Beliefs in Society theorists Flashcards
Oakley- feminism
ideologies such as science and religion have promoted the patriarchy for generations. reinforced women staying at home and men as the breadwinner
Weber- substantive
religion is based on the belief in a supernatural power beyond nature, which cannot be scientifically explained, establishing a clear distinction between religion and non religion
- wester bias- excludes religions such as Buddhism
Functional definition of religion
social/psychological functions, Durkheim: social integration.
Constructionist definition of religion
focuses on how individuals define religion, no universal definition
Aldridge- theory
followers of class scientology as a religion but governments denied it legal status as a religion
Malinowski- Functionalist theory
promotes solidarity by helping people cope with emotional stress e.g. exams
1. uncertainty - Trobiand islanders
2. Life crises
Parsons- Functionalist theory
religion creates and legitimises societies basic norms and values.
- helps people come to terms with new life changes e.g. death, puberty, marriage.
- Mechanism of Adjustment
Bellah- Functionalist theory
loyalty within the state- religion brings the American community together.
- Civil Religion- bringing people together. Not central around God but a central significance of the Flag and what it means to bring people together. E.g. Durkheim- Sacred
legitimising - Marxist view
Ideological tool for the ruling class to justify the suffering of the poor.
alienation- Marxist view
religion is a product of alienation and capitalism, used by the exploited for consolidation.
Evidence of patriarchy in religion- Feminism
- Religious organisations are male dominated- Women cannot become priests
- Segregated the sexes and marginals women- seating behind a screen in a synagogue
- Male gods and prophets and anti female stereotypes (eve)
- Catholic churches ban abortion
Woodhead- feminist theories
wearing a Hijab or veil by Muslims may be a means of liberation
2 ways that religion is a conservative force
- Upholds traditional beliefs on how society should be organised
- Conserves and preserve things as they are
Crockett - Secularisation
estimates that in a year, 40% or more of the adult population of Britain attended church on Sundays.
How does Bryan Wilson define secularisation?
the process whereby religious beliefs, practices, and institutions lose social significance.
Max Weber- Rationalisation
Refers to the process by which rational ways of thinking have come to replace religious ones.
Max weber- Disenchantment
Protestantism saw God as transcendent instead of the interventionist that Catholicism saw, this explained how although God created the world he didn’t intervene and let nature rule itself. This explained the work of unpredictable supernatural beings as predictable workings of natural forces.
Profane- functionalist
Everyday things in our lives, not treated as special. Most things around us are like this e.g. pen
Sacred- functionalist
Opposite of Profane. Durkheim uses this to describe things that are treated as special. e.g. school chapel, childhood teddy
collective conscience - functionalists
shared norms and values, beliefs and knowledge that make social life possible. it is reinforced through religious ritual
Secularisation
Refers to the decline in the importance of religion
what is compensation - Marxists
How religion makes life bearable. The way that religion soothes pain and distorts reality.
This prevents the proletariat from wanting change
what is social control- Marxists
How religion makes the proletariat conform. It involves a fear of being punished of they stray from religious guidance. This religious guidance serves the ruling class
what is the agent of legitimation- Marxists
How religion promotes hierarchy and a respect for those in power. Religion justifies inequality and says that this is natural
Ideological state apparatus- Marxists
Education, Family, Religion, Media
Repressive State Apparatus- Marxists
Police, Army- they have the power to reinforce ideas
Opium of the Masses- Marxists
- Religion provides false comfort
- Distorts reality
- Pacifies the working class
- Acts as an opiate to dull the pain of exploitation but opium makes the pain rather than treating its cause
Spiritual Gin- Marxists
- A tool for social control
- Prevents class consciousness
Ideology- Marxists
- prevents social change
- creating false consciousness
- legitimating class inequality
- religion acts as a ideological weapon used by the ruling class
- refers to an idea or belief that distorts reality to serve the interests of a dominant group
Alienation- Marxists
- Alienation from the product of labour
- Link between alienation and capitalism
- Alienation from self
- Alienation from others
- we have little control over our work
False class consciousness- Marxists
- refers to the idea that the working class are unaware of their true social and economic interests.
- form of escapism
Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the land (Matthew 5:5)
Going through difficult times now but then will get rewarded in the afterlife- stops people from trying to change their position. False class consciousness
It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God (Mark 10:25)
- It is extremely difficult and rare for rich people to go to heaven
- False class consciousness- poor people think they are going to be rewarded and go to heaven, so they continue to be oppressed.
The rich man at his castle, the poor man at his gate, God made them, high or lowly, and ordered their estate (Hymn – All Things Bright and Beautiful)
- God created the world- he created the inequality between the rich and the poor. God is aware of inequalities and does not help the poor- ideological state apparatus
Obligation and Consumption (Davie) - Religion, Renewal and choice
- Believing without belonging
- Spiritual Health service
- Religion isn’t declining and is taking a different more privatised form. Such as ‘Vicarious religion’
Spiritual Shopping- Religion, renewal and choice
picking and choosing which aspects they wish to keep while discarding those that don’t fit their personal beliefs or lifestyles.
why is there a decline of institutional religion? Religion, renewal and choice
- few parents now teach children about religion
- Parents encourage children to decide their own beliefs
- Young people lack religious identities due to weakened religious socialization
Why is spiritual shopping beneficial to society? Religion, renewal and choice
- Explains the decline of traditional religious authority.
- More focused on personal spirituality
- Acknowledges religious pluralism and diversity
- Reinterprets the secularisation debate
Why is spiritual shopping NOT beneficial to society? Religion, renewal and choice
- simplifies religious engagement
- exaggerates secularisation
- over emphasises on individualisation
- neglect of structural factors
what is post modern religion? Religion, renewal and choice
Refers to the way religious beliefs, practices and institutions are evolving as a result to a post modern society.
David Lyon- Religion, renewal and choice
He argues traditional religion is changing to a variety of new religious forms in recent decades.
- Globalisation, media and communications has resulted in the nature of religion to change
How has globalisation and media affected religion? Religion, renewal and choice
- Growth in interconnectedness of societies
- Leads to increase of movements in ideas and beliefs
- this also increases the diversity in churches with many religions
What is a ‘electronic church’- Religion, renewal and choice
relocated churches to the internet, allowing believers to express their faith without physically attending church
what is religion online? Religion, renewal and choice
A top down communication where a religious organisation uses the internet to address members of potential converts.
what is online religion? Religion, renewal and choice
A form of ‘cyber religion’ that may have no existence outside of the internet. allows for a sense of communication
what does Lyon argue? Religion, renewal and choice
we are now in a period of re- enchantment with the growth of unconventional beliefs, practices and spirituality
What is meant by the Holistic Milieu according to the Kendal Project?
An environment or setting that integrates all aspects of life such as mental, spiritual, physical and social.
What is meant by the Congregational Domain according to the Kendal Project?
Social and spiritual scape within the community where individuals come together to engage in collective practice and rituals.
what is Sacralisation?
turn to spirituality rather than God
Gill and Lundergaarde (Existential Security theory)
the more a country spends on welfare, the lower the level of religious participation
why are religious organisations oppressive to women? - Feminist views of religion
- Mainly male dominated even though women participate more in religion than men.
- Orthodox Judaism and Catholicism forbid women to become priests
Karen Armstrong- Feminist views of religion
sees the exclusion of women from the priesthood as evidence of their marginalisation.
why are places of worship oppressive to women? - Feminist views of religion
- Segregation and marginalisation of women in places of worship.
- women are seated behind screens or unable to see whereas men are at the front.
- In Islam, women menstruating are not allowed to touch the Qur’an.
- Taboos surround menstruation, pregnancy and childbirth – they are seen as polluting.
Holm- Feminist views of religion
describes this as the devaluation of women in religion.
why are sacred texts oppressive to women? - Feminist views of religion
- Largely feature the doings of male gods, prophets – usually written and interpreted by men.
- Stories often reflect anti-female stereotypes (ie, Eve/Delilah) and reinforce perceptions of women’s character.
why are religious laws and customs oppressive to women? - Feminist views of religion
- Women tend to have fewer rights than men, ie) in divorce – access to divorce, how many times they can marry, dress codes etc
- Religion also has an influence on cultural norms that lead to unequal treatment, ie) genital mutilation or punishments for adultery.
- Many religions legitimate and regulate women’s traditional domestic and reproductive role, ie) Catholic Church bans abortion, artificial conception.
woodhead- feminist views of religion
the exclusion of women from priesthood is evidence of the Catholic Church’s unease about the emancipation of women generally.
Daly- Religion IS patriarchal
Christianity is a ‘patriarchal myth’. It eliminates other ‘Goddess religions’. Christianity is rooted in male ‘sado-rituals’ with its ‘torture cross’ symbol. It embodies women hating!
Simone de Beauvoir- Religion IS patriarchal
- Religion is oppressive to women. Used by men to control women.
- Religion compensates women for their second class status. They get a false belief that they will be rewarded in heaven and gain equality there.
El Sadawi- Religion IS patriarchal
- Religion isn’t oppressive itself. It’s the male domination of religion that is the problem. This is due to the rise of monotheistic religions which are male dominated and where scriptures are interpreted/written by men ie) herbal medicine and witchcraft case study.
Woodhead- Religion is NOT ALWAYS patriarchal
There are forms of ‘religious feminism’ – where women use religion to gain freedom and respect
a) Hijab/veil
it can be a symbol against oppression.
Watson- Religion is NOT ALWAYS patriarchal
– interviewed 3 women about what the veil meant to them. Different views but generally positive. liberating/avoid lecherous stares.
identify 2 ways in which religion can be seen as a conservative force?
- ‘traditional’ defending customs, institutions, moral views, roles etc. Upholds traditional beliefs about how society should be organised
- It functions to conserve or preserve things as they are. It stabilises society and maintains the status quo
2 examples of traditional conservative beliefs held by religions
- Catholic church forbids divorce, abortion and artificial contraception. It opposes gay marriage an condemns homosexual behaviour
- Men should be the head of the family - traditional marriage of the COE 1602. the bride was to vow to ‘love, honour and obey’ but the groom is only required to ‘love and honour’
how do functionalists view religion as a conservative force?
See religion as a conservative force- functions to maintain social stability and to prevent society from disintegrating- creates value consensus - helps individuals to deal with stress
how do Marxists view religion as a conservative force?
Religion prevents social change. Legitimises and disguises exploitation and inequality, false consciousness in the W/C. Maintains the stability of capitalist society
how do Feminists view religion as a conservative force?
Acts as an ideology that legitimises patriarchal power and maintains women’s subordination in the family and wider society
Religion and Social protest- Steve Bruce
He was interested in how religion can lead to social change. he compares the role of religiously inspired social movements in America- the civil rights movement and the New Christian Right
Theistic religions
centred on a belief in a higher power
Animism
the belief in spirits and ghosts that can positively or negatively impact the human world
what are the characteristics of the church?
- Bureaucratic and closely linked to the state
- conservative and integrate with the social and economic structure of society
- open membership
what are the characteristics of sects?
- Not bureaucratic and hierarchal but are egalitarian
- radical in nature
- closed and controlled membership
what are the characteristics of NRM?
- young adults
- temporary membership
- led by a charismatic leader
what are the characteristics of cults?
- loose structure
- open membership
- expect people to live normal lives
what are the characteristics of the new age movement?
- emphasis on the self
- the self is the final authority
why are sects short lived?
- Problems maintaining commitment
- loss of the leader
- changing circumstances
- religious diversity
Organismic deprivation
Stems from physical and mental health problems. Women are more likely to suffer ill health and thus to seek the healing that sects offer
Ethical deprivation
Women tend to be more morally conservation. They are thus more likely to regard the world as being in moral decline and be attracted to sects, which often share this view
Social deprivation
Sects attract poorer groups and women are more likely to be poor