Religion refers to the specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices that are generally agreed by a certain group of people in a society, while interactionism is a sociological perspective that generalizes fundamentals of every form of social interactions. According to Schaefer and Lamm, (2000),interactionism focuses on the very small group-acts in order to understand the whole society.Interactionists study people’s daily behaviors and its reactions towards the surrounding environment. Surroundings may include actions, people, symbols, and material things.Feminism is associated with certain disadvantages including exploitation and oppression faced by women in our society. For many years, feminists have created awareness in respect to gender role perspective, in society. Important issues relating to feminine social roles and masculinity are raisedwithout reflecting on biological differences. Religion plays an important role in a society by promoting stability in social interaction, and social integration.

According to Durkheim (2008), societies used totems and sacred objects that were highly symbolic and special. Because of their importance in a society, they became the icons for worship. This is a clear indication that collective worship and religion are important contributors of social interaction and social solidarity in a society. Religion also reinforces some values on consensus in a society, even those who are not religious, but have the same norms and values that are rooted in religious traditions. However, Durkheim found out that belief systems other than religion also serve to integrate society as one nation with no discrimination based on gender. He referred to nationalism as a civic religion since it performs the same functions as religion, by uniting people through social interaction based on rituals, such as singing the national anthem and beliefs. According toMarxism, religion acts as a conservative force, which helps to maintain the status quo in a society. Marxist views religion negatively, arguing that religion brings benefits both to the individual and society. ApplyingDurkheim’s ideas sees religion as promoting social interaction, consensus values and integration through a collective conscience. Feminists support the idea of Marxist that religion inhibits changes in a society. However, attention here does not focus on how it benefits society but it focuses on how it serves to discriminate and oppress women through justifying patriarchal power and legitimizingit. Feministslike Simone De Beauvoir (Durkheim, 2008), also agrees with Marxist idea that, religion promotes a false consciousness within an individual .This is a gendered form since women accepts their domestic duties and responsibilities towards their men or husbands. However, he also argued that not all religions in a society are patriarchal, for example,Quakers, but some sections of religions can promote change. An example is the liberal wing of the Church of England, where they encourage legitimacy of homosexuality and encouragement of ordination of women (Durkheim, 2008).

According William (2007) interactionist sociologists do not have a common line of argument regarding religion and change in society. However, some view religion as a sacred canopy that gives meaning to the world and helps in explaining questions, in terms of a larger purpose of a society. The view of interactionist is that, the more religions help to make sense of the world the more they promote or contribute to the inhibition of change in an individual.

Polytheistic religions had both goddesses and gods while monotheistic religions in the society had one god, which is almost exclusivelymale. Alsowithin the public sphere, men always occupy important positions, women are excluded, and public pronouncements always made by men. In the private spheres still like homes, women normally do most of the religious work like socialization of children into some values and religious norms of a society. Liberal feminists in society are optimistic feminists who see education to be necessary to move the society to a greater equality. This applies to such churches as, theChurch of England and, other denominations that have the clergy as a woman. Nevertheless, in some churches such as the Roman Catholicism there is no gender progress. Women are discriminated in that theyare not given opportunities to lead in thechurch. The term, false consciousness, by Marxist describes the proletariat unawareness of its class position in a society where religion serves to justify oppression of women on a basis that suffering on earth has a reward after one dies. This has led to the interpretation of it as a false consciousness in the society. Here women are discriminated and oppressed into a false gender position described by the radical feminist writer Simon de Beauvoir as second sex (William, 2007). Radical feminist also argue that all religions are patriarchal, serving in the oppression of women in a way that benefits men (William,2007).

Family is the key source of oppression of women according to feminists.Such feminist asSylvia Walby noted, religion embraces the idea that legitimizes and justifies the roles of traditional beliefs in a family (Laura and Scott, 2009). Women had no chance to rise up the hierarchy and gain roles such as priest and bishop. In certain religions, women bodies are polluting in the sense that they promote menstruation and promiscuity. In addition, Marxist feminist shares the Marxist idea of religion as a significant force that inhibits social change, and acts in promoting false consciousness.Marxist feminists show marginalization of women in society, and argue that women experience poverty as compared to men (Laura and Scott, 2009). They recognize how religion can act as a compensator for women discrimination, oppression and offersolace redemption for being a person, particularly as servants for their husbands in the world. Religion acts as a compensator amongst women for exploitation workers. Marxist feminists argue that it is just merely at the level of false consciousness.

According to Brown (2006), many feminists adopt the view that, religion is parallel to Marxist phenomenon of false consciousness. Theyposit that women should be tolerant and passive of their inferior position, in return for a reward after life. One of the Egyptian feminist Saadawi (Brown 2006) describes how female circumcision serves the interest of men. Saadawi argues that men enjoy sexual intercourse while women’s sexual pleasure is limited. However, she blames the misinterpretation of the Koran for the practice rather the Islamic religion itself.

Increasing scientific authority and rationality, increasesthe strengths of fundamentalism, as evidence of continuous influence on religious ideas .Fundamentalists gained prominence by spreading globalization. To them, the world seems increasingly morally bankrupt and uncertain. Meanwhile Bruce in his defense of secularizationthesis (2002) argued that, fundamentalism is a response by some people to spread western values and norms in a globalized society that lacks moral integrity. He argued that fundamentalism is deeply rooted in traditional principles to attempt and reclaim the past and redress a balance in society. It is not clear, though, whether there is displacement of religion by science in society. This is because of the problematic situation measuring religious influence despite the influence by rational thinking and science. Religion and science are competing in a society while secularization supports the growth of influence of science in a society. Globalization believes in the idea of postmodern society, while fundamentalism supports continued influence of religion. The growth of fundamentalism challenges Marxist ideas on religion and change. Fundamentalism is all aboutkeeping values and traditions constant but they can also be forces for radical change to return traditions and values of holytexts.Islamic fundamentalist challenges the western norms and values and seeks to reverse the changes that have transpired. To some point,fundamentalists are prepared to engage in global terrorism. Certain groups such as Muslim brotherhood were active in the Arab spring revolution that happened in 2011.This is one of the examples that tries to challenge the Marxist idea of religion inhibits change in society (Nick &Brown, 2006)

According to SteveBruce pre-modern times churches were powerful and a significant portion of the population were active members .But since Martin Luther broke away from the Roman catholic church in the year 1517 competing Christian institutions have been on the rise. Steve Bruce sees religious pluralism as an evidence of secularization since most churches can no longer give a definitive truth or single religious voice. This is to remind people that their values and beliefs are personal preference or choice.

In conclusion religion acts to unite people in a society through social integrationbut other people argues that it inhibits change in a society .Also to some extend feminists supports the same idea. However, Marxist ignores the idea that most people are not religious in the first place or that many people appear to accept and appreciate the society regardless of their religion.

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William.K.2007.Sociology in a changing world.Amazon: Cengage learning Inc.

Laura, D. & Scott, A. 2009.Sociological theory in the classical era.Amazon: Pineforges press.

Brown, D. & Nick, F. 2006 .Surfing, and social theory. Experience embodiment and narrative

of the dream guide. Amazon: Taylor and Francis us

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