In “Religion as a Cultural System,” Geertz (1965) explained that the model of reality reflects the physical relationships of reality, while the model for reality produces reality (p. 207). Both contribute to reality by being shaped by it and shaping it. In “To be Mormon, or Not to be,” Zuckerman (2012) described two ex-Mormons—Cecilia and Andrew. Cecilia described her struggle with temple garments, which all adult Mormons are expected to wear at all times (p. 59). Her reality was shaped by her religious beliefs. One day, unable to handle the heat, Cecilia decided to take them off, which reflects how reality also shapes religion. While religion can impose rules on one’s everyday life, those rules are ultimately confined by the limitations of reality.
Geertz (1965) described the psychological role of religion, which is to evoke moods and motivations (p. 208). Moods are temporary and vary by intensity, while motivations last longer and endow individuals with a sense of direction. If moods prioritize the conditions in which it arose, motivations are made complete by achieving the ends it conceived (Geertz 1965: 209). Both conditions manifested in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints’ involvement with the movement for Proposition 8. According to Cecilia, the Church galvanized people to take action, such as displaying anti-gay marriage signs, sought donations incessantly, and was mean-spirited and fixated on preaching about Proposition 8 with vigor (Zuckerman 2012: 61-62). The Church effectively kindled moods of anger and hostility by preaching about the immorality of gay marriage. It also provided guidance on advocating for Proposition 8, such as by making donations, which gained lasting impact by having a concrete goal.
In Geertz’s (1965) words, religion dons an aura of factuality, which refers to the sense of really real (p. 213). The religious perspective is deemed so true that it transcends truth in a secular sense and the thought of doubting the veracity of religious beliefs feels out of the question. This explains why Cecilia and Andrew did not criticize Mormon beliefs, despite the fact that irrational teachings of Mormonism often baffled non-Mormons (Zuckerman 2012: 69). Andrew explained that while the rational part of him questions religious beliefs, his overall attitude was that the stories of Joseph Smith could be factual. Geertz argued that it is this aura of factuality that establishes the persuasive authority behind religious actions (p. 213). Because they believed, the religious teachings seemed factual and compelled them to follow the model for reality (Geertz 1965: 212). When they stopped believing, religion lost its influence, as demonstrated by how Cecilia took her temple garments off when she stopped believing.
Geertz (1965) believed that religion affirms a general order of existence, which helps individuals make sense of their experiences and their world (p. 211). Without it, individuals feel baffled, lost, and suffer (Geertz 1965: 210). Andrew described the general order of existence that Mormonism established for him: a happy marriage with many children (Zuckerman 2012: 68). When Mormonism failed to explain his attraction to men and his erotic desires, he forwent his membership in the Church (Zuckerman 2012: 65-66). When Cecilia lost her virginity before marriage, she suffered from the thought of violating her religious beliefs and eventually renounced her religion when Mormonism's order of existence did not align with her perspective on certain events like Proposition 8. Both Andrew's and Cecilia's stories underscore the crucial role of the general order of existence in providing coherence, illustrating how its inadequacy can lead individuals to abandon their faith.