion from terrorism. The Cross-Cultural Variation between Education and Religion Education and religion both teach cultural norms and beliefs. However, variations exist, compromising their relations. Many human rights advocates, as well as more “moderate” voices within the same religious groups as those claiming FoRB, argue that such human rights violations or discrimination against women are not mandated by religion but rather; are a cultural practice (Abdula, 2018). Various communities and countries have different cultures, which create variabilities in education and religious institutions. Cross-cultural issues affect educational attainment and religious beliefs. Some cultures embrace collectivistic beliefs and norms while others are individualistic. Giving an example of the United States and China, Christianity is individualistic while Buddhism is collectivistic. Religion and education institutions differ, which negatively correlates with religion. Individuals with no religion are most likely to advance in education compared to those of specific religions. The social Forces of Change and their effects There are various social forces of change, including; population growth, technology, natural environment, and social conflict. The social forces influence the functioning of the various social institutions, and they include; Population Growth The growth from old to modern societies is determined by population growth eminent in society. The reason behind social change and more children going to school are the modern classrooms, the increased number of teachers and other staff. The population increase is a stepping stone for industrialization, modernization, and societal progress. It impacts society in a natural and unplanned way. Technology Technology alters many aspects of society. Giving an example of the invention of the car, we realize that it led to many technological interventions in many countries. It fueled the development of infrastructure, including the development of roads and highways, accidents increased, and people started living far away from their families and workplaces, showing a tremendous effect on individuals in society. The...