Religion as a social reality and att itudes towards it

• Pages: 30-38

30

Vol. 7 No.2

September, 2021

Balkan Journal of Interdisciplinary Research

IIPCCL Publishing, Graz-Austria

ISSN 2410-759X

Acces online at www.iipccl.org

Religion as a social reality and a itudes towards it

Alisa Peçi

University of Tirana, Albania

Abstract

This paper presents the arguments for the presence of the social aspects of religion and the

importance they have in the life of the organization. It is argued that religion fulf‌i lls its social

obligation, through its characteristics and functions. They are in line with its mission, to create

spiritual, moral, social stability. The paper highlights the factors that play an essential role

in addressing the social dimension and shows from which perspectives it can be driven. The

paper is based on the opinion of the early sociologists, Émile Durkheim and Max Weber, who

appreciated the a ributes of religion in society. Sociologists of the mid-1960s and beyond,

generally argue for the need to expand the role of religion in social life. The latest studies are a

conf‌i rmation of the sociological opinion on this phenomenon, making the relevant suggestions.

Nevertheless, the sociological potential of research on this topic remains untapped. The

peculiarity of the study is the evidence of the fact that the policies and practices that were

undertaken, in monist Albania, for the dissolution of religion, went in the opposite sense to the

sociological principles of religion, as a social reality, and therefore failed. The post-dictatorial

period brought about the revitalization of religion with new pluralistic features. It is argued

that the correct understanding and perception of religion as a social reality has current values

both for the religious organization and for society as a whole. The basic elements that enabled

the revitalization of religion after 1990 were the reliance on the Albanian tradition, legal

protection and organizational ties with the external factor. Exploring socio-religious processes

enables the implementation of a more f‌l exible approach to policies and a itudes towards

religion. The use of qualitative research methodology enabled the conduct of observations,

free conversations, and interviews with believers and clergy of religious organizations. Their

thoughts and suggestions enabled the interpretation of religion as a social reality, in the main

religious communities of our country, but not only. The analysis in the Region of Tirana, with

the relevant socio-demographic features, as evidenced in the study, provides the opportunity

for the generalization of this issue, at the national level.

Keywords: religion as reality, social reality, prohibition of religion, re-establishment of

religion, sociological perspective.

Introduction

There are a number of challenges in the process of ge ing involved in: identifying,

articulating and clarifying the dynamics of religion. One of them is the treatment of

religion as a social reality. The paper develops in the f‌i eld of sociology of religion.

Religious practice seems to have great potential for addressing today’s social

problems. Beyond metaphysical conception, with specif‌i c characteristics, religion

also appears as a complex social reality. Religions have a dual function, as they serve

as a balm for the souls of believers and an institution for society.

In sociological thought the idea has been argued that religion as a belief and social

structure is present in almost all human societies, exerting a direct inf‌l uence on