Religion: Religion is an individual as well as group phenomenon. It consists a body of believes, a set of practices, a range of moral prescriptions covers the entire spear of human life from . birth to death. It helps in spelling out the goals of life and for their realization, exercise powerful influence on the processes of socialization and social control, the sociology of religion studies the social contexts of religion; and the role of religion in shaping and reshaping the social order.
According to Durkheim: In his book “The elementary forms of Religious life” defines Religion “as a unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things that is to say, things set apart and forbidden”. James G Frazer considered Religion as a belief in power superior to man which are believed to direct and control the course of nature and Human life.
Singer: in his book “Religion, Society, and the Individual” Religion, involves a group of people and a shared system of believers and practices. Every religion emphasizes the need for collective worship, festival and rituals are occasions which bring people together.
Durkheim, a pioneering sociologist, equates god with society, so much so that, when you worship God you are worshipping your own society. According to Durkheim God is a human creation and a social at that. God is, in fact, born in the collective experience of coming together, leading to rituals.
