COMMON FUNCTIONS OF RELIGIONS

An understanding of the essential characteristics of religion is crucial to identifying religion but falls short of a full grasp of what religion means in modern society. In this regard, the learning of religious scholars and sociologists is again instructive. Beyond isolating the sine qua non qualities of religion, many also point to common functions present in modern religion.

Probably the most important function of every religion—in fact, their primary concern—is salvation. This is not limited to spiritual salvation which, in the Judeo-Christian tradition, focuses primarily on man’s ultimate destiny. Rather, the true meaning of salvation is found in the origin of the word, from the Latin word “salutas,” meaning “safety” or “wholeness.” Thus, salvation actually has to do with making man “safe” or “whole” in his present life. Religions accomplish this by giving their followers the means to ward off difficulty or by showing what they must do or believe to have a meaningful existence, safe from the major vicissitudes of life.

Of course, the different paths to salvation vary greatly from religion to religion and range from placing one’s faith in a “saving” god to sacrificing to various gods, worshiping ancestors, conforming to specific standards of conduct, practicing certain rituals, and meditation.