Functionalist/Marxist theories of religion Flashcards
What type of force is religion according to functionalists?
What function does it perform?
Whilst studying the Arunta tribe what division did Durkheim identify between their religious items?
What were the difference in each item?
How did the Arunta tribe worship society itself according to Durkheim?
Why was his study criticised?
-Functionalists argue that religion is a conservative force.
-It performs a positive function of social responsibility.
-Durkheim identified a division between the sacred and profane.
-Sacred items(the totems of Arunta) had a greater, collective significance than the everyday profane items. Also being the emblem of the clan.
-Durkheim argued the Arunta people worshipped society itself through collective worship of the totem which represented thier identity.
-Durkheim is criticised for he did not carry out any research on the Arunta himself; all of his information came from secondary sources. Also religion in the simplest society may not be the same as everywhere else.
-Although this explains the integrative nature of religion it neglects what may happen in a society with multiple religions.(possible conflict).
From studying the Arunta tribe what positive functions did Durkheim idenitfy from religion
(4) ?
Explain these.
-Discipline, Cohesion, Vitalising, Euphoric.
-Discipline; Religious rituals impose self-discipline, encouraging individuals to behave socially rather than imply pursuing their own selfish course of action, which would be both anti-social and destabilising.
-Cohesion; Worship brings the community together. Through worship people reaffirm and reinforce the bonds that keep them together.
-Vitalising; Religious belief maintains traditions, ensuring that values are passed down from generation to generation and kept vital.
-Euphoric; Finally, if members of society were ever to become frustrated or lose thier faith, religion serves to remind them of their place in something much bigger. It prevents individuals from becoming anti-social.
Who coined the idea of ‘civil religion’?
What did he argue?
Is civil worship still based around symbols and supernatural?
What society did he study?
Is this a functional or substantive defintion of religion?
Do people need to worship the same God or carry the same philosophical beliefs?
-Bellah.
-Bellah argues that in some modern secular states people worshipped society.
-This worship was still based around symbols, but without the supernatural,
divine element of traditional religion.
-He study Americanism; the way that American society, which was religously diverse and increasingly secular, coalesced instead around America iteslf, with symbols being the flag, anthem & historical figures.
-A functional definition of religion.
-People could unite around ideas i.e. ‘God bless America!’ without worshipping the same God or practising the same religion.
What are the two positive functions of religion idenitfied by Parsons?
-Parsons argued that religion creates and legitimates society’s basic norms and values by sacralising them. This promotes a value consenus and social stability.
-In addition Parsons argues that it provides a source of meaning, answering ‘ultimate’ questions’ about life, e.g. why good people suffer. Maintaining stability.
What function did Malinowsky identify religion performs?
What two possible situations did he identify causes religion to perform this role(which tribal group did he study)?
-Malinowski argues that religion promotes social solidarity by performing pyschological functions for individuals, helping them to cope with stress that would undermine social solidarity.
-Where the outcome is important but uncontrollable and uncertain; In his study of the Trobiand Islanders, Mallinowski contrasts lagoon and ocean fishing. Lagoon fishing is safe but ocean fishing is dangerous it relied on rituals for a safe expidition. Giving the people control.
-At times of life crisis; Events such as birth, puberty, marriage and especially death are potentially disruptive changes. Mallinowski argues that death is the main reason for the existence of religious belief.
Why is the functionalist view of religion criticised?
What would positivists and other functionalists say about how Malinowski’s study conducted?
Bellah’s Americanism?
-Most of these theories are outdated in that they tend to describe a society with one unifying religion, practised by everyone.
-Malinowski’s study was a participant observation conducted over 4 years. Whilst this is a good point of view of validity. From a functionalist and positivist perspective it does mean that the data is unreliable and cannot be generalised to other tribes.
-Some question whether ‘Americanism’ can properly be described as a religion.
According to Marx how does religion operate as an ideological weapon? What does it create?
How does religion act as the opium of the people?
Why is Althusser critical of this?
-Religion is used by the ruling class to legitimate the suffering of poor as something inevitable and god given.
-Such ideas create a false class consciousness- a distorted view of reality that prevents the poor from acting to change their situation.
-In Marx’s view under capitalism workers are alienated as they do not own what they produce. In these dehumanising conditions religion is a form of consolation. Religion acts as an opiate to dull the pain of exploitation.
-Althusser rejects the concept of alienation as unscientific. This would make the concept an inadequate basis for a theory of religion.
What does Lenin describe religion as? What role does it perform?
How is this used by the ruling class?
What does religion suggest about the position of the ruling class? Disobedience?
-Lenin describes religion as a ‘spiritual gin’ that confuses the working class and keeps them in their place.
-The ruling class use religion to manipulate the masses and keep them from attempting to overthrow capitalism by creating a ‘mystical fog’ that obscures reality’.
-Religion also legitimates the power and privilege of the dominant class by making thier position appear divinely ordained. -Disobedience is not just illegal but a sinful challenge to God’s authority.
Criticisms of Marxist views on religion?
-Marxists ignore positive functions of religion.
-Neo-Marxists see certain forms of religion as assisting, not hindering the development of class consciousness.
-While a rejection of materialism can have the impact suggested by Marxists it may also encourage people to see the ruling class and capitalists as ungodly.
-Many of the teachings in various religions contradict capitalism. They contradict the idea that wealth is admirable and earned. Many texts criticise the greedy etc.
-Other means of entertainment have replaced Marx’s or Lenin’s opiate of the masses/spiritual gin.
