Role of Religion in Shaping Social Norms in Contemporary Society

Thomas Gisemba Onsarigo
Catholic University of Eastern Africa
Email: tgisemba@cuea.edu

Abstract: Religion plays a crucial role in shaping social norms and influencing community dynamics in various societies around the world including Kenya. Social norms are essential for addressing key societal issues. Social norms on the other hand are the informal rules that everyone shares about how people should behave, supported by expectations and approval or disapproval. Social norms are like a glue that holds society together. These social norms create a shared understanding of what is and what is not acceptable across societies. This paper investigates the role of religion and how it shapes social norms in contemporary society. The study follows Durkheim’s Functionalist Theory of Religion. It uses a case study research design, yielding a qualitative approach. The study population was 20 respondents from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa, using a convenient sampling technique. The sample size was determined by saturation method. Saturation in this study was achieved after interviewing 15 respondents from the institution. Data was collected using an in-depth interview guide for primary data and secondary data was obtained through analysis of scholarly articles, journals and online publications. Collected data was analyzed after coding, categorizing it into themes and analyzed thematically using content analysis. The findings in this study show that religion greatly influences social norms, moral standards, and social expectations. The study concludes that society is a complex system of interconnected parts that is driven beliefs. Religion therefore plays a key role in maintaining cohesion and social order in society there by shaping societal behavior.