functionalism

Question 1

What are the three types of religious definitions Weber uses?

Answer 1

substantive definitions
functional definitions
social constructionist definitions

Question 2

Substantive definition

Answer 2

a belief in a superior/ supernatural power/ God that is above nature and cannot be explained scientifically
-exclusive definitions- a clear line between religious and non religious

Question 3

Functional definition

Answer 3

focuses on the social and psychological functions it performs for individuals and society

Question 4

Social constructionist definition

Answer 4

focuses on how members of society themselves define religion
-an interpretivist approach

Question 5

Durkheim

Answer 5

functional definition
-believes in contribution towards social integration > belief in God/supernatural

Question 6

Yinger

Answer 6

functional definition
functions performed for individuals e/g/ answering ultimate questions

Question 7

Aldridge

Answer 7

social constructionist view
for its followers scientology is a religion while many governments do not agree and sought to ban it
-influenced by who has the power to make the definitions

Question 8

Evaluation of substantive definition

Answer 8

): exclusive- does not consider religions without a god e.g Buddhism
-> a western bias
(: conforms to a widespread view of religion as a belief in God

Question 9

Evaluation of functional definition

Answer 9

(: inclusive, no western bias- religions do not need to believe in a God
): just because an institution helps to integrate people into a group, does not make it a religion e.g. collective chanting at a football match

Question 10

Evaluation of social constructionist definition

Answer 10

(: inclusive, no western bias
): impossible to make generalisations about the nature of religion and come up with a universal definition
(: can get close to people’s own meaning of religion

Question 11

What are some different ways that religion has been defined?

Answer 11

-a belief in some kind of natural power
-an expression of the belief in collective worship
-a set of moral values which guide actions
-a force which brings people together and unifies society

Question 12

Functionalist perspective of religion

Answer 12

-sees society as a biological organism- a system of interrelated parts or social institutions, all playing a vital role in maintaining the social system
-society has basic needs in order to survive:
-social order-> cooperation and social solidarity
- a consensus theory- no consensus= no shared norms and values

Question 13

DURKHEIM’S VIEW

Answer 13

-religious institutions play a central part in creating and maintaining value consensus, order and solidarity of a society
-religion played a vital role ‘social cement’
-interested in the fundamental distinction between the sacred and the profane
-religion is not merely a set of beliefs but definite practices or rituals in relation to the sacred- these rituals are collective
-to worship the sacred is to worship society as it is the only thing strong enough to evoke such feelings
-despite sacred items varying from religion to religion, they all perform the essential function of uniting believers into a single moral community
-collective conscience

Question 14

What is social cement?

Answer 14

what Durkheim believed religion was as it brings and holds people together

Question 15

What is the sacred and the profane?

Answer 15

sacred= things set apart that inspire feelings of awe, fear and wonder
e.g. praying, pilgrimage, holy books

profane= things of no special significance, ordinary or mundane

Question 16

What is the collective conscience?

Answer 16

Durkheim argues that the sacred items used in religion represent the society’s shared norms, values, belief and knowledge to make social life and integration possible
-without these, society would disintegrate
-emphasised the importance of collective worship
BUT this argument may not be wholly true e.g. an Atheist society has not got sacred items but still works functionally

Question 17

What is totemism?

Answer 17

the simplest, most basic form of religion
-studied the Arunta clan in Australia- all worshipped a totem (spiritual symbols such as animals)
-totemic rituals give members a sense of belonging and awe which they believe is reflective on the power of the group which each member is dependent on
-by worshipping the totem, they are worshipping society

Question 18

Cognitive functions

Answer 18

origin of human thought and gives us concept of time, space, cause and substance
e.g. Pagans saw solar eclipse as a sign from the Sun God, which gave the worshippers an understanding of what had just happened
-also gave a sense of classification

Question 19

Malinowski’s psychological functions

Answer 19

promotes social solidarity in two types of situations:
-where the outcome is important but uncontrollable e.g. Trobriand islanders- lagoon vs. ocean fishing
-at times of life crisis e.g. birth, puberty, marriage, death
(religion helps to minimise disruption e.g. funeral rituals enforce a sense of social solidarity among the survivors and notion of immortality gives comfort to the bereaved by denying the fact of death. Believes death is the main reason for the existence of religion)

Question 20

Parson’s 2 functions that religion plays

Answer 20

-creates and legitimates society’s central values but sacralising them e.g Protestantism has sacralised the core American values of individualism, meritocracy and self-discipline
-the primary source of meaning- answers ultimate questions

Question 21

Bellah- Civil religion

Answer 21

also interested in how religion unifies society, especially in a multi-faith society like America
Believes that civil religion is a belief system that attaches sacred qualities to society
e.g. Americanism and the American way of life to the nation-state and a belief in God expressed through rituals like the pledge of allegiance to the flag and the national anthem in America
-an ‘American God’

Question 22

Functional alternatives

Answer 22

non-religious beliefs and practices that perform functions similar to those of organised religion e.g. maintaining social cohesion
-e.g. Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union had secular political beliefs and rituals around which they sought to unite society
The problem with this, is it ignores what makes religion distinctive e.g. belief in the supernatural

Question 23

Strengths of Functionalism

Answer 23

-emphasises social nature of religion and the positive functions it performs
-the idea of civil religion overcome problem of religion as a source of division and conflict by arguing that societies may still have an overarching belief system shared by all BUT is this really a religion (as no supernatural)

Question 24

Weaknesses of Functionalism

Answer 24

-neglects negative aspects e.g. religion as a source of oppression of the poor or women
-ignores religion as a source of division and conflict esp in a complex modern society where there is more than one religion e.g. Northern Ireland- where there is religious pluralism (many religions- hard to see how it can unite people and promote integration)