Beliefs in Society Flashcards
Parsons, being a functionalist, what is his view on religion..’Value and meaning’
Parsons sees religion as helping individuals to cope with unforeseen events and uncontrollable outcomes. It creates and legitimates society’s central values (sacralising them) and serves to value consensus and thus social stability, and it is the primary source of meaning (answering ‘ultimate questions’ about the human condition).
What does Malinowski claim about religion in his study of the ‘trobian islands’
He claims that religion exists to help individuals through the crises of life and also provides an explanation for apparently random or inexplicable occurrences, therefore giving a meaningful framework for the individual.
What does Durkheim state in terms of ‘cohesion and stability’ in regards to religion?
For Durkheim the key feature of religion was not a belief in God or the supernatural, but the distinction between the sacred and the profane.
He used studies of the Anita, Australian Aboriginal tribe with a clan system. By observing this tribe he claimed that the sacred items, in which he called ‘totems’ represent society’s collective conscience.
Regular shared religious rituals reinforce the collective consciousness and hence maintain social integration.
Religion strengthens us to face life’s trials and motivates us to overcome obstacles that would otherwise defeat us.
What does Marx claim about religion?
Marx seems religion as the product of alienation. In dehumanizing conditions, the exploited turn to religion as form of consolation. As Marx puts it, religion:
‘Is the opium of the people. It is the sight of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, the soul of soulless conditions, the spirit of a spiritless situation.’
Religion acts as an opiate to dull the pain of exploitation. It makes the underlying problem of exploitation that creates the need for it. It arises out of suffering and acts as consolation for it, but fails to deal with its cause, namely class exploitation.
What is the evaluation of the functionalist view of religion?
- They emphasize the social nature of religion and the positive functions it performs such as ‘the collective consciousness’ however, it neglects the negative aspects such as religion being a source of oppression of the poor or women.
- It also ignores religion as source of division and conflict, especially in complex modern societies where there is more than one religion – e.g. Northern Ireland.
Why does Marx see religion as an ideology?
For Marx, ideology is a belief system that distorts people’s perception of reality in way’s that serve the interests of the ruling class. In Marx’s view religion operates as an ideological weapon used by the ruling class to legitimate the suffering of the poor as something God-given, and that they will be favored in the after-life, Such idea creates a false consciousness – a distorted view of reality that prevents the poor from acting to change their behavior.
What is the ‘hindu caste system’ and how does it legitimise inequality?
Caste is a system of social stratification based on ascribed status. You are born into the same caste as your parents and marriages between castes is forbidden.
The doctrines of reincarnation and karma serve to maintain inequality by assuring those at the bottom of the caste system that their obedience will be rewarded or disobedience punished by reincarnation into a higher or lower caste.
What does Bellah state on civil religion?
A belief system that attaches sacred qualities to society itself. American civil religion involves loyalty to the nation-state and a belief in God, both of which are equated with being a true American.
Why does Lenin describe religion as ‘spiritual gin’?
He claims that the ruling class use religion cynically to manipulate the masses and keep them from attempting to overthrow the ruling class by creating a ‘mystical fog’ that obscures reality.
Religion also legitimates the power and privilege of the dominant class by making their position appear to be divinely ordained.
What is the evaluation of Marxist view on religion?
- Marx shows how religion may be a tool of oppression that masks exploitation and creates false consciousness. However he ignores the positive functions of religion.
- Althusser rejects the alienation idea as unscientific and based on a romantic idea that human beings have a ‘true self’.
What evidences are there of patriarchy in religion?
Religious organisations are mainly male-dominated. Karen Armstrong sees women’s exclusion from priesthood of most religions as evidence of their marginalisation.
Places of worship often segregate the sexes and marginalise women, for example seating them behind screens while the men occupy the central and more sacred spaces. Holm describes this as the devaluation of women in contemporary religion.
Sacred texts largely feature the doings of male gods, prophets, and are usually written and interpreted by men.
Religious laws and customs may give women fewer rights than men. Religious influences on cultural norms may lead to unequal treatment. Many religions legitimate and regulate women’s traditional domestic and reproductive role, such as the catholic church banning abortion and artificial contraception.
What are Nawal El Saadawi’s view about religion?
She claims that while religion may be used to oppress women, it is not the direct cause of their subordination. She claims this is the result of patriarchal forms of society coming into existence in the last few thousand years.
Why does Woodhead criticize feminist explanations of religion?
She claims there are ‘religious forms of feminism’ that they use to gain greater freedom and respect.
Woodhead claim that the hijab or veil worn, instead of being seen as a sign of oppression, some muslim women choose to wear the hijab to escape the confines of the home and enter education and employment. For them, the hijab is a symbol of liberation that enables them to enter the public sphere without losing their culture and history.
Why does Weber see religion as a force for change?
Weber argues that religious beliefs of Calvinism helped to bring about major social change - specifically, the emergence of modern capitalism.
What are the calvinist beliefs that Weber speaks of?
Predestination - God predetermined which souls would be saved - and individuals could do nothing whatsoever to change this. God’s decision is already made and cannot be altered.
Divine transcendence - God was so far above and beyond this world that no human being could claim to know his will. Weber calls as salvation panic in the Calvinists. They could not know whether they had been chosen to be saved, and they could not do anything about to earn their salvation.
Asceticism - Refers to abstinence, self-discipline and self-denial.
The idea of a vocation or calling - Constant, methodical work in an occupation, not in a monastery.
Benjamin Franklin ‘Lose no time; be always employed in something useful’.
