Functionalist view on religion

Question 1

What does Parsons say about religion?

Answer 1

Religion maintains social stability by providing an explanation for the human condition e.g why people die young etc

Question 2

What does Bellah say about civil religion?

Answer 2

Civil religion intergrates society in a way that churches and religion in America can not.

Question 3

What does Malinowski say about religion?

Answer 3

Religion helps people cope with emotional stress, by providing a religious explanation, or support through times of change e.g death

Question 4

What does Durkheim say about religion?

Answer 4

Religious rituals reinforce collective conscious and maintains social intergration by reminding people they share a common moral outlook

Question 5

EVAL - what do functionalists ignore?

Answer 5

Ignores the negative aspects such as hate crimes and oppression of certain groups

Question 6

EVAL - what does Hamilton say

Answer 6

They ignore how religion can be a source of conflict e.g protestants and catholics in northern ireland