Functionalists: Durkhiem & Religion Flashcards
What are the studies for Functionalist : DURKHEIM and religion?
- Durkheim: Totemism
- ## Durkheim: collective conscience
What is totem according to Durkheim?
An object that has a deep symbolic significance
What does Toteism represent according to Durkheim?
Represents the most elementary form of religion
What property does Totemism have ?
Divine property
How does Durkheim define religion ?
In terms of distinction between profane and sacred
Why is totemism sacred ?
- Symbolic representation of group itself
- stands for values of community
- worshipping totemism is worshipping their society
By totemism bring sacred what does it do for individuals?
Individuals is temporarily elevated from their normal profane to a higher level
By totemism being sacred , for individuals being elevated to a higher level what can they recognise ?
Can recognise divine influence or gods
According to Durkheim collective conscience what did he say a social life was impossible without ?
A social life is impossible without shares values and moral beliefs that form a collective conscience
According to Durkheim: collective conscience what is collective conscience?
United value consensus
According to Durkheim collective conscience, without collective conscience what will happen ?
No social order , social control or social solidarity
What are the two ways religion reinforces collective conscience ?
1.) collective worship
2.) beliefs in gods/spirits originated from souls of dead ancestors
Durkheim : collective conscience
What is collective worship ?
Social groups come together to express their faith in common values and beliefs
Durkheim: collective worship
How do social groups express their faith in collective worship ?
In common values and beliefs
Durkheim: social solidarity
What does collective worship promote ?
Solidarity and unity of society is strengthened
Durkheim: collective conscience
What unites members of society according to collective worship?
Express , communicate and understand moral bonds which unites them
Durkheim : collective conscience
According to beliefs in gods/spirits originated from a belief in souls of our dead ancestors , where did beliefs in gods and spirits originate from ?
From belief in ancestoral spirits from dead relatives
Durkheim: collective conscience
According to beliefs in gods/spirits originated from a belief in souls of our dead ancestors , what is worship of gods equal to ?
Worship of gods = worship of ancestors soul
Durkheim: collective conscience
According to beliefs in gods/spirits originated from a belief in souls of our dead ancestors : what do souls of ancestors represent ?
The presence of social value of modesty , compassion, faith and forgiveness
Durkheim; collective conscience
According to beliefs in gods/spirits originated from a belief in souls of our dead ancestors : various souls equal what ?
Various social values
Durkheim: collective conscience
According to beliefs in gods/spirits originated from a belief in souls of our dead ancestors : worshipping of what ?
Worshipping of social group
Durkheim; collective conscience
According to beliefs in gods/spirits originated from a belief in souls of our dead ancestors : what does it recognise?
Recognising importance of social group and dependence on it
Durkheim : collective conscience
According to beliefs in gods/spirits originated from a belief in souls of our dead ancestors : what does religion do ?
Strengthens unity of group and promotes solidarity
What are the evaluation of Durkheim ?
- are we really worshipping society ?
- overly positive
- less applicable to modern society
What Durkheim evaluation of are we really worshipping society ?
- View on religion are more relevant to small , non-literate where work lesuire , education and family life tend to merge
What is the evaluation of less applicable to modern society ?
View are less applicable to modern societies as how can modern religion be worshipping society “ when many religions are concerned about the state of society”
What is Durkheim evaluation of overly positive ?
Durkheim exaggerates the degree which religion creates a unified collective conscience which shapes the behaviour of individual
What are all the functionalist theories for religion ?
Durkheim: Totemism
- Durkheim: collective conscience
- Malinowski: religious rituals
Talcott Parsons: religion and value consensus
