Functionalist Approach Flashcards
Durkheim 2 functions
To reinforce social solidarity and value consensus.
Society divides objects and activities into sacred(inspire feeling of wonder/fear/prohibition) and profane(everyday experiences/ordinary)
E.g. the Koran is sacred in Islam compare to profound things which have no particular significance. This helps create beliefs so society doesn’t disintegrate.
A03- Marxist argue doesn’t create unity or reinforce social solidarity- Reinforces capitalism religion Is the opium of the people. Suggest religion a hallucination alters people perception in order to unconsciously encourage capitalism however religion socialises you into value consensus
Durkheim - Totemism
Totemism showed religion reinforce social into relations by taking part in rituals and worshipping together to bind individuals within society.
Eg Australian aboriginals came together to perform rituals and worship sacred totems and some of the clans emblem is animals or plants.
Worshipping totems is worshipping society unites people/symbolic power of totem create social solidarity/sense of belonging to moral community
A03- Post-modernist = totemism/ritual/worshipping Doesn’t work for all in society/its diverse ,not everyone will accept and believe same thing/challenging ideas and beliefs now
Malinowski- Religion promotes solidarity through psychological functions.
Religion helps cope with emotional stress so don’t affect social solidarity.
2 situations religion performs this role= Time where outcome of situation uncontrollable/time of crisis.
EG trobriand islanders lagoon and ocean fishing. Lagoon fishing safe and predictable no ritual or worship required/ocean fishing dangerous and uncertain ritual and worship hopeful for better outcome.
Religion creates comfort and unity and feeling of control.
A03- Marxist =Religion oppressive force creates false collective conscience/distract people from fact that it’s a capitalist stunt reinforcing inequality.
Talcott Parsons - religion creates guidelines/norms/values
Religion reassures people/help to cope with problems that disrupt life/providing answers to inequalities.
EG Adam and Eve suggest reason for women suffering/ idea of after life answer to injustice - punished or rewarded/ bible 10 commandments help set guidelines to maintain social solidarity.
A03- Feminist = religion is patriarchal and oppressive towards women showing religion creates conflict and division
Bellah =civil religion
Civil religion a belief system attaching secret qualities to society that integrates people the way religion doesn’t.
E.g. USA have national anthem/patriotic flag everywhere shows celebration of national unity and values = sacred / Saying God bless America shows worship of Americanism.
A03- however Functionalists put emphasis on positive functions and social nature of religion/neglects negative aspects such as oppression/Poverty/women inequality and general concept of social control/capitalism encouraged
