Functionalist theories of religion Flashcards
Functionalist theory of society
- Functionalists see society as like an organism, with basic needs that it must meet to survive. Each institution performs certain functions to maintain the social system by meeting a need.
- Society’s most basic need is for social order and solidarity. For functionalists, what makes order possible is value consensus- a set of shared norms and values for people to follow. For functionalists, religious institutions play a central part in creating and maintaining value consensus.
Durkheim- ‘the sacred and profane’
For Durkheim, the key feature of all religions is a fundamental distinction between the sacred and the profane
THE SACRED
are things set apart and forbidden, inspiring feelings of awe, defence and respect.
THE PROFANE
are ordinary things that have no special significance
The rituals of religion
A religion is more than a set of beliefs: it has sacred rituals or practices and these rituals are collective - performed by social groups
Sacred things create powerful meanings
Durkheim argues that sacred things create powerful meanings in believers because they are symbols representing something of great power- the collective conscience.
The essential function of sacred symbols
Therefore, when people worship sacred symbols, they are worshipping society itself. For Durkheim, sacred symbols perform the essential function of uniting believers into a single moral community.
Studying religion in its simplest form
Durkheim believed the essence of all religion could be found by studying its simplest form, in the simplest type of society. Thus, he used studies of the Aboriginal Australian tribe.
Aboriginal society- totemism
Aboriginal society was divided into in to clans whose members shared various duties towards each other. Each clan had a totem- a symbol, usually either an animal or plant, by which it distinguished itself from other clans. The totem was regarded as sacred and symbolised the clan’s God and own identity. The totemic rituals venerating it reinforce the group’s solidarity and sense of belonging
Supporting Individuals’ Adaptions
Durkheim recognised that religious belief and practice can provide individuals with a sense of renewed strength, confidence, serenity and enthusiasm, and help them either to endure the trials of existence, or conquer them. This keeps individuals within the group by supporting them through change and preventing anomie.
Reinforcing Collective Conscience
Without a collective conscience, a society cannot survive. And for Durkheim, regular acts of collective worship and shared ritual play a crucial role in ensuring society’s survival. In effect, the society’s members are repeatedly reaffirming their support for their shared values and beliefs.
Talcott Parsons
Religion is a source of meaning
Religion is the primary source of meaning for members of a society since it provides answers to questions about humanity and the world. This makes sense to the meaningless, helps people to adjust to their situation and promotes social stability
Religion legitimises the core values and norms of society
Religion provides core values and norms, which it socialises and legitimises. This keeps society running in consensus and harmony for the good of the system.
Bellah
America’s Civil Religion: A faith in America
Bellah developed on Durkheim’s argument that any human group can be unified by a shared system of sacred beliefs. He concluded that despite America’s social divisions, what largely unifies them was a ‘civil religion’: a faith in Americanism, which generates widespread loyalty to the nation state.
God and Americanism
God and Americanism appear to walk hand in hand. American coins tell the world ‘In God we trust’, American presidents swear an oath of allegiance before God and the phrase ‘God bless America’ ends speeches all over the USA. This ‘God’ refers to a more general application than the particular God of Catholics and Protestants, showing how the faith of Americanism unites American people.
