Functionalist View On Religion

Question 1

Durkheim believes religion role?

Answer 1

religion perform an essential function in society as it promotes a form of Social cohesion between people.It promote value consensus in society and maintains social order

Question 2

What is Durkheim features of religion?

Answer 2

religion is sacred thing as it has so much power in order to be worshipped they are society itself.Therefore when people worship sacred symbols they are worshiping society itself

Question 3

What is Profane?

Answer 3

everyday things activities with no prescribed meaning they were general day to day activities e.g. talking,walking

Question 4

What is Sacred?

Answer 4

Activities that bring people together through excitement e.g. rituals

Question 5

Durkheim study of Arunta Tribe?

Answer 5

Arunta as having a primitive religious belief system meaning that it was based on sacred symbols artefacts called ‘totems’

Question 6

Durkheim say religion has 4 functions?

Answer 6

Discipline-help regulate behaviour
Cohesion-ceremonies help
Vitalising- Passes values to next generation
Euphoric-allowing people to become part of something bigger than themselves.

Question 7

Evaluation on Durkheim?

Answer 7

-Durkheim fails to understand the significance of religious artefact and ceremonies.He saw them as functional rather than spiritual
-Base on society having a singular belief systems ignores the fact that there are so many different types of religion only focuses on one type
-

Question 8

What are Parson 3 functions of religion?

Answer 8

•Moral guidelines-sacred text reinforces moral guidelines e.g. 10 commandments
•Adjust to unpredictable things-provides a psychological feeling of recover
•Sense of meanings-individual gives a reason to behave and survive e.g reaffirms bonds in society to be regarded in afterlife

Question 9

Criticisms of Parsons?

Answer 9

-Science is increasingly providing answers to questions that people have about the world e.g. science says evolution is meaning of life.This means people start losing faith in religion
-He ignores the negative aspects of religion such as conflict between different religions
- There has been a greater diversity in religion in contemporary society.This means that same values of society have changed and old values have become outdated

Question 10

What does Malinowski say about religion!

Answer 10

religion is a psychological function
-(At time of life crisis)-e.g. funerals reinforce solidarity amongst survivors and gives them comfort

Question 11

What does Robert Bella say about civil religion?

Answer 11

Civil religion talks about the combine of traditional Christian values with America patriotism
-civil religion promote on identity for individuals

Question 12

What are the Similarities between civil religion to religion?

Answer 12

1) American celebration-Thanksgiving
2) Momentum’s-Statue of liberty
3)American Artefacts-The constitution, American Flag