Beliefs in Society

Question 1

What is a belief system?

Answer 1

A belief system is any integrated set of ideas which influences the way that people see the world. Types: Religious, political and scientific.

Question 2

What does monotheistic mean?

Answer 2

Belief in a single God. Christianity, Islam and Judaism.

Question 3

Polytheistic mean?

Answer 3

Belief in several gods. Hinduism and the religions of the ancient Greeks and Romans.

Question 4

What do Marxists argue about society?

Answer 4

Capitalist and other class based societies are dominated by a ruling class ideology.

Question 5

What do Marxists believe capitalist societies are divided into?

Answer 5

1. Bourgeoisie (dominant ruling class) - owns the means of production
2. Subject Class - has to work to ruling class in order to survive

Question 6

Marxists structure of society?

Answer 6

1. Economic base - means of production controlled by ruling class
2. Superstructure - non economic parts of society including the state, the mass media, education and religion

Question 7

Functionalist view on religion?

Answer 7

Society has certain basic needs

Social order for cooperation and social solidarity.

Question 8

What did Durkheim say religious institutions play in society?

Answer 8

Play a central part in creating and maintaining the value consensus, order and solidarity of a society.

Question 9

What was Durkheim interested in?

And what are they?

Answer 9

The fundamental distinction between the sacred and profane.

Sacred - things set apart that inspire feelings of awe, fear and wonder.

Profane - things of no special significance, ordinary or mundane.

Question 10

Durkheim and totemism?

Answer 10

Totem used to symbolise what the Arunta considered sacred. Which represented the values… in society. To bring a collective conscience. People working towards a goal. E.g. Hajj

Question 11

What does religion provide you with? (Durkheim)

Answer 11

Cognitive function - provides you with the rules, stories. Leading to a sense of identity. Leading you to conform. A collective.

Question 12

Durkheim on ‘primitive man comes to view society as something scared he is utterly dependent on it’ mean?

Answer 12

Man needs society. Needs a sense of belonging, identity and cohesion. God = society.

Question 13

What’s a conservative force?

Answer 13

A force that keeps things stable. Stability and social order. (Durkheim - cohesion, sacred, norms and values, unity…)
( Marxism - accept place)

Question 14

What does Malinowski agree with?

Through what times?

Answer 14

Malinowski agrees that religion reinforces norms and values and promotes solidarity.

Time of life crisis - religion can provide a source of comfort, explanation and meaning.

Question 15

What are the two factors Parsons believes in? (1965)

Answer 15

1. Provides and underpins core values - norms which regulates behaviour
2. Gives meanings and explanations to life crisis. Religion provides a mechanism of adjustment - way to return to a sense of normality.

Question 16

Marxism views of religion?

Answer 16

• Religion supports ruling class ideology.
• Religion is part of the ideological state apparatus.
• Religion is part of the superstructure of society - all things not directly correlated with production.

Question 17

Religion and ideology (Marxism). Leads to a…

Answer 17

False direction and offers hope and solutions illusions.
Distorts and obscures the true nature of reality (opiate).
Religion helps to keep the proletariat is a state of false consciousness.

Question 18

Marx on religion?

Answer 18

“Opium of the people” - poverty seen as fine - rewarded in afterlife. Compensation… hierarchy.

A drug that soothes pain and distorts reality.
Preventing revolution.

Question 19

Lenin on religion (Marxism)?

Answer 19

“Religion is a kind of spiritual gin”

• seen to be good even if you are poor. Rewarded later on. Socialise people into accepting their role. Proletariat don’t rebel. Don’t question it.

Question 20

Where does religion arise? Marxism

Answer 20

Arises where people lack economic security

Poor countries with life threatening risks tend to be more religious.

Question 21

Gramsci ( is not a conservative force ) and hegemony - persuading the masses.

Answer 21

Ruling class have to persuade the masses everything fine is fine and good.
However, religion can develop to support challenges to ruling class as church isn’t directly under control of ruling class. Which means they could challenge oppression and status quo.

Question 22

Maduro (not conservative) and Catholicism in South America. (liberation theory - expressed from poor - take example of Jesus - to bring a just society)

Answer 22

Catholic priests criticise + act against ruling class / bourgeoise (put pressure) however never done.

Question 23

Criticisms of Marxism?

Answer 23

• functionalist - ignores positive benefits
• feminist - acts to preserve male patriarchal power
• secularisation - religion is declining, with ruling class still in power
• too negative - comfort Malinowski
- can open eyes of the oppressed (maduro)

Question 24

Feminism and patriarchy?

Answer 24

Maintains patriarchal ideology which legitimises the oppression of women. Places of worship - Islam - segregated in worship. Religious texts - no female gods. Laws- divorce and Saudi Arabia.

Question 25

El Saadawi (1980) feminism?

Answer 25

The male dominance in religion is the problem. Monotheistic - male gods. Dominated

Question 26

Simone de Beauvoir (1953)? Feminism

Answer 26

Religion is oppressive to women. Used by men to control women. Religion compensates women for their second class status. They get a false belief rewarded in heaven and gain equality there.

Question 27

Parsons (functionalism) - mechanism of adjustment?

Answer 27

Gives meanings and explanations to life crisis. Religion provides a sense of adjustment - a means of emotional adjustment and a way to return to a sense of normality. Dealing with this helps to avoid feelings of anomie (normlessness)

Question 28

What did Daly say about religion? (1978) feminism

Answer 28

Christianity is a ‘patriarchal myth’. It eliminates other ‘Goddess religions’. Christanity is rooted in male ‘sad-rituals’ with its ‘torture cross’ symbol. It embodies women hating.

Question 29

What did Helen and Watson say about the Veil and Hijab?

Answer 29

Way of protecting women from sexual harassment (not a sign of oppression)