Functionalism

Question 1

What perspective do functionalists see religion

Answer 1

Consensus perspective - they believe that society’s institutions work to ensure the good of all.

Question 2

Durkheim

Answer 2

Emphasises religious representations (totems) are important for social harmony. Sacred symbols help form the idea that society is more important than the individual, when praising the totem the individual is actually praising society.

Question 3

Parsons

Answer 3

Also emphasises regions purpose, highlighting how religion is often used to create morals and values which align with those of wider society

Question 4

The sacred and the profane

Answer 4

Durkheim believed that the role of religion was to separate the things that were sacred and profane in our society

Question 5

Socialisation

Answer 5

Believe religion acts as an agent for secondary socialisation - teaches its followers the norms and values of society. Reinforces the value consensus and underpins social order

Question 6

Collective conscience

Answer 6

Through Durkheims study of the Australian aborigines he included that most religions are based on totemism. He claimed that community worship provides people with a collective conscience, a shared understanding of the norms, morals, values and beliefs that promotes a sense of belonging in a society

Question 7

Malinowski (1926)

Answer 7

Claims that religion has psychological functions as it can help people overcome life-crisis. It achieves this by creating rites of passage such as funerals to help believers to deal with stress, religion is a source of stability which benefits society

Question 8

Civil religion

Answer 8

USA has its own civil religion called ‘Americanism’ that combines religious and national values

Question 9

Bellah (1967)

Answer 9

Due to the USA immigration and vast amount of diversity and inequality Americanism developed in order to avoid conflict. Americas notion of god is not just associated with any particular religious groups, god represents America as a whole. Religion is a tool used to promote social solidarity and stability

Question 10

key study - Trobriand islands

Answer 10

Malinowski observed that the islanders used religion to help them overcome the grief and uncertainty that was sometimes a result of their most sacred activities.