Functionalist theory on the Role of religion Flashcards
What is the Functionalist view on religion?
Religion performs positive function for society + individuals. Helps create + maintain social solidarity + helps reduce anxiety + stress for individuals.
What’s Durkheim’s view on religion?
The function of religion = to create +maintain value consensus + social solidarity.
Main feature of religion= distinction b/w sacred + profane. Sacred = symbols, ceremonies w/ holy meaning, e.g. cross, Turin shroud, etc. Profane =everything that makes up everyday life. Sacred symbols represent collective conscience – shared beliefs, values, traditions + norms.
Religion also includes rituals/ practices in relation to sacred + these practices always= collective – conducted in groups, e.g. Sunday Mass. In collectively worshiping society’s sacred symbols, its members =unwittingly worshiping society itself. Collective worship + rituals =crucial in maintaining collective conscience as via these rituals society’s norms + values = re-affirmed thus binding together society’s members.
Religion plays positive role in lives of individuals because religious belief + practices provide individuals w/ strength + confidence to face life’s obstacles.
What are Durkheims methods of research?
Method of research:
Durkheim’s analysis was based on studies of the religion of Australian Aborigines, which he called totemism.
Aboriginal tribes were divided into clans (societies). Each clan was represented by a symbol, a totem, usually in the form of a plant or animal.
Each clan regarded its totem as sacred. Therefore, in worshiping the totem, the clan was actually worshiping its society as the totem was the representation of the clan/society.
What are the criticisms of Durkheim?
Durkheim’s evidence is based on flawed evidence: he misunderstood the Aboriginal tribes and their use of totems.
It is difficult to apply Durkheim’s theory to culturally diverse societies – he used only a small scale non-literate sample where there is close integration of culture.
Only a minority of people today attend church so it is difficult to see how religion can be functioning to socialise the majority of society’s members into shared norms and values.
Religion often has dysfunctional consequences. Rather than binding people together, many of the world’s conflicts have been caused by religion, e.g. Northern Ireland.
He fails to explain the origins of religion.
What’s Malinowski’s view on religion?
Function of religion + examples:
Function of religion = to promote social solidarity, but this is in response to psychological needs of individuals in specific situations of emotional stress.
Stressful situations threaten social solidarity as they disrupt social life. In particular, Malinowski identified 2 events which are threat to social solidarity:
1)Life crises – ie, birth, puberty, marriage + death = potentially disruptive + involve religious rituals. These religious rituals, when performed in times of life crises, act to minimise potential threat to social solidarity. Eg, in times of death, religion’s promise of life after death comforts bereaved + funeral ceremony binds bereaved with rest of society.
Important, but uncertain + uncontrollable activities – ie, going into battle. In these events, religion provides sense of control, diminishes anxiety + unifies the group.
What’s Malinowski’s method?
Method of research:
He carried out an ethnographic study; immersing himself fully in the life of the tribe he was studying on the Trobriand Island.
He found that when the tribe fished in the safe lagoon, they had no rituals beforehand as fishing in the lagoon was safe and predictable. However, before they would go fishing in the ocean they held religious ceremonies. This is because fishing in the ocean was dangerous, uncontrollable and uncertain. Religious ceremonies acted to give the fishermen the confidence and a sense of control.
What are the criticisms of Malinowski?
Religion often has dysfunctional consequences. Rather than binding people together, many of the world’s conflicts have been caused by religion.
He fails to explain the origins of religion.
What’s Parsons view on religion?
Function of religion + examples:
Function of religion = to create meaning for members of society + provide core values of a culture thus promoting social solidarity.
Religion provides core values by sacralising them – making them sacred. Eg, Ten Commandments have become part of general values of society, e.g. ‘Thou shall not kill’.
Religion creates meaning by providing answers to ‘ultimate’ questions, e.g. Why is there suffering?, why do evil people prosper?.
What’s Parsons method?
Method of research:
Study of the American society in 1950s + 1960s.
What’s Parsons criticisms?
Only minority attend church so difficult to see how religion can be functioning to socialise majority of society’s members into shared norms + values.
Religion often has dysfunctional consequences. Rather than binding people, many of world’s conflicts = caused by religion.
Fails to explain origins of religion.
What’s Bellah’s view on religion?
Function of religion +examples:
Function of religion = to unify a society, especially a multi-faith society like America.
America = a melting pot of people of many different cultures + religions. What unifies them as Americans is a civil religion – a faith in Americanism, which generates widespread loyalty to nation by attaching sacred qualities to nation itself.
American civil religion includes ceremonies ie) pledge of allegiance to flag, singing national anthem, etc.
But, Bellah also argues civil religion doesn’t always have to include belief in a supernatural power (God). Eg) In Nazi Germany, political ideology of Nazism became civil religion uniting German nation via ceremonies ie) Nazi rallies + Hitler’s speeches. This he calls a functional alternative to religion – non-religious practices performing similar functions to religion, e.g. promoting social solidarity.
What are the criticisms of Bellah?
Bellah’s theory =useful for explaining how civil religion can be a unifying force in a society characterised by religious + cultural pluralism. But, he fails to explain the origins of civil religion.
