Identity and Religion

Most people adapt their religious beliefs to their lifestyle needs, rather than make religion or religious values the cornerstone of their major or minor decision making. For example, going to a place of worship may be a social outing rather than a significant means of spiritual refreshment. Religion and identity are initially developed, and first linked in intellectual theorizing about behavior, through the emotionally significant interpersonal context of families. Even though work systems may seem far removed from issues of identity and religion, most people end up with the particular kinds of work they do because of the interplay between their identities and religions or other belief systems. Identity and religion can have substantial impacts on religious traditional power structures and political institutions, because the mutuality of identity and religion may be an effective catalyst in precipitating changes in political organization. Identity and religion are inextricably related to each other, as well as to society and history.