ABSTRACT Social cohesion is the cornerstone of social relationships, which depend critically on the social systems that determine people’s behaviour. Members of society are defined by their cultural values and beliefs, in terms of which interactions may meet with social approbation or disapprobation. In any society, interactions that draw endorsement from other people are more likely to be welcomed and encouraged, as opposed to interactions that elicit disapproval within the social structure. This article is intended to clarify the concept of social cohesion by reviewing its inherent dimensions in context with the sociological perspectives exemplified in O. E. H. M. Nxumalo’s short story, Lo mngcwabo ngowabakhethiweyo (This Funeral Is for the Chosen Ones). The dimensional notion of social cohesion is considered in light of sociological approaches that are prominent in the ongoing critical debate around social relations in context with religion as a pivotal agent in establishing social cohesion and stability within a broader society. At present, religion is considered a belief system that shapes people’s thinking and world view, and by the same token serves as a social institution that mediates social action as an expression of how people use beliefs and practices to attribute meaning to their existence.

中文翻译：

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作为社会稳定的主要要求的社会凝聚力的社会学观点

摘要 社会凝聚力是社会关系的基石，它严重依赖于决定人们行为的社会制度。社会成员由他们的文化价值观和信仰定义，根据这些价值观和信仰，互动可能会遇到社会认可或不认可。在任何社会中，与在社会结构中引起反对的互动相比，获得其他人认可的互动更有可能受到欢迎和鼓励。本文旨在通过回顾其内在维度并结合 OEHM Nxumalo 的短篇小说 Lo mngcwabo ngowabakhethiweyo（此葬礼是为被选中的人）中所体现的社会学观点来阐明社会凝聚力的概念。社会凝聚力的维度概念是根据社会学方法来考虑的，这些方法在围绕宗教背景下的社会关系进行的批判性辩论中很突出，作为在更广泛的社会中建立社会凝聚力和稳定的关键因素。目前，宗教被认为是一种塑造人们思想和世界观的信仰体系，同样作为一种社会制度，作为一种社会行为的中介，作为人们如何利用信仰和实践来赋予其存在意义的表达。