Religion in society and culture

¶ … Philosophy [...] philosophy of organized religion and its appeal to people. Organized religion and philosophy seem to be at opposite ends of the spectrum, but in reality, many philosophers were also men of faith. Some opposed the idea of organized religion and its effect on society, while others embraced it. Their views are still relevant today, and they indicate just what an emotional subject organized religion can be for many people.

Many philosophers, who can be scientists and logicians at heart, decry organized religion and belief in God, feeling they are not logical or based in fact. However, many other prominent philosophers embrace the idea of faith, and acknowledge their own faith in God. Immanuel Kant, a foremost philosopher had his own ideas about God and religion. He says, "I had to deny knowledge in order to make room for faith." He thus proposes what has come to be known as his 'moral argument' for God and the immortality of the soul. In connection with this argument, he also develops the concept of 'moral faith'" (Rossi). He also believed people were safe in assuming they would have immortality after death, where they can continue to seek moral perfection (Rossi).

Kant also believed that humans must have moral faith to keep living a morally consistent and motivated life, and that God and the notion of immortality go hand in hand with moral faith. Humans need the motivation and the idea of living a moral life in order to gain a reward, and faith helps them attain immortality while pointing them down a moral path. However, many other philosophers argued against Kant's theories. Author Rossi continues, "The moral argument has also been criticized as an effort on Kant's part to transgress, in the name of the moral use of reason, the very limits he had set to the theoretical use of reason in the first Critique" (Rossi). However, Kant is not the only well-known philosopher to argue for organized religion and faith in God.

John Wesley, a theologian and philosopher had different ideas about organized religion. Another writer notes, "Wesley understood very well the direct causal relationship between religious beliefs and productivity. He also understood well that wealth accumulation could weaken religiosity in terms of both beliefs and participation. Wesley concluded that economic growth was detrimental to religion" (McCleary). Wealth accumulation can be detrimental to religion in a number of ways. First, those who are extremely successful financially tend to spend more time in productivity and work than in leisure activities; thus, they have less time for organized religion and services. They also may not perceive an economic value spent in participating in religious activities, because they can be time consuming and take up valuable leisure time, something that most successful businesspeople do not have a lot of to squander.

In addition, most entrepreneurs and financially successful individuals tend to have better educations, and studies indicate that those with higher levels of education tend to have fewer ties to organized religion. Author McCleary continues, "The more educated a person is, the more likely he is to turn to science for explanations of natural phenomena, with religion intended to explain supernatural phenomena and psychological phenomena for which there is no rational explanation" (McCleary). However, others believe exactly the opposite, that education can actually encourage religious activities, because the more educated a person is, the more they appreciate social networking and other types of group participation. Participation in religious activities is also somewhat of an "advertisement" for their business and their beliefs, and it can lead to bringing in additional customers if some church members are also potential clients for a particular business.

Adam Smith, legendary economist and philosopher believed in a separation of church and state. Author McCleary continues, "Where there is a state monopoly on religion or an oligopoly among religions, one will find zealousness and the imposition of ideas on the public. Where there is an open market for religion and freedom of speech, one will find moderation and reason" (McCleary). Smith's view seems to play out in the comparison of a state such as Iran, which imposes Muslim religious beliefs on its citizens, and that is extremely rigid and zealous in those beliefs, which impose strict religious control over households and especially women. Compare that with a country like the United States, which is more moderate and reasonable, and open to new religious beliefs.

Some experts believe that diversity is another reason religion plays a role in moderate, reasonable societies. Author Barro continues, "A greater diversity of religions available in a country or region is thought to promote greater competition, hence a better quality religion product, and therefore higher religious participation and beliefs" (Barro). In a country with only one supported religion, tolerance and quality are not part of the equation, adherence and rules are the most important, and that does not give any tolerance for any diversity or competition to develop alternative forms of belief.

Finally, philosophers and experts believe that organized religion in its present form perpetuates the strength of men over women in society, and goes against ideas of women's rights and equality. Gila Stopler, an Israeli layer and philosopher writes, "I will show that religious patriarchal ideals serve to perpetuate women's inequality in both the public and the private sphere and that patriarchal religion buttressed by state support adversely affects the lives of all women, both religious and non-religious" (Stopler). She believes that religion has been organized by men, men lead most worldwide religions, and women have played insignificant roles in the development and perpetuation of religion and that continues into the present. Some religions have embraced women as church leaders and as heads of their churches, but some still ban women, and in most religions, women play an insignificant, volunteer-type role if any at all.

In continuance with her beliefs about how religion affects women's rights, Stopler questions the reality of separation of church and state in this country and others around the world. She writes, "Even in the U.S., the bastion of separation between church and state, religiously based associations receive billions of dollars in government funds annually in order to provide social services" (Stopler). She goes on to cite a study that showed that most social service programs provided by religious groups receive up to 40% of their funding from various government agencies (Stopler).