The Four Categories of Religion in Society
Religious
Social**
Cultural
Political
Social- providing a service or support to people or groups within society (eg.youth groups)
Art, music, literature to give expression to how people find meaning and purpose in their life.
Religion looks to the future, offering a vision of another kind of society. It challenges people to think, imagine, and create a better future for everyone, not just for themselves.
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Part of the great diversity of humankind is the many different religions and belief systems we have developed – Animism, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Taoism, and many more. Religious beliefs have a strong influence on the culture of a community.
Religion defines how the community members interpret their role in the universe, with this teaching based on the local culture, so different religions rise out of different cultures. Similarly when members of one religion convert members of a foreign culture often the resulting religion in that area is affected by the host culture.
According to the book by Jonathan Haidt, the Righteous Mind, most of humanity seems to fall into valuing one of two tendencies higher than the other, either tolerance or loyalty and conformance. I suspect those valuing conformance higher than tolerance can be influenced into intolerant behaviors. This book also points out the inherent groupish nature of people. These tendencies provide the foundation for the typically divisive political leadership of today.
In Australia, hospitals, schools and welfare services are provided by religious groups and individuals
Many laws are based on religious beliefs
Politicians go to mass