Examine the influence of religion on cultural order.

Religion and the Cultural Order: The cultural order is an intermesh of symbols which are potent with meaning. This leads to the idea that Religion might change the meaning of symbols, and thus the cultural order. Religious representations are collective representations, and they express collective realities. Totem, which is an object of worship and veneration is an emblem. The totem is the symbol of the tribe. Among the Arundas of Australia, the ‘Churinga’ is the symbol of a clan. Rituals arise from the ‘Collective effervescence’ generated by the society. Again, Religion supplies the categories, classifications required to understand the world. Rituals maintain the solidarity of the group.

It is held that whenever there is change in social structure, there could be a corresponding change in Religion and vice-versa. In other words, religious symbols could be acquiring new meanings when there is a change in the social structure. Also when Religion undergoes rapid change, the non-religious symbols like kinship can acquire a new meaning. When simple society is under a colonial power of a different Religion, the whole simple society re-order its myths, symbols, Rituals, beliefs and world view. To illustrate in 1810, in Mexico, there arose a revolt of local people against Spanish Overlordship.

Religious symbols evoke powerful and deep sentiments and everlasting moods. Yet due to social change, one dominant symbol may acquire different meanings in various socio-historical, socio-political, social-structural contexts. Religious symbols are most often manipulated, to facilitate mobilization of a collectivity, around a cause. For instance, when there is an upsurge militant Hinduism, the elephant-headed, Lord Ganesh is represented as holding trishuls, spears and swords. When there is social change, we find a corresponding change in the representation of religious symbols, and the interpretation of their meaning.  

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