Beliefs perspectives

Question 1

evaluation of the functional definition

Answer 1

Robertson= argued that when a significant part of the world was communist rule, the functionalist definition allowed it to be viewed as a religion
since this definition do not specify belief in god or the supernatural
there is no bias against non-western religions e.g. Buddhism
avoids ethnocentrism

Question 1

functional definition

Answer 1

defined by the social and psychological functions it performs for individuals and society
Durkheim=defines in terms of the contribution it makes to social integration, rather than any specific belief in god or the supernatural

Question 2

substantive definition

Answer 2

focus on the content or substance of religions belief, e.g. a belief in god or the supernatural
Weber= religion is a belief in the supernatural power that is above nature and cannot be explained scientifically
substantive definitions are exclusive- line between religious and non-religious beliefs

Question 3

evaluation of substantive definition

Answer 3

Budd (1970)- people are reluctant to share their belied
Pritchard = the Neur tribe in east Africa did not refer to god as a noun but through adjectives, verbs or metaphors

Question 4

social constructionist definition

Answer 4

an interpretivist approach that focuses on how members of society themselves define religion
it is not possible to produce a single universal definition of religion to cover all cases, since in reality different individuals+ groups mean very different things by ‘religion’

Question 5

evaluation for social constructionist
definition

Answer 5

impossible to generalise about the nature of religion, since people may have widely differing views about what counts as a religion
difficult to measure

Question 6

Religion maintains a value consensus order + social solidarity

Answer 6

Durkheim= key features - not a belief in god but a fundamental distinction between sacred and profane found in religion

Question 7

ritualism

Answer 7

Durkheim= not just a set of beliefs but rituals + practices in relation to the sacred + are collective
fact that sacred things cause strong emotions = symbols of greater power= society itself

Question 8

Durkheim’s totemism

Answer 8

studied the arunta tribe- simplest from of society= clan society
bands of kin who come together to worship the totem
they are revering themselves as a community
think they are worshipping something eternal but they are really worshipping society

Question 9

the collective conscience

Answer 9

Durkheim’s view= sacred symbol represents societies collective conscience
regular shared religious rituals reinforce the collective conscience+ maintains social integration

Question 10

cognitive functions

Answer 10

durkheim + mauss= religion provides basic categories such as time, soace, number, reason etc
e.g. the creators creating the universe + the beginning of time
thus religion is the origin of thought, science+ reasoning

Question 11

criticisms of functionalist perspective

Answer 11

Worsley= there is no sharp division between the sacred and the profane
totemism might be true for smaller clans but this doesn’t mean the essence of all religion
explains integration within small communities but not the conflicts between them

Question 12

Malinowski

Answer 12

agrees with D that religion= social solidarity but does by performing psychological function for individuals
1) where the outcome is important but uncontrollable and uncertain
2) at times of crisis

Question 13

the Trobriand islands

Answer 13

lagoon fishing safe + predictability successful = no ritual
ocean fishing dangerous + uncertain = “canoe magic”- gives people a sense of control, eases tension, reinforces group solidarity

Question 14

At time of crisis = malinowski

Answer 14

major disruptive changes to social groups
religion helps to minimise disruption
reinforces feelings of solidarity among the survivors + notion of immortality gives comfort to bereaved
not as applicable due to secularisation
explains why people are religious sometimes and not others

Question 15

parsons

Answer 15

agrees with Malinowski but sees 2 other important functions
1) creates + legitimises societies central values
reinforces them via religion
2) it is a primary source of meaning

Question 16

Bellah

Answer 16

what unifies american society is civil religion
a belief system which attaches sacred qualities to society itself
civil religion has replaced religion
americanism unites faiths
integrates society in a way churches cannot

Question 17

Criticisms of bellah

Answer 17

functional alt. could be criticised in some way as functional definitions of religion
it ignores what is distinctive about many religions = the belief in the supernatural= too inclusive

Question 18

Althusser

Answer 18

religion as an ISA= an institution spreading the dominant ideologies
links to Gramski = hegemony= consent + acceptance by people that their positions were unchanged + inevitable = the american dream

Question 19

Marx and alienation

Answer 19

alienation exists in all capitalist societies the exploited turn to religion as a form of consolidation
religion acts as an opiate to dull the pain of exploitation with no help on earth but promises for the after life
theodicy of disprivilege = explanation

Question 20

evaluation of Marx

Answer 20

like any drug = only if people take it
doesn’t explain secularisation
trad. M = ignore religion as a form of resistance to the powerful + as an agent of social change

Question 21

Neo Marxist

Answer 21

disagree that religion is simply a part of the dominant ideology
religion can have some relative autonomy + independence from the ruling class
Gramski = counter hegemony = islamic fundamentalist fighting americanism of religion

Question 22

Maduro

Answer 22

liberation theology
Christ as a revolutionary like Che Guevara
how catholic priests in 60s and 70s played major roles in fighting the military dictatorship
combined teachings of marx+ Christ catholic priests = encouraged the poor to overthrow oppressive gov.

Question 23

Weber

Answer 23

studied Calvinists = in part led to the creation of capitalism
believed in being frugal with money + pre-destination (chosen for salvation)
looks for signs of being chosen + invest in communities

Question 24

Bruce + the civil rights movement

Answer 24

American civil rights vs New Christian right
ways =
1) taking the moral high ground = pointed out hypocrisy of clergy preaching love thy neighbour but supporting segregation
2) Acting as an honest broker= churches are often seen as a neutral ground and are often respected by many people

Question 25

Why was the New Christian Right unsuccessful according to Bruce

Answer 25

campaigners find it difficult to cooperate with people from other religious groups even on the same issue
lacks wide spread support+ met with strong opposition from groups who stand for freedom of choice

Question 26

Enoch Block

Answer 26

principle of hope
religion has a dual character
our idea of a utopia + better society
vision of a better world if combined with political organisation can bring about social change

Question 27

El Saadawi

Answer 27

radical feminist
religion as a conservative force
religion isn’t patriarchal but maintains dominant culture which is
religious prop of cultural ideas + maintains patriarchy

Question 28

Armstrong

Answer 28

Women’s exclusion from the priesthood is clear evidence of marginalisation + patriarchy

Question 29

Evaluation of Armstrong

Answer 29

Woodhead
intersectional feminist
religious forms of feminism
hijab as a tool for freedom not oppression

Question 30

De Beauvoir

Answer 30

men traditionally have controlled patriarchy + use women to indoctrinate women into patriarchy + religion
instrument of deception = women believe religion is to better themselves but really it is to maintain patriarchy