What aspect of religion can help individuals achieve a sense of control over their lives?

The aspect of religion that helps individuals achieve a sense of control over their lives is its ability to increase a sense of control. Religion often offers structured beliefs and practices that allow individuals to navigate uncertainties and challenges they face in life. By providing guidelines for behavior, answers to existential questions, and a framework for understanding the world, religious beliefs can empower individuals to feel more in command of their own lives. This enhanced sense of control can manifest in various ways, including the ability to cope with stress, make decisions based on moral or spiritual principles, and find reassurance in times of turmoil.

The other factors, while significant, contribute to different dimensions of religious experience. For instance, a sense of meaning is vital as it helps individuals understand their purpose and place in the world, which is important but does not directly correlate with control. Similarly, while religion can reduce anxiety, this relief is more about alleviating specific fears rather than the broader empowerment associated with control. Lastly, maintaining social order is a key function of religion but relates more to how religion impacts communities rather than individual control. Overall, the increase in a personal sense of control through religious frameworks enables individuals to feel more confident in facing life's complexities.