The church, through
its long history, has had several functions, which
have diminished over the years. However, it will
always have some value that is significant to
many people.
Observing society from a critical viewpoint helps
in exposing the positive as well as negative aspects.
Almost everything that is known to man in the
social world has negative and positive sides to
it, as most things that one knows are man-made.
It is because of objects as well subjects in the
social world being created by man that the need
arises to critically examine them. This means
that there is always doubt cast upon anything
man constructs. The very social institutions that
govern everyday life as well are questioned in
order to assure that they work effectively as
social apparatuses (McMullen, 1994, 709-28).
. An example of a social institution is the church.
This is institution that has been founded by man
and dates back several centuries. The church as
an institution dates back directly to the earliest
forms of Christianity (Yorke, 1991, 15-17). However,
prior to this, the major controlling religious
institution were Jewish doctors of the law. Hence,
through this establishment, man knows that the
church took over similar role that the Jews had
in place for maintaining codes of conduct.
Intertwined in the meaning that is given to the
church as an institution for social well-being,
is the fact that it is also viewed as a place
of worship. The religious symbolism it has makes
its presence more significant, and it is for this
reason that millions appreciate its place in society.
Through out the world there are millions of people
who believe in the church as a place or worship.
People may even come from far and wide for the
sake of religious commemoration in particular
churches. These are usually churches that are
situated in religiously significant places, such
as Rome. However, the deeper significance here
is not the head church in Rome, which is simply
a stone building that is decorated in order to
make it look pious both.
More accurately, the church refers to the people;
it is the people that make the church. Without
the people they can be no church, and this is
reinforced in several places in biblical text.
It is for this reason that a church may even simply
be a large number of people in congregation under
the open sky, as they do not have to have a roof
over their heads.
Aside from the religious symbolism and the physical
description of a church, it must be asserted that
there is more social meaning to a church. From
a governance viewpoint, the church is an essential
apparatus to prevent chaos in society; it is through
such institutions that volatile individuals can
be subdued, just like they are supposed to be
subdued and disciplined through educational institutions.
Just like educational institutions, churches are
used for social control. This is why they come
under a social control category known as ‘Ideological
State Apparatus’. Those who fail to come
under the control of such institutions are automatically
deemed as deviant, mad, etc., and are dealt with
accordingly. The measures employed to deal with
such individuals include applying the next line
of defense from ruling bodies, which includes
that ‘State Repressive Apparatus’.
In view of the way that people are controlled
through the church is indeed a means that was
heavily relied upon, but due to the fact that
there is significant deterioration moral values
in contemporary times, it is obvious that more
comprehensive legal control has been adopted.
Particularly, in this post modern era, it is
obvious that there are diminishing values; many
religious institutions all over the world have
suffered tremendous setback regarding the allegations
against them. Indeed, this has a significant impact
on their image as a whole, but it still holds
a significant place in society (Ammerman, 1993,
896-99)
Aside from the issues surrounding the upholders
of the church, the church as a social institution
faces dilemmas of its own. This refers to the
fact that there are ethical questions raised regarding
particular ways of life and issues as well. As
an example, there are medical views that it does
not quite agree with, especially when it comes
to religiously-governed healthcare centers.
There are several issues today in the field of
medicine that bother religious people who believe
in preserving life no matter what the situation
is. There are many complex questions that emerge
as a result, and develop into unbelievably debatable
issues that have gone on for years, perhaps even
decades.
These debates do not only cease here, they go
on to encompass other related issues, and the
ball of twine keeps on getting more and more knotted.
This is why the people who have used religion
as their reason for saving human lives are now
caught in a situation where they are singled out
as a rigid group when it comes to taking important
decisions.
Aside from the abortion issue, there are many
other issues that are now in the view of the public
due to the media. Almost anything unusual that
takes place in a hospital or any other medical
organization is almost immediately in the headlines.
And, this is perhaps, as far as religious people
are concerned, the best way to prevent any immoral
practices taking place. However, it is the Roman
Catholic hospitals and medical organizations that
are faced with several Dilemmas. This is because
of the fact that they are now hardly able to influence
any court decisions based on their beliefs (Backman,
1976, 22-25).
Courts always base their decisions on logic and
concrete proof and not the beliefs of any religion.
It is for this reason that Roman Catholic Hospitals
are at risk of losing customers too, and this
an area of prime concern because this means less
funds. Not all people are ready to let their loved
ones suffer as long as there is life in them.
Certainly here, one can see the manner in which
the influence of the church, particularly the
Roman Catholic Church, is deteriorating. It is
apparent that there is greater regarding for state
law rather than moral and religious order and
so, one can tell how the significance of this
state apparatus is diminishing. However, it can
hardly be argued that the church will disintegrate
into nothing, as it will always have a place no
matter how little. It must finally be said that
the church in fact is still one of the things
that are relied on for subduing the people even
if it does not have the legal support it has known
to have.
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