Unit 3 Module 1: How social factors impact on how people interact with religion

Question 1

How social factors impact on how people interact with religion

Answer 1

• Each religion offers meaning and purpose in life
• People respond in different ways
• Factors as to WHY people respond
  
  • the context of a person’s life
  • the experiences each person has in life
  • the world in which they live

Question 2

Response to the impact of social factors on religion

Answer 2

• for some, it is of little importance, with little known or understood about religion or specific religions
• some may be immersed in a culture or way of life rich in religion without ever having consciously reflected upon the deeper meanings offered by a religion
• for others, more conscious approach of accepting or rejecting religion

Question 3

Definition Social Factors

Answer 3

The world in which a person lives creates a range of social factors that have the potential to support, hinder or obstruct how a person and religion interact

Question 4

Examples of Social Factors

Answer 4

• a culture that focuses on materialism, consumerism and/or individualism
• historical events/issues (e.g. 911, immigration, Vatican II)
• presence of social disadvantage/hardship (e.g. poverty or war)
• social attitudes and philosophies that promote, marginalise or reject religion (e.g. secularism, atheism)
• political ideologies/administrations (e.g. theocracy or communism)
• people who inspire, motivate or direct how people should act and think in relation to religion (e.g. Pope Francis, Dalai Lama)
• These examples create a climate in which ideas and/or actions have the potential to colour or influence how people and religion interact

Question 5

Social Factors: Consumerism and Individualism

Answer 5

• The preoccupation of society with the acquisition of consumer goods.
• Consumerism: hinders and distorts spiritual expression, through being a distraction to the way in which people perceive the spiritual as something to be consumed.
• Individualism: concerned with freeing the individual from social regulation. Increasing disconnectedness from others.
• IMPACT: a decline in organised religions, the rise of ‘New Age beliefs’ that are often individualistic/consumerist. The counter-trend is extremism-religious fundamentalism.

Question 6

Social Factors: Historical events and issues

Answer 6

• Immigration has had a most profound effect on how Australians interact with religion
• Post 1945 there has been a steep decline in the total number of people identifying with the three largest Christian denominations (Catholic, Anglican and Uniting Church).
• Early settlement to 1960’s: majority Christian adherents.
• Denominational switching: shopping around for the kind of church that suits one’s particular needs. This reflects the changing attitude of what churches offer its members.
• 1970- Present: greater numbers immigrating from Asia, India and the Middle East has increased religious diversity in Australia. Greater exposure to these religions has had diverse impact. E.G a greater understanding that has led to a wider acceptance of the variety of religions – making this a social factor on how people interact with religion.
• Buddhism increased in Australia due to immigration and holds attraction to Westerners due not only to local influence but also the ease of travel to Asian countries, as well as popularity of the Dalai Lama.
• Vatican II is a social factor that informed and changed how people viewed and interacted with the Catholic Church.

Question 7

Social Factors: The presence of social disadvantage or hardship

Answer 7

• Religion can give people meaning and purpose in times of disadvantage, suffering and poverty.
• The presence of living the Catholic Social Teachings in society E.G. St Vinnies, can support a person’s interaction with religion in society.

Question 8

Social Factors: Social attitudes and philosophies

Answer 8

• Increase in secularisation: people separating themselves from religious influences. Partly a result of people who are products of a more individualistic society who lack in social solidarity more than their parents.
• Beginnings in settlement, formalised in the Australian Constitution (116): “The Commonwealth shall not make any law for establishing any religion, or for imposing any religious observance, or for prohibiting the free exercise of any religion, and no religious test shall be required as a qualification for any office or public trust under the Commonwealth.
• Furthered by reformists of Protestant Australia in encouraging an education system that was compulsory, free and secular.
• Increase of Australians stating they have “no religion”. Illustrated by increase from 6.7% in 1971 to 30.1% in 2016.
• 2018 79.7% of marriages were conducted by civil celebrants and 20.3% were conducted by religious ministers.

Question 9

Social Factors: Political ideologies and administrations

Answer 9

• Theocracy, government by divine guidance or by officials who are regarded as divinely guided.
• In many theocracies, government leaders are members of the clergy, and the state’s legal system is based on religious law.
• Theocratic rule was typical of early civilizations.
• The Enlightenment marked the end of theocracy in most Western countries.
• Contemporary examples include Saudi Arabia, Iran & the Vatican.
• Communism is an economic-political philosophy founded by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels (1844).
  They wrote and published “The Communist Manifesto”- focus on the end of capitalism, a social class system that led to the exploitation of workers.
• All private ownership is abolished, and the means of production belong to the entire community.
• In the communist movement, a popular slogan stated that everyone gave according to their abilities and received according to their needs.
• It became the dominant political philosophy of many countries across Asia, Eastern Europe, Africa and South America.
• In politics, communist parties have absolute power over governance, and elections are single-party affairs.
• In economics, the party controls the country’s economic system, and private ownership is illegal, although this facet of communist rule has changed in some countries like China (2004).

Question 10

Social Factors: People who inspire or motivate

Answer 10

• E.G. Pope Francis – provide some examples of how his actions can support people’s interaction with religion.

Question 11

Social Factors: Materialism

Answer 11

• The preoccupation of society with the acquisition of material goods.
• The preoccupation with or emphasis on material objects, comforts, and considerations, with a disinterest in or rejection of spiritual, intellectual, or cultural values.
• It hinders and distorts spiritual expression, through being a distraction to the way in which people perceive the spiritual as something to be consumed.
• Key Features:
• The first key feature of a culture that focuses on the acquisition of material goods is an understanding of ‘materialism’ comprising of a set of values and goals focused on wealth, possessions, image and status. Meaning the culture has a preoccupation with material objects and comforts; with a disinterest in spiritual, intellectual and cultural values, and a tendency to believe that these objects provide the greatest source of satisfaction.
• A second key feature is that materialism is no longer a unique value for people of the “developed economy”, it is believed to be general traits existing in individuals across cultures. Countries that experience rapid economic progression, tend to spend money for both their purpose of living, and consuming of pleasure, leading toward forming materialistic values.
• Lastly, substantial evidence shows that people who place a relatively high priority on materialistic values; consume more products, incur more debt, have lower-quality relationships, have lower levels of motivation, and report worse personal and physical well-being. Cultures that adopted policies that focus less on consumption, profit and economic growth, are more effective in decreasing the effects of materialism.
• Impact:
• One way in which materialism has the potential to hinder how people interact with religion is when people are constantly exposed to the idea, that posing the right impression through consumer goods leads to long term happiness. This view is opposite to many religions. Religions generally emphasise that happiness is found in the search for meaning and purpose, usually through a relationship with a divine being, and living life according to said religious beliefs and teachings. However, materialism can distract a person from focusing on their search for happiness in a religious sense, by facilitating the view that religion is “less important than personal choice and the acquisition of goods” (Consumerisms Impact on Religion, 2016).
• Religion does have the capacity to provide individuals with a core set of beliefs and values, and a deep sense of purpose and direction, however this ability is hindered when a person idolises possessions and material wealth, because they lose sight of their religious beliefs and practices.
• For example, instead of spending extra hours in devotion to their religion, they continue to find ways to make more money.
• Instead of participating in religious worship and celebration they are too busy working to accumulate more wealth.
• Cultures, consequently, that are immersed in materialistic ideas and behaviours are in many ways making it harder for people to integrate religion into their lives.
• The more a person believes that acquiring money, possessions, and high status is important; the less likely they are too deeply incorporate religion in their daily life.
• Secondly, people can interact more profoundly with religion, when they find living a materialistic life has its limitations.
• Materialism, as a value system, continues to rise in many cultures around the world, influencing religious organisations, leaders and followers to look to their respective faiths for answers in how to act upon the ever-increasing mindset of ‘getting and spending’.
• Materialism as a result, can encourage religious leaders to engage with the modern world, in reminding people that true happiness does not lie with material possessions. It also has the potential to support people’s interaction with religion, if they turn to religion for help, in fighting their materialistic mindset and behaviours that are contradictory to their religious beliefs.