Religion in the history of society, as we know, has not always emerged as a relatively independent spiritual formation. Thus, in the conditions of primitive society, characterized by the syncretic nature of forms of human activity, it was not a separate subsystem, but a qualitative aspect of community life. Therefore, such religious beliefs permeate virtually all spheres of public life, moreover, often were its essence. For this reason, a religious factor was, to one degree or another, present in all the (...) structural and functional elements of social life of the time. It was he who determined the integrity and vector of social development of primitive society itself. (shrink)

Religion in society is known to be an important factor in people's social interaction because it provides a certain type of communication. In the process of such communication, the necessary information and social experience of previous generations is transmitted. Therefore, religion is to some extent a historical memory of the community. Defining itself in certain sign systems, social experience of past generations becomes public and becomes the property of new generations of people. From now on, it is no longer necessary (...) for each individual individually to experience everything in their own experience. The individual experience of a person may to some extent be replaced by the results of the experience of their predecessors, and therefore the need to "invent a bicycle" every time. (shrink)

The radical changes that take place in the social world always directly or indirectly affect the content and forms of functioning of the religious complex in society. Significantly influenced by this process, as shown, were the Renaissance and Modern times, which through secularization processes brought to life new types of religiosity. Undoubtedly, they are greatly influenced by the proliferation and establishment of postmodern worldviews.

Today, in social life, religion is undoubtedly an important factor in the social interaction of people, which can significantly influence the process of stabilization or destabilization of society, determine the direction of its development. Most of the population of our country, according to specific sociological studies, considers knowledge about the functioning of religion and the principles of organizing its institutionalized forms as socially significant and necessary for them.

The problem of functioning of the religious complex in the conditions of postmodern society is quite urgent both in theoretical and practical terms. The need for its scientific analysis, its comprehension in the context of the radical changes that take place under the influence of such an outlook in the religious sphere, becomes obvious. Considerable contribution to the study of this issue was made by Ukrainian religious scholars M. Babiy, V. Bondarenko, M. Zakovych, A. Kolodny, O. Sagan, P. Saukh, L. (...) Filippovych, etc. (shrink)

Religion in our time continues to play a significant role in the life of society and personality. For an average person, it first of all appears as a set of functions that it performs for a particular community of believers. "Religion can be described through its functionality," A. Kolodnyi rightly observes, "but can not be understood through its essence".