Religion - Stephanie Reynolds

Religion has always had some good and bad aspects about it, which is why is can be considered a conservative force. Sometimes the dominant or powerful social classes use religion to their advantage, and other times the lower classes can benefit from religion.

For example, the Catholic Church in medieval times was the most powerful institution over the ordinary people and its leaders were quite wealthy. The majority of the population turned to the Church and religion for guidance and strength, and when none came, the people grew discontent. The peasants rebelled against religious leaders and oppressive nobles, and as a result, the status quo changed. The Church was reformed for a time and the peasants gained a little more power over secular leaders. In the words of the text, "religion may provide an outlet for individual frustration, resentment, and anger, thus deflecting opposition to the state. However, religion can also focus this same frustration...against political or social targets, thus catalyzing rebellion and revoluton" (260).

I have never put much faith into religion as an institution, but that doesn't mean I don't believe in some of the traditions of the Christian religion. From my own experiences and what I see everyday in the media, too many lives have been lost or negatively affected in the name of religion. You could even say the Christian Crusaders or the suicide bombers of today use their religion as an excuse to inflict suffering on others who do not share their religion. Nearly major ancient religion, especially Catholicism and Islam, have killed innocent people because they refused to convert or just believed in something else. I am NOT saying that all religious people are blood thirsty or evil, but I tend to keep my guard up when I do meet a very religious individual.

There are so many instances throughout history where religion was a radical force that was trying to change society. One of the biggest radical forces which come to mind are the different religious cults, such as Heaven's Gate or The People's Temple, who wanted a different sort of society other than the one they lived in. Although these two cults may not have such a radical change like Christianity and Islam has, they dud have some force behind them. I believe these cults really changed the idea of religion and offered prime examples of how much people can be manipulated and influenced by religious forces. In the case of The People's Temple and its founder Jim Jones, his somewhat religious influence ended with devastating results. Since these cult members could not change society itself, they decided to create a entirely new society on their own, with Jones as their "God" and spiritual leader.

Religion itself, no matter in what form, usually ends up in some way as a radical force that is trying, and sometimes succeeds, in changing society.