Jesus Christ and Functionalist and Conflict Theory Essay

Jesus Christ sought to improve the individual, the component of society, and as result, his teaching ideally aims to advance the well-being of society as a whole. The four Gospels and the book of Acts thoroughly demonstrate the extensive sociological knowledge that was present in Jesus’ teaching. His message facilitates personal reform, rather than change in the social structure alone. Although Jesus establishes the church as a social institution, he does so, only after a number of individuals become his followers. Jesus teaches that society should be orderly. In order to understand his approach, one must first understand the functionalist theory. He conveys his message with a common language that is appropriate to the situation,†¦show more content†¦Although one may claim Jesus was a strict functionalist, his focus was more on the divine order, expressed in unity, love, communion, and oneness, rather than a caste-like system. By eradicating the individual personal ills that damage society, Jesus helped increase the body of knowledge that promotes societal harmony. His main opposition was from the Pharisees, Sadducees, teachers of the Law of Moses, and the Chief Priests, who mistook his efforts of teaching the people as a threat to their prestigious social positions. The class disparity is evident pervasively throughout the four gospels and Acts, a vivid example being the death of John the Baptist whom Herod beheaded. When John spoke out against Herod’s immoral behavior, Herod used his higher social position and authority to suppress John’s voice and as a result murdered him. John’s limited social mobility and high status consistency forced him to suffer the consequences of his actions, while Herod’s murder went unpunished by the Roman officials. Social position therefore played a significant role in influencing the lives of ordinary individuals living in the New Testament times. The various symbols Jesus employs in his preaching reflect the common lives of most of his hearers. The agrarian and pastoral themes were especially popular, because many Israelites were farmers and shepherds. Most of Jesus’ parables andShow MoreRelatedBirmingham Jail Functional Theory1638 Words   |  7 PagesBirmingham Jail† shows the way of nonviolent adjustment of the social conflict and stages of this way: â€Å"collection of the facts to determine whether injustices exist negotiation; self-purification; and direct action† (MLK np.). Martin Luther King was the first person in western history to show that you can achieve change without going into violent measures. While taking a sociological viewpoint and following two of its major theories. 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