Sociological Perspective Means a Way of Looking

Sociological perspective means a way of looking at religion that focuses on the human particularly social aspects of religious belief and practice. There are two characteristics that differentiate it from non-scientific approaches to religion, which are its empirical nature of the approach and the objective inclination that it takes. Sociologists always attempt so much to base their interpretations on empirical evidence. They tend to confirm their explanations and images of social reality through either experimental or experienced evidence. The objectivity is in the sense that they are not trying to assess, accept or reject the religious beliefs' content as indicated by some analysis. Within sociological perspective there is no religion that tends to be superior to the other. Definitely the perspectives do not presume religious merit over non-religious approaches.

There are various ways in which sociological perspective impacts on the way we study religion. The sociological perspective aspects on religion are capable of eluding a bad feeling to students who take their cherished beliefs and practices to be treated dispassionately as object of study, Class .M (1995). Since the nature of human beings is always feeling offended in any case they realize that there religion is becoming the subject of study and discussion. They develop a feeling that such people are abusing as well as disregarding their religion. The same applies when whatever the sociologist as well as the believer hold over a particular religion may be contradicting.

People are supposed to realize that sociologists do not disprove anything that a believers have and vice versa. It is also essential to note that sociological perspectives do not posses the key quality of faith that is being used by a believer to accept certain beliefs as well as their meanings. This shows that individuals come to be members of religious groups for reason but not because of true value of the belief system. Such reasons restrict the study of religion by virtue to be lacking a certain important dimension of religion.

Essential dimensions of religion cannot be accessed to sociological perspective and this makes it difficult for such dimensions to be evaluated and be understood when religion is studied using this perspective. And because many people who study religion tend to be believers, it is always not easy for them to agree with sociological perspective that does not go in line with whatever they believe in and this results in failure of motivation during the study of religion, Winter (1999).

Religion can be described as a system of symbols which in any case they are enacted through human beings are able to establish pervasive, powerful as well as long-lasting moods and motivations which make sense according to an idea's general order of existence, Aldridge, Alan, (2004). Beliefs tend to come about from a character or an event that might be or not be authentic as well as that which evolves rapidly to be social movements that are shaped and conditioned through the political, economic and societal situations of a group that embrace them.

A bigger section of the mythology that are developing around every doctrines, starting from their liturgy to their rules and taboos, originates from the bureaucracy generated during their development but not from their supernatural act that is supposed to have originated them. Many of the well-intentioned, simple anecdotes tend to be a combination of common sense as well as folklore, and every belligerent force that they develop eventually originates from a subsequent interpretation of such principles or from their distortion when they are within the hands of the bureaucrats. The aspects of administration and hierarchic proves to be essential in the belief system evolution. The first revelation of the truth is to all men, immediately individual claims sole authority and duty in interpreting, administering and ends up tampering with this truth claiming to be of common good. To this far they form a powerful and potentially repressive organization through these doctrines.

Theories of religion try to give explanation to: the function of religion within a society; the role of religion in an individual's life; and the origin and nature of religion. For example, structural-function approach to religion give argument that religion is, in a sense, the celebration as well as worship of human society, Stark, Rodney and Bainbridge, William Sims (1987). This approach by Durkheim proposed that religion has three main functions in a society: social control- meaning that religious-based morals and norms assist in maintaining conformity and control in society and it can as well legitimize the political system: Social cohesion- meaning that religion assist in maintaining social solidarity through shared rituals and beliefs: and provision of meaning and purpose- meaning that religion is capable of providing answers to existential questions.

Social-conflict approach which has been rooted in Marx's analysis of capitalism, argues that religion play a role which is important in maintaining the status quo. It argues that religion was a tool of the bourgeoisie that kept the content of proletariat, and religion is capable of doing this through promising reward in the after-life but not in this life. On the other hand rational choice theory follows the usual practice within the sociology of religion of differentiating between such types of religious organizations, Boudon, Raymond, (2003) .The empirical confirmation claim of rational choice theory is that religious vitality, as per both number of individuals having religious affiliation as well as intensity of their commitment, tends to be related to the level of competition within the religious market.