Functionalist; MALINOWSKI & PARSONS

Question 1

MALINOWSKI

Answer 1

• religion reinforces social norms and promotes social solidarity
• but he does not see religion as reflecting society or interpret religious ritual as the worship of society itself

Question 2

psychological functions

Answer 2

• religion plays for the individual in specific situation of emotional stress

Question 3

2 types of emotionally disruptive events where religion becomes functional:

Answer 3

1. TIME OF LIFE CRISES: events like birth, puberty, marriage and death mark changes and can be disruptive. Religion and rituals defuse the notion of crisis and these times. e.g. funeral bring people together in grief
2. UNCONTROLLABLE AND UNCERTAIN EVENTS: unpredictable occasions are preceded by rituals to reduce anxiety. e.g. Trobriand tribe do ‘canoe magic’ as a safety valve and calming nerves when going fishing (ocean is unpredictable)

Question 4

PARSONS

Answer 4

• he combines insights from DURKHEIM AND MALINOWSKI
• he identifies 2 essential functions performed by religion in modern societies:
  1. primary source of meaning
  2. creates and legitimates society’s central values

Question 5

2 essential functions performed by religion in modern societies:

Answer 5

1. primary source of meaning:
   - religion answers the ultimate questions about the human condition and helps individuals adjust to crises
   - religion provides answers to questions like suffering as a test of faith that’ll rewarded in heaven
2. creates and legitimates society’s central values:
   - religion provides guidelines for human action and standards
   - norms in society are an expression and reflection of religious beliefs
   - e.g in America Protestantism is sacralised american values of individualism, meritocracy and self discipline