Does society influence religion or does religion influence society? HELP???

Question

meaning does society influence chritianity or does christianity influence society. give me accurate reasons and your source please. i need to know this for my intllectual well being.

Answer 1

It's not either/or. It's both. I hope your intellectual well-being can tolerate a bit of ambiguity.

Does the husband influence the wife, or does the wife influence the husband? Both play a role in the other's thoughts, feelings and actions.

Christianity's influence in the US has ebbed and flowed since colonists first set foot on the continent. During a crisis, when people try to make sense of difficult events, religion can provide comfort and meaning. At the same time, society influences religion. Churches sharing highly similar theology split from one another over the issue of slavery, with each church finding within the Bible a justification for their own position.

Answer 2

I think that it can be a little of both. 10 years ago I would have said that religion has a bigger effect on society. But now I think that it depends. I have seen religions popping up that teach Christianity, but without the traditional values that you expect at a church. I watched the Catholic church as theyselected a new Pope. There was a lot of talk about getting someone more modern. Someone who would do away with the traditional values that Catholics espouse. I watched in the last few weeks as the Pope apologized to the Muslims in the world because of a comment he made, which I believe was biblically correct. It made me sad that he would apologize if he really believed that what he said was the truth. In many cases, political correctness is seeping into some religiouns. Yet on the other hand, there are still many religions that hold firm in their beliefs in traditional values. There are still many that regardless of the changes in society, they don't back down. No matter how politically incorrect their beliefs become, they still hold firm in their teachings. For example, many mainstream religions will not perform same sex marriages in their churches or temples. THere is a lot of pressure to change that, but it is still part of their beliefs. Personally, I think that it is very sad anytime a religion caves into the peer pressure of Political correctness and changes their beliefs and policies because the world has changed. I think that trend will have a very negative effect on society. Structure is aways a very important thing . Right now it looks like churches are the only thing that is still structured, and as that structure starts to crumble, society will along with it.

Answer 3

Cool question. Sounds like a college paper to me. Anyways, society was first influenced by religion is what I'd say. Thus, we had the crucades and people being controlled by the church during the dark ages. Etc. Etc. Today though, no one really pays mind to religion because there are so very many out there. As a Christian I have noticed that people make up their own rules and call it "religion". Hopefully we make it to heaven. Acts 2:38 says it best. Good luck.

Answer 4

First off, please don't mistake Christianity for religion. It's quite insulting to those of us with over practices and thinking.

The short answer is quite mutual. The separation of church and state is a fairly recent practice, a bit over two hundred years. Before that were at least three thousand years where the religion of the dominant culture or military power was the state religion. The two are so intertwined that we haven't had time to untangle them.

But we have realised that it's neither just nor fair for the dominant culture or military power to set the rules for everyone else. We're still figuring out how to put that into practice....

Christianity was the state religion of most of Europe, and therefore de facto of the European-settled U.S. Since Europe and the U.S. now have plenty of citizens who have practices and beliefs other than Christianity, we need to open up our thinking to be more inclusive.

Answer 5

We live in a crazy world, getting crazier all the time.
I've been around long enough to have noticed the amazing changes that have taken place in our society since people got together and tossed God out of the public scene.
Is that because we no longer have the influence on our society that Christianity once imposed?

Answer 6

In 1954 the "Johnson Amendment" was jammed through Congress making it possilbe for the IRS to put a gag order over houses of worship that forbids religious leaders to speak out on the moral issues of the day.

Ungagged churches have a very strong influence over society. So much so, the government has made it illegal for churches to influence people on moral issues.

Bet you didn't know we haven't had freedom of religion since 1954.

Answer 7

Christianity influences society because it pre-dates it. The moral law established by Almighty God has lived and reigned in the hearts of men (and women too) since the time of Christ and was well known before Him. Here in America at least we were brought up on Christian values straight from the Bible. Hence, we based our moral character around it. however, within the last 50 or so years this country has taken God out of a lot of places and chaos breaks ensues. you must look at the origin of society and "religion" to find your answer.

Answer 8

It is circular. Surely you can understand how centuries of a religion being the dominant one in a society can influence that soceity? And how the western culture influences what kind of xianity we create for ourselves vs what an eastern culture or tribal culture would do?

Answer 9

Religion influences society. All things being done now are always based on religion.

Answer 10

society influences christianity. there are very many DIFFERENT sects of the "christian" religion that proclaim that they are the right sect, and its an inner struggle in the same belief over the same scriptures and their interpretation of them. homosexuals say the bible doesnt condemn homosexuals, some groups apply baptism while others dont see it as a necessity, some take heart certain practices and disregard others.