functionalism

Question 1

functionalism intro

Answer 1

• society is a system of interrelated parts/social institutions eg religion family
• society is like an organism: has the basic needs in order to survive
• Argue: religion can meet the basic needs for social order and solidarity so that society’s members can co operate
• Religion helps make a value consensus to prevent society becoming to individualistic and pursuing their own selfish desire. This can be CRITICISED by contempary socs which are characterised by diversity and a decline in religious beliefs

Question 2

Emile Durkheim: the sacred and profane

Answer 2

• by worshiping god your worshiping soc
• key feature of religion isnt belief in spirts/supernatural but a fundamental distinction between the sacred and profane found in all religions
  SACRED= things set apart + forbidden, inspire feelings of awe fear and wonder + surrounded by taboos and prohibitions
  PROFANE= no special significance, ordinary and mundane

religion = rarely individual beliefs, rather its collective rituals and worship in relation to the sacred

CONCLUSION:
- the fact the sacred evoke such powerful feelings to durkheim means its because they represent something in power, in his view this can only be society itself as its yhe only thing to command such feelings
- when they worship the sacred symbols people are therefore worshipping society itself
- although these vary from religion, durkheim believes they all preform the same function, uniting believers into a single moral community

Question 3

Emile Durkehim- Totemism

Answer 3

• essence of religion could be found by studying it in its simplest form in the simplest type of society - clan society
• For this, he used the study of the Arunta - an Aboriginal Australian tribe, a clan system
  ARUNTA:
  consists of bands of kin who preform rituals involving worship of a sacred totem which is the clans emblem eg animal/plant which symbolises their identity and origins. By preforming the rituals they are reinforcing the groups solidarity and sense of belonging
  DURKHEIMS CONCLUSION OF ARUNTA:
  when they worship the totemic animal they are actually worshiping society even if they arent aware as it inspires feelings of awe as it represents the power of the group on which the individual is ‘utterly dependant’

Question 4

Durkheim - collective conscience

Answer 4

• the sacred symbols represent society’s CC
• CC is the shared norms values and beliefs that makes social life and co operation between individuals possible, without soc would disintegrate
• Durkheim: shared religious rituals reinforce CC as it binds individuals together reminding them that they are part of a single moral community which they owe their loyalty to
• rituals: remind them of the power of society as without it they are nothing, they owe everything to it

Question 5

Durkheim - religion preventing anomie

Answer 5

• religious and civil ceremonies prevents anomie as it encourages the awareness of common membership of an entity greater than the individual
  EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT:
  during times of significant social upheaval certain religious moments have grown rapidly EG methodism became very popular amongst the working class during the industrial revolution
• religion can also help people come to terms with life changing events eg the loss of a close relative
• funeral ceremony allows people to adjust to their new situation and the collective morning emphasises the fact that the group outlives the passing of any individual and that there is support to its members

Question 6

2 Durkheim A03 points

Answer 6

1. WORSLEY: durkheims opinions on totemism is unsound, as within tribes there tends to not be much distinction between the sacred and profane. Even if this theory is correct, it doesnt prove he discovered the essence of all other religions
2. Its hard to apply to large and religiously diverse societys eg Uk where different religious groups may be in conflict eg Northern Ireland

Question 7

Bronislaw Malinowski - Psychological functions

Answer 7

• Agrees with Durkheim that religon promotes solidarity but does by preforming psychological functions for individuals , helping them cope with emotional stress which would undermine social solidarity
  Religion preforms this role in 2 ways
  1. Where the outcome is important but uncontrollable and thus uncertains (produces anxiety and tension) STUDY: of trobriand Islanders of the Western Pacific, he contasts 2 things:
  
  1. Lagoon fishing: safe and uses predictable and successful method of poisoning, no ritual
  2. Ocean fishing: dangerous and uncertain, always accompanied with ‘canoe magic’, rituals to ensure safe
     and successful expedition. Gives people sense of control easing tension, gives confidence to undertake
     hazardous tasks and reinforce group solidarity
• he sees rituals as serving as a ‘god of the gaps’ (filling in the gaps of human beings control over the world eg being unable to control the outcome of a fishing trip)
  2. At the time of life crises: events eg marriage, birth, death and puberty mark major disruptive changes in social groups, religion helps reduce the disruption. All of the above life events are marked by religious rituals eg funeral rituals reinforce the sense of solidarity for survivors.

Question 8

Talcott parsons - values and meaning

Answer 8

• religion helps individuals deal with unforeseen events and uncontrollable outcomes
  2 essential functions religion forms for society:
  1. It creates and legitimises society’s central values by sacrificing them (making them sacred). In USA Protestantism has sacrilised the core American values of individualism meritocracy and self discipline serving to promote value consensus and thus social stability
  2. It is the primary source of meaning particularly answering questions about the human condition eg why the good suffer and why some die young. These events may defy out sense of justice, making life seem meaningless thus undermining our commitment to society’s values. Religion answered questions eg explaining suffering as a test of faith that will be rewarded in heaven. By doing so it makes people adjust to adverse events or circumstances and helps maintain stability

Question 9

A03 Malinowski and parsons

Answer 9

TO SUPPORT:
1. many become more religious as they grow older and closer to death - supporting that religion helps people to cope with uncertainty and unpredictability
2. religious participation appears to increase after traumatic events eg 9/11 suggesting religion is needed to provide explanations to fill in gaps in our understanding
TO CRITICISE:
1. life crisis of birth is increasingly less likely to be surrounded by religious rituals in the UK as less than 20% of new borne are now christened