Functionalist theories of religion

Question 1

Durkheim on religion

Answer 1

Creating and maintaining value consensus, order and solidarity
Believes features are sacred and profane, totemism, collective conscience and cognitive functions of religion

Question 2

Sacred and profane (Durkheim)

Answer 2

Fundamental distinction between sacred and profane- in all religions
Sacred- set apart, inspire awe fear and wonder, surrounded by taboo
Profane- no special significance, ordinary and mundane
Religion provides rituals that are collective
Sacred evoke feelings as they are symbols of great power (society, only thing that can make this feeling), when worshipping sacred are worshipping society
Although sacred symbols vary, all unite believers into single community

Question 3

Totemism (Durkheim)

Answer 3

Essence of religion could be found by studying simplest type of society-clan
Studied Arunta (aboriginal Australian tribe), perform rituals involving worship of totem
The totem was clans emblem that symbolised clan origin, reinforce solidarity and belonging
When worship totem are worshipping society, makes feel awe of clan members and represents power of group

Question 4

Cognitive functions of religion (Durkheim)

Answer 4

Source of intellectual capacities, need categories such as time to think and to share thoughts
Religion origin of categories, e.g. creator making world at beginning of time
Division of tribes into clans gives humans notion of classification
Religion origin of human thought, reason and science

Question 5

Durkheim criticisms

Answer 5

Lack evidence on totemism, no sharp difference between sacred and profane, some clans share totems
Totemism hard to apply to large scale societies with religious communities in conflict, explain social integration but not conflict
Postmodernists argue cannot be applied to contemporary society as increasing diversity broke collective conscience, no longer shared value system for religion to reinforce

Question 6

Psychological functions (Malinowski)

Answer 6

Agrees religion promotes social solidarity but by performing psychological functions, help people cope with emotional stress that would undermine social solidarity
Two situations where religion performs this role: “where outcome is important but is uncontrollable and thus uncertain”, “at times of life crises”

Question 7

Where outcome is important but is uncontrollable and thus uncertain (Malinowski)

Answer 7

Study of Islanders in Western Pacific, compares fishing in lagoon and ocean
Lagoon fishing: safe and uses predictable and successful method of poisoning, no ritual
Ocean fishing: dangerous and uncertain, always use “canoe magic” rituals, ensure safety. Gives sense of control, eases tension, reinforces social solidarity
Sees ritual serving as “god of the gaps”, fills gaps in human control over world

Question 8

At time of life crises (Malinowski)

Answer 8

Events such as birth and death are disruptive changes to social groups
Religion minImises disruption e.g. funeral reinforces solidarity, notion of immortality and afterlife
Death is main reason for existence of religious beliefs

Question 9

Values and meanings (Parsons)

Answer 9

How religion unifies society, especially multi-faith society (America)
Civil religion- belief system that attaches sacred qualities to society
Bellah- civil religion integrates society in a way that the churches cannot, can claim loyalty of all Americans, expressed in signing national anthem, phrases such as “On nation under God”- not a specific God so brings different religions together

Question 10

Functional alternatives

Answer 10

Non-religious beliefs that perform similar function to religion e.g. reinforcing shared values and maintaining social cohesion
American civil religion has a God but Bellah says doesn’t have to e.g. soviet union beliefs sought to unite society
However, ignores what makes religion distinctive (supernatural)

Question 11

Functionalism evaluation

Answer 11

Emphasises social nature of religion and the positive functions, ignores negative aspects e.g. oppression of women
Ignores religion as source of conflict especially where more than one religion e.g. N Ireland where religious pluralism hard to see how unites
Civil religion overcomes this issue by having belief society shared by all but not religion as no supernatural