Religion’s existence in human civilisation is one of the most persistent social phenomena that stimulates sociological analysis, it is intertwined with the fabric of daily social life. Religion appears to have a stabilising effect in society, yet it has also been used to foment hatred and commit crimes against humanity. It has been a primary source of justification for inequality and exploitation. Religion exists as an institution in every community. Sociologists have attempted to comprehend the different meanings that religion provides to humans. Its importance in the organisation of social life is enormous. It appears to assist people in approaching and dealing with life’s crises.

Major religions in India

Given the complexities and diversity of India’s religious traditions, enumerating and narrating them here is difficult. The Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, and other religions and persuasions, including undeclared groups, are identified by the Census of India. 

According to the 2011 Census, the percentages of people belonging to different religious groups are- 

• Hinduism-79.8%
• Muslims-14.23%
• Christian-2.30% 
• Sikh-1.72%
• Buddhists-0.70%
• Other religions and ideologies-0.66%
• Unspecified religions-0.24%

What do the Scholars Believe?

• Scholars have stated that religion brings significance to human life to such an extent that it is characterised as a source of relief for those who are stuck in life’s difficulties
• Sociologists have investigated religion’s evolution from primitive to ‘modern’ societies. Its position in ‘modern’ communities is perceived to be eroding or diminishing, although there is evidence of the expansion of religious identities, conflicts, and movements
• With this context, it is all the more vital to comprehend the emergence of India’s various religions and their present character

Religion: A Shared Understanding

• Religion can be described in a variety of ways that differ from one person to the other
• For some, this is entirely personal because it is strongly rooted in an individual’s conscience
• For others, it might be a tool for governing an individual’s actions. Religion, in its most basic form, is anything that is practised through rituals, festivals, music, art, or any other cultural feature
• Religion, interestingly, is also influenced by geography and culture, therefore many interpretations exist. Religion, on the other hand, is a global network that exists in every community and plays an important role in order and social control

Understanding Religion from a Sociological Perspective

• Religion can be understood as something powerful or superficial which can’t be explained in the study of sociology. The primary focus of social scientists has been to investigate the relationship between society and religion
• Religion has a wide range of ramifications for every other societal institution, whether it be education, marriage, or kinship. To conduct a comparative study, it is necessary from a sociological standpoint to trace the origins of religion in primordial communities
• There are numerous arguments and theories on religion; nonetheless, the sociological approach towards religion is heavily influenced by the concepts of three great sociological thinkers – Karl Marx, Max Weber, and Émile Durkheim

Religion and Durkheim

• Émile Durkheim(1858-1917), was a sociologist from France who established the Functionalist school of thinking. He was a staunch supporter of the concept of collective functioning and social solidarity
• Religion, as Durkheim believed, is more than merely a set of beliefs. It includes ceremonies, rituals, and rites in which a certain religious community comes together and conducts religious activities as a group
• Thus, religion, as a social institution, plays an important role in uniting people and enhancing their sense of solidarity

Religion and Weber

• Max Weber(1864-1920), was a sociologist from Germany who was interested in the origins of rationalisation and the way religion affects the economy of any community
• Weber believed that in protestant countries, a hard effort for the gain of material prosperity is regarded as God’s will rather than a sin
• On the contrary, in Eastern countries, financial prosperity is viewed as a by-product of capitalism, whereas spiritual living is regarded as the most valuable
• Weber referred to religion in eastern countries as “irrational religious systems” because it operated as a barrier to rationality

Religion and Marx

• Karl Marx(1818-1883), was a philosopher and communist from Germany who was especially concerned with the economic aspects of society and the resulting conflict
• He believed that religion assures people of eternal bliss and salvation, causing them to accept their fate
• Religion, he claimed, blinds individuals to society’s inequalities and exacerbates the misery of the destitute and the underprivileged

Conclusion

Religion, in its most basic form, is a rigorous system of moral ideas and rules that exist in varied forms in every community. In the context of society, religion’s role can be understood through a variety of approaches, all of which give significant assertions. According to Durkheim, religion is a binding force that determines an individual’s moral action. Weber believed that religion has a huge influence on every community and can create societal transformation. On the contrary, “religion is the opium of the masses,” according to Marx. It is a stratification mechanism that intensifies society’s existing disparities.

However, they all believed that in the advanced, contemporary, and capitalist world, religion would lose its rigidity and move away from its traditional shape.