Beliefs In Society

Question 1

What do functionalists like Durkheim day about religion?

Answer 1

• it is sacred as people all come together to worship symbols - this represents collective consciousness via rituals etc.
• cognitive functions where people are kept stable.

Question 2

What do functionalists such as Malinowski say about religion?

Answer 2

Promotes solidarity through psychological functions - during time of life crisises e.g. death where people come together and talk about going to heaven etc to assure them.

To help them during uncontrollable events.

Question 3

What do functionalists such as Parsons say about religion!

Answer 3

It creates and legitimated society’s basic norms and values by making them sacred.

Also provided a source of meaning - answering questions about life e.g. everything happens for a reason … “god’s plan”

Question 4

Give an example of religion unifying people in a specific society:

Answer 4

American society - civil religion is a faith in the “American way of life”

Involves loyalty to the nation state and belief in God - people are taught values on how to be a good American citizen .. they have rituals and events and symbols which unify them.

Question 5

What do Marxists say about religion?

Answer 5

It is an ideological weapon used by ruling class to justify that suffering is inevitable and god given - poor have a false consciousness that they will be rewarded in the afterlife.

Even has a patriarchy - disobedience is a sin just like standing up against capitalism is wrong.

Question 6

Marxists day that “it is the opium of the people..the sigh of the oppressed creature” what does this mean?

Answer 6

Religion acts as an opiate to dull the pain of exploitation - a safety valve dampening down discontentment - it justifies suffering and workers are simply in a loop, nothing changes.

Question 7

Feminists think religion just reinforces gender roles and patriarchy, how? (3)

Answer 7

• religious organisations are male dominated - women are excluded from being priests, leading prayers in religions such as Islam etc
• religious laws and customs - e.g. women cannot pray or touch quran when they are menstruating, women must wear the “veil”
• symbolism such as Mary reinforce gender stereotypes - what a “good woman” should be like.

Question 8

How can we criticise Feminists? (3)

Answer 8

• the position of women is improving e.g. women are admitted to priesthood by Church of England.
• the veil worn by Muslim woman can be a symbol of liberation that enables her to enter the public sphere without losing her culture and history.
• al sadawwi would argue culture is mixed in with religion - makes religion seem patriarchal when really it is the misinterpretation.

Question 9

How can religion be seen as conservative? (2)

Answer 9

• traditional views and customs etc.

- maintaining status quo.

Question 10

Who believes religion is conservative?

Answer 10

Functionalists (in a good way, helping people deal with stress etc)

Marxists (in a bad way, props up capitalism and brainwashed)

Feminists (maintains women’s subordination)

Question 11

Weber sees religion as a force for change - explain beliefs of Calvinism:
He says this is the cause for Capitalism:

(2)

Answer 11

• divine transcendence is where god is so far above and beyond the world that no human being could know him - people feel a salvation panic.
• a vocation to serve God but in terms of an actual occupation - employed.

Question 12

How can religion be a force for change? Examples:

Answer 12

American civil rights movement - they shamed whites into changing the law by appealing to their shared Christian values of equality.

Question 13

What is the New Christian Right?

Answer 13

They are a politically conservative group who aim to make abortion, homosexuality and divorce illegal.

This is an example of a change religion can make.

Question 14

What do Neo-Marxists think of religion as a force for change?

Answer 14

They believe it has a dual character - it has the potential to bring about changingZ

Question 15

Liberation Theology:

Answer 15

A movement which was a strong commitment to the poor and opposition to military dictatorship - helped bring about democracy.

Question 16

Changes in religion:

Answer 16

• only 6% of adults go to church regularly in 2005 - Bruce and Wilson found this.
• religious affiliation is declining
• non Christian religions increasing
• secular

Question 17

How is Rationalism an explanation for secularisation?

Answer 17

Weber believes people are having a more rational outlook - there is no more enchanted outlook and the world is disenchanted due to laws of nature - science is able to develop:

Technological worldview - religion survives where technology is leaat effective - people only turn to praying.

Question 18

How is Structual Differentiation an explanation for secularisation?

Answer 18

Industrialisation has meant that specialised institutions developed to carry out diff functions previously carried out by church - religion is privatised now and church has lost its political power.

Question 19

How is social and cultural diversity an explanation for secularisation?

Answer 19

Industrialisation has destroyed stable local communities so religions base is destroyed - large impersonal loose-knit urban centres means diversity is high and there is no community based religious belief and practice.

Question 20

How is Religious Diversity an explanation for secularisation?

Answer 20

Church no longer has an absolute monopoly - this has undermines religion’s 100% certainty promise - everyone claims to have the truth so no one knows what/who to believe - they divert away from religion.

Question 21

How did Bruce contradict secularisation theory?

Answer 21

He found that religion still flourishes because of cultural defence - where religion provides a focus for the defence of national or ethnic identity.

And also a cultural transition for ethnic groups living in a different country and culture - only familiar thing they have.

Question 22

How do sociologists reject secularisation theory?

Believing without Belonging:

Criticise it:

Answer 22

Davie argues that people are believing without belonging - they don’t need to go to church to be religious - vicarious religion are increasing - it isn’t compulsory.

However can be criticised because if people are still religious they should be willing to attend church.

Question 23

How do sociologists reject secularisation theory?

Spiritual shopping

Answer 23

There has been a cultural amnesia - loss of collective memory so people are finding their one religions to best suit them which is why we have more pilgrims and converts.

Question 24

How is Postmodern society affecting religion? (2)

Answer 24

Globalisation means there is a relocation of religion - televangelism relocates religion to the internet and media, religion is de-institutionalised, people can choose what they want.

Religious consumerism means we can pick and mix elements of diff faiths to suit our tastes and make them part of our identity.

Question 25

Why do people argue there is a spiritual revolution - religion being replaced:

Answer 25

New age spirituality means people want to explore their inner self which means traditional religion which want obedience and duty are declining - winners are those who appeal.

Question 26

Why do people reject the idea of a spiritual revolution?

Answer 26

Because it is too weak and temporary - belief system can only survive if it is passed down to the next generation and it only requires weak commitment.

Question 27

What is Religious Market Theory / Rational Choice Theory?

Answer 27

Stark and Bainbridge believe secularisation theory has a distorted view of the past where people see a “golden age” and also look to the future and assume everyone will be atheists.

Question 28

What is Existential Security Theory:

Answer 28

Religion meets a need for security so groups and societies where people feel insecure have a higher demand for religion - this is why 3rd world countries are more religious.

Question 29

Give examples of fundamentalism in religion:

Answer 29

• ISIS
• English defence league (EDL)
• killings of shia/Sunni Muslims
• Holocaust

Question 30

How does Giddens see fundamentalism?

Answer 30

A reaction to modernity which undermines traditional norms e.g. about gender and sexuality.

Question 31

Fundamentalism can be seen as the changes in modern society

Explain The Clash of Civilisations

Answer 31

Religious differences are creating a new set of hostile “us and then” relationships with increased competition between civilisations for economic and military powers.

Question 32

How can God and Globalisation in India criticise the view that development undermines religion?

Answer 32

Because India had rapid economic growth and they are incredibly religious and use religion also as a way of educating people e.g. Hindu sciences such as astrology are being taught as academic subjects.

Question 33

How does Troeltsch distinguish between organisations?

Answer 33

Churches and sects

Sects are the opposite to churches as they demand real commitment from their members and are usually hostile to wider society.

Question 34

What are denominations?

Answer 34

They are midway between churches and sects - memberships is less exclusive and broadly accept society’s values except with a few minor restrictions but not as demanding.

Question 35

What are cults?

Answer 35

They are highly individualistic and are loose knit groupings without a sharply defined belief system.

Question 36

What are world rejecting NRM’s?

Answer 36

Have a clear notion of God and are highly critical of outside world and expect radical change - controls all aspect of their lives and have restricted contact with outside world.

Question 37

What are world accommodating NRM’s?

Answer 37

Often breakaways from existing churches - they neither accept nor reject the world, focusing on religious rather than worldly matters.

Question 38

What are world affirming NRM’s?

Answer 38

Often lack some of the conventional features of religions - offer followers access to spiritual or supernatural powers and accept the world as it is.

Question 39

Growth of Religious movements:

Explain Marginality:

Answer 39

Sects appeal to dispriviledged groups who are marginal to society - sects offer a solution to their lack of status by offering their members a religious explanation for their disadvantage.

Question 40

Growth of Religious movements:

Explain Relative Deprivation:

Answer 40

When people feel deprived compared to others - makes them turns to sects for a sense of community so they feel like they can fit in.

Question 41

Why does social change stimulate the growth of World rejecting NRM’s and world affirming NRM’s?

Answer 41

Because social changes give young people freedom - they are attractive because they are a more idealistic way of life.

Provide a sense of identity and techniques promising worldly success.

Question 42

How do sects and NRM’s change over a lifetime?

Answer 42

Some argue they die out because they don’t survive generations

Question 43

2 common themes among the new age:

Answer 43

Self spirituality

And

De traditionalisation

Question 44

How does the new age appeal to the postmodern society according to Drane?

Answer 44

People have lost faith in experts - the new age and modernity both bring a sense of fragmented identity and rapid social change

Question 45

Why are women more religious than men?

Answer 45

• women are socialistas more than men to be passive, obedient and caring which are qualities valued by most religions.
• lesser involvement in paid work - inequality means they turn to God.
• deprivation is more common with women so they’re more likely to join sects.

Question 46

Why are ethnic groups more likely to be religious?

Answer 46

Cultural defence

Cultural transition

Question 47

Why are younger people less likely to be religious?

Answer 47

A different society we are in - less religious so it is hard to maintain that.

Question 48

How is science an open belief system compared to religion?

Answer 48

Science can always be questioned and falsified whereas religion can’t be questioned or it is seen as sinful.

Question 49

How can science be seen as a closed belief system too?

Answer 49

Because it is based on scientific paradigms - scientists who challenge this are likely to be ridiculed.