Introduction
Effect of religion on the economic growth of any country is one of the dilemmas which are facing the religious sects in the word history. Consequently the religious groups have tried to regard the poverty status as the virtue of the society. At the same time many churches have treated the poverty as a virtue. For instance the bible which is considered as a holy book states clearly that “those who are poor are likely to gain a lot of blessings and at the same time they are likely to inherit the kingdom of God”. On the other hand the Buddhism group recommends that the monks are supposed to abstain from any economic activities so as to gain the kingdom of God. Moreover it can be established that these religious groups are interested on gaining money by recommending the payments of tithes from their followers (Giddens, Athony, 50-53).
This is critically seen as one way of involving in the economic activities. Most of the contributions are made by the richest individuals who regard this way as one method of gaining glory from the lord. Never the less those who become rich while participating in the religious matters they are fully accommodated. This paper tries to bring out the effect of religion in the economic growth. At the same time it tries to establish whether the problem of the economy is brought by modernity in the society.
Discussion
Religious organizations have constantly affected the growth of the economies of some nation. For instance some of the religious in the Middle East, have influenced the politics of the east which has led to a lot of uprisings and serious wars in the name of religious salvation which has greatly influenced the decline of the economic status of such countries.
This habit whereby the religious sects are actively participating in the economic activities have nowadays led to the formation of many religious sects who are interested in making money other evangelizing the word of the lord. So many sects have been formed due to the separation from the main groups. Many people who are socially and economically disadvantaged individuals have opted for the participation in the religious activities as a way of getting salvation.
Those religious groups who have the low economic status usually refer the wealthy status as being evil (Lerppert, R, 19-35), but consequently belief that they shall receive the wealthy things such as cloths and houses in heaven which as been regarded as paradise by the Christian community. These religious believers belief that there shall be a better world than the existing one. Infact this religious believes has promoted lazy ness and corruption in the religious groups which as led to the decline in the economic growth.
Modernity has been used to influence the understanding of the religion which as been regarded as one of the ethical value in the society. Religion has been found to be related with the politics of the world. In many instances religion has defined the direction of politics which on turn has determined the economics of any country as politics are the ones who dictate the economic growth of any country. Bearing in mind that religion is a social group, then it can be regarded that religion is one form of a political alliance, since it is a sect which has its own policies of a specific agenda (Aden, Seifudein, 570-587).
Nowadays the religious practices are the ones which influences the politics of some countries such as Iran and Iraq where Islamic religion determines the type of leaders to be in place. In the modern society, politics has been centered on the religious sects. Civic religion can be regarded as political secular which is aimed at promoting social values in the society. Other groups such as the Hinduism believe in the principle of Transmigration, which holds that if one remains poor in the modern world, then he shall get internal life in the future. This has made many people to remain poor hence reducing the economic growth.
Many religious groups are generally based on the “theology of the good fortune” which is a justification for the economic and the social status of any individual in the society. However this theology is not justified since it tries to claim that the fortune only comes to the fortunate ones in the society. Consequently the religious activities are greatly influenced by the economic factors in any country. According to David Moberg, for a religion to be successful one need to employ the personal virtues and the business virtues in general which are essential in any economic life. Sometimes the religion practice has been found to increase the consumption of basic needs such as food in any country. This occurs through the religious occasion such as the religious holiday which leads to a lot of consumption. Consequently many Christian communities have emphasized the religious practices as a call from the Lord, but in reality it is one method of securing job. These methods whereby the religious officers have increased to a great extent have led to the increase in the productivity. Thus the religion practices have greatly influenced the economic growth as it controls the economic systems and the business activities of any modern society.
Modernity can be regarded as a protestant movement in the society of today. The contribution of the religion sects in the economy of the society has been put forward by Weber in his work of “protestant Ethic and the spirit of Capitalism”. This research work had brought a lot of controversies in the past in regard to the religion and economy. Weber had tried to bring out the capitalist state as one of the product of religious rules. Weber notes that most of the capitalism which is commonly felt in the western country is dominant in the Christian protestant zones such as the United States of America, Scotland, Switzer land (www.sociumas.it/eng). He goes on to say that increase in the economic growth in general was attributed by the protestant activities. Thus he tries to bring out the principle of Capitalism as a protestant ethic. Weber points out most of the cultural activities which have more importance in the world of today have an origin from the western nations. He points out that the western life in the field of science; art, education, and the political system are so different compared with the living characteristics which existed in the ancient times of the non-western countries such as Greece, Babylon and Egypt. In the west, most of the life practices have risen from the principle of rationality which as consequently influenced the economic structure of the world and the capitalism principle which has been regarded as the driving force in the economic growth of the world
According to Weber, all people have been called to serve the lord. He examines that the call is not only serving as the church master but to work in any institution. Thus he was impressed by the doctrine of the vocation which has been well defined by the protestant groups. Thus through the hard work. The country will improve on its economic status. The Protestants on the other hand say that we shall try to change the situations and try to improve the economic activities. The protestant world has consequently quoted that the world needs to increase it s wealth and at the same time we shall not miss using this wealth. In support of the great Methodist, John Wesley who said that “gain all you can, save all you can, and give all you can” Weber has consequently supported the capitalism principle of the west which has been brought in to light by the Protestants. The principle of capitalism holds that we shall be ready to use money so as to make more money, at the same time according to the Protestants the making of money is one proof of good church practice. Weber was of the view that capitalism was one way of making wealth which was one form of blessing from the lord. Thus it can be regarded in general that modernity is a protestant movement.
According to John Grey, modernity got rid of the theological ideas but at the same time retained the eschatology principles (Johnstone, R, 41-45). Modernity has been regarded as only promoting the economic principles but at the same time refuting the religious believes. We shall strive to maintain the teachings of all religions and at the same time rely to its teaching.
The rationality of the western culture was influenced by the economic rationality (www.sociumus.it/eng). The economic rationality depends on the ability of the people to determine their rational method of living. In the past the religious forces which existed determined the ethics of life. Thus Weber has tried to examine the religion in relation to economy. He concluded that the Christian protestant community influenced the growth of capitalism which has in return influenced the economic growth of the world.
Although capitalism is seen as a protestant movement, most of the western secularist is of the view that everything in the field of religion and the economic growth is in the right track due to some substantiated reasons. The western secularist has come to understand that work is one way of self sanctification. Consequently the religion beliefs have been found that religion promotes the positive action in the growth of economics. The economic activities are regarded as being the activities of the human beings thus the economic activities are dictated by the human destiny which is greatly influenced by the human aspirations. The economic reality in the west will always bring out the understanding of that religion determines the dimension of life.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it has been established that one to live a better life he or she should possess wealth and hence those who are financially stable in the society are the most valued. Religion has consequently affected the direction of politics of any country which in return influences the economies of the world.
Works cited
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Giddens, Anthony. Conversations with Anthony Giddens: Making Sense of Modernity. Stanford. Calif: Stanford University Press, 1998.
John stone R.L. Religion in society: A sociology of Religion.1988, 41-45. Web.
Leppert, Richard. “The Social Discipline of Listening”. In Aural Cultures, edited by Jim Drobnick, Toronto: YYZ Books; Banff: Walter Phillips Gallery Editions. 2004.
Saul, John Ralston. Voltaire’s Bastards: The Dictatorship of Reason in the West. New York: Free Press; Maxwell Macmillan International,1992.