W5.2 April 05(Fri) 왕서동WANGRUITONG

 Summary:

Different schools of philosophy and sociology offer different perspectives when exploring the relationship between religion, non-scientific knowledge and human behavior. Symbolic anthropology and some versions of phenomenology emphasize the human need for ontological security, arguing that non-scientific knowledge plays a role in society by providing psychological and emotional comfort. Functionalism, by contrast, focuses on the practical benefits that non-scientific belief systems provide for social organization and stability, and in particular the important role of religion in social interaction and group formation.

Rationalism, on the other hand, further questions the first two interpretations of non-scientific knowledge. It emphasizes that beliefs are not just about satisfying psychological or social needs, but are the expression of an individual's true beliefs, even if these beliefs are contrary to scientific fact. Rationalists argue that the history of modern societies is a gradual replacement of irrational beliefs by scientific knowledge, but this does not mean that pre-moderns were intellectually inferior, but rather that the social and cultural conditions in which they lived limited the development of rationalism.

Each of these schools of theory has its own focus in explaining the existence and influence of religious and non-scientific knowledge, but what they have in common is that they all attempt to understand the deeper motivations and social structures behind human behavior. By synthesizing these different perspectives, we can gain a fuller understanding of the complexity and diversity of the global localization of religion.


What I Learned

The sociology of religion is a field full of challenges and opportunities. It requires us not only to study in depth the nature and functions of religion, but also to pay attention to the interactions between religion and society, culture and individuals. Only in this way can we better understand the role and value of religion in modern society and contribute to building a harmonious, inclusive and progressive society.


Question

What irrational beliefs or practices are still prevalent in modern society? How do they affect societies and individuals?

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