Beliefs

Question 1

What was Durkheim’s definition of Religion

Answer 1

Functionalist definition - focus on the functions - sacred (creates awe feeling) + profane

Question 2

What was Weber’s definition of Religion

Answer 2

Substantive definition - Rel. as belief in a superior supernatural power that is above nature

Question 3

What is Aldridge’s definition of Religion

Answer 3

Social constructionist definition - not possible to produce a single universal definition as individuals and groups mean different things

Question 4

What is Durkheim’s (functionalist) view on religion

Answer 4

Rel. maintain social solidarity + by worshipping the totem, in reality worshipping society itself with collective rituals

Question 5

What is Malinowski (Functionalist) view on religion

Answer 5

rel. performs psychological functions - where the outcome is important but uncontrollable and uncertain and at times of life crises

Question 6

What is Bellah’s (functionalist) view on religion

Answer 6

Civil religion - attach sacred qualities to society itself eg American culture

Question 7

What is Marx’s view on religion

Answer 7

Rel. is the opium of the masses - dull pain and legitimises inequality

Question 8

What is Armstrong’s (feminist) view on religion

Answer 8

see women’s exclusion from the priesthood of most rel. as evidence of their marginalisation

Question 9

What is Woodhead (feminist) view on religion

Answer 9

Rel. is a form of feminism - isn’t always oppressive as there are ways women use religion to gain freedom and respects eg hijabs

Question 10

How is religion a conservative force according to Gramsci

Answer 10

Rel. maintains class inequality through the dominant hegemony

Question 11

How is religion a conservative force according to DeBeauvoir

Answer 11

Rel. propped up patriarchy by compensating women for their second-class status

Question 12

How is religion is a force for change according to Weber

Answer 12

Calvinism had brought about the right cultural climate for capitalist ideas + practices to develop due to predestination

Question 13

How is religion is a force for change according to Bruce

Answer 13

American civil rights movement used rel. as a mobilising force against racism through taking moral high ground + church acting as an honest broker

Question 14

Define Stark and Bainbridge sects and cults

Answer 14

. Sects - splits in existing organisation - break away from churches
. Cults - new religion- offer this-worldly benefits for individuals suffering ‘psychic deprivation’ (normlessness) + organismic deprivation (health issues)

Question 15

What are Wallis 3 types of NRM

Answer 15

• World - rejecting - world inherently evil or corrupt
• World - Accommodating - focus on spiritual
• World - affirming - offer spiritual enrichment

Question 16

What are Stark + Bainbridge 3 types of cults

Answer 16

. Audience cult - participant is a passive consumer
. Client cult - has a relationship with its adherents akin to doctor/patient relationship
. Cult movement - looks to fulfil all spiritual needs of their customers

Question 17

What did Neibur say about sects

Answer 17

Sects are short lived - enthusiastic fervour is hard to maintain = deaths of sect or it will adapt + become less of a protest movement and more tolerant

Question 18

What is Miler and Hoffman explanation to why men are less religious then women

Answer 18

Men are more willing to take risks + higher levels of religiosity are evident among the risk averse

Question 19

What is Davie explanation to why women are more religious then men

Answer 19

Women are closer to life + death than men due to childbirth + childcare + care responsibilities

Question 20

What is Bruce’s cultural defence

Answer 20

Rel. can offer support + sense of cultural identity in an uncertain environment

Question 21

What is Herbeg cultural transition

Answer 21

Rel. can be a means of easing the transition to new culture - provide support and sense of community

Question 22

Which group that new religious movement mainly attract according to Wallis

Answer 22

Well- educated m/c

Question 23

Why are older people are likely to be interested in spirituality according to Voas and Crockett

Answer 23

Ageing effect - come closer to the end of their lives = interested what comes next

Question 24

What is Weber explanation to secularisation

Answer 24

Rationalisation - medieval catholics world - believed there was a ‘enchanted gate’ with Gods and Devils. Now we are disenchanted and choose science

Question 25

What is Parson’s explanation to secularisation

Answer 25

**Structural differentiation** - process of specialisation occurs with the development industrialisation - other institutions take over role of church

Question 26

What is Berger explanation to secularisation

Answer 26

**Religious diversity** - expose to different religion = broken down the plausibility structure

Question 27

What is Stark and brainbridge’s religious market theory

Answer 27

Secularisation theories claims tjere was a **‘golden age of rel.’** instead rel. go through a cycles of temporary secularisation then rel. revival

Question 28

What is Norris and Inglehart’s existential security theory

Answer 28

Major function of rel. is to provide certainty therefore, rel. is strong in societies with low levels of **existential security**

Question 29

Why does Davie believe that secularisation is not happening

Answer 29

People **‘believing without belonging’** as people use churches as spiritual health service - **vicarious rel.**

Question 30

Why does Lyon believe that secularisation is not happening

Answer 30

Growth of prayer online + digital prayer that is now more **privatised**

Question 31

Why does Hervieu-Leger believe that secularisation is not happening

Answer 31

**Spiritual shopping**

Question 32

Wheat does Huntington say about rel. in global context

Answer 32

**Clash of civilisation** - globalisation = increased contact between civilisation and= conflict - Nation states less significant on identity = left gap thst rel. filled in

Question 33

What does Amanda say about Rel. in global context

Answer 33

India is the world’s fastest growing economy + Hinduism is also growing - believe it is their Hindu values that led to economic prosperity = **ultra - nationalism**

Question 34

How does Kuhn argue that science is a closed belief system

Answer 34

**Paradigm** - science is accepted by majority + if one person disagrees = kicked out as sciences = hard to change

Question 35

What criticism that Lyotard started against science

Answer 35

Science relies on **meta-narratives** = falsely claims to find the truth. Science is **technoscience** + serves capitalist by producing commodities

Question 36

How does Herberg explain that Religion can be a open system

Answer 36

Some are open to change + have diluted their beliefs to maintain relevance in society eg Female bishops

Question 37

How does Popper explain that science is a open system

Answer 37

**Falsification** - open to challenges

Question 38

How are world + views ideologies product of intellectuals that cannot relate to everyday according to Mannheim

Answer 38

We detach ourselves from ideologies + create an objective world. This would created by a **‘free fleshing intelligentsia’**