The presence of religion throughout the world suggests that religion serves necessary functions in society. Three functions of religion have been identified. They are social control , social cohesion , and emotional support . Social control is when religion encourages the people to comply to social norms. It does this through belief in the sacred writings of that religion.
Religion also controls society through the belief that the god commanded social rules.
Social cohesion is when religion helps to strengthen the bonds among people. Sociologists have found that people who participate in religious rituals and the sharing of beliefs fell less alone in the world and have a sense of belonging. Emile Durkheim, a famous sociologist, found that suicide rates were the lowest among people who participated in religious activities. Emotional support is provided in religion. Religion gives people the ability to cope with disappointment , suffering, and deprivation due to the belief that these things happened for a special purpose.