Functionalist Views Flashcards
Durkheim
> religion main function is to strengthen social solidarity
religion provides people with common bonds.
sacred objects provide an opportunity for people to meet, discuss, worship and value - they represent the beliefs they both hold and also the culture of the society and common identity
FOR EXAMPLE - the cross in Christianity or Qaran in Islam
Durkheim expresses concern about the future of religion. He saw a decline in religion as societies develop, as people have their own interest. This is know as the “cult of man”.
EVALUATION - unrealistic to say religion united everyone, there are a lot of religions competing with each other, only specific religious groups can be together.
Malinowski
two main functions of religion:
1. help deal with uncertainty - ritual provides frequent routine which strengthens the mind.
EXAMPLE - Trobriand island people prepared to fish in dangerous water, ritual before fishing provided them with confidence and feeling of safety.
2. Dealing with crisis in life - helps with things such as death, stress etc. Prayer helps individuals remain psychologically strong.
EVAL - people have non religious ways to cope with religion.
EVAL - Small scale research, difficuilt to use this evidence.
Parsons
> religion provides guidelines for behaviour and source of meaning for members for society
religion provides a “moral framework” - for example in Christianity, ten commandments provide a set of guidelines about how people should behave, they are “enshrined in law”
religion provides meaning by giving answers to “life eternal questions” e.g. why do people suffer?
without this from religion, society will weaken.
EVALUATION - his view is overly simplistic, peoples views change like values, morals and sense of “right and wrong”.
