functions of religion

Question 1

functionalist view of religion

Answer 1

religion serves an important purpose in society by acting as social cement strengthening society and creating social harmony and consensus

Question 2

4 main functionalist theories of religion

Answer 2

• Durkheim
• Parsons
• Malinowski
• Bellah

Question 3

Durkheim - ‘the sacred and the profane’ (functionalism)

Answer 3

all societies create scared objects which serve to symbolise the collective consciousness, without which society would collapse into a state of anomie
- religion provides social solidarity

Question 4

strengths of Durkheim ‘the sacred and the profane’ (functionalism)

Answer 4

• supporting evidence from the aborigines (totems)
• universal theory

Question 5

weaknesses of Durkheim ‘the sacred and the profane’ (functionalism)

Answer 5

• unrepresentative (only studied small number of aboriginal groups)
• relied on second-hand accounts of the aborigines
• oversimplified
• out dated and source of conflict in today’s society

Question 6

sacred

Answer 6

objects that are regarded as sacred often evoke strong emotions of respect, awe and deference

Question 7

profane

Answer 7

objects that are not sacred

Question 8

Malinowski - 2 purposes of religion (functionalism)

Answer 8

• help the individual deal with life crises
• deal with anxiety caused by events over which people have little control with the use of ritual

Question 9

strengths of Malinowski 2 purposes of religion (functionalism)

Answer 9

• supporting evidence (Trobriand Islanders)
• extended period of time spent gathering first hand account of religion during WW1

Question 10

weaknesses of Malinowski 2 purposes of religion (functionalism)

Answer 10

• unrepresentative (based on only Trobriand study)
• misinterpreted the purpose of religious rituals

Question 11

Parsons - 2 functions of religion (functionalism)

Answer 11

• provides the core norms for society (‘thou shalt not kill’ from Bible etc)
• strengthens social solidarity by neutralising threats to it

Question 12

strengths of Parsons 2 functions of religion (functionalism)

Answer 12

• anecdotal evidence from all major religions
• universal and flexible theory that can be applied to most religions

Question 13

weaknesses of Parsons 2 functions of religion (functionalism)

Answer 13

• does not account for conflict caused by religion
• doesn’t explain whether religion or core norms came first

Question 14

Bellah - civil religion in America (functionalism)

Answer 14

American’s have a civil religion which is intertwined with their nationality
- prophets (Lincoln)
- martyrs (Davy Crockett)
- sacred events (Independence Day)
- sacred places (White House)
- solemn rituals (Pledge of Allegiance)
- symbols (Flag)

Question 15

strengths of Bellah civil religion in America (functionalism)

Answer 15

• generalisable to civil religion in other cultures

Question 16

weaknesses of Bellah civil religion in America (functionalism)

Answer 16

• not really a religion in many ways

Question 17

strengths of functionalist theories of religion

Answer 17

• universal to most religions
• positive about religion

Question 18

weaknesses of functionalist theories of religion

Answer 18

• doesn’t take into account conflict caused by religion (Northern Ireland, Middle East etc)
• out of date as religion non longer plays a role in secular societies

Question 19

Marx - ‘opium of the people’ (classical Marxism)

Answer 19

believes that religion is a form of capitalist ideology reinforcing false class consciousness as it acts as the ‘opium of the people’ for the proletariat by hiding class conflict
he says there are 2 main functions of religion as a capitalist ideology:
- compensates the proletariat for their exploitation, oppression and suffering
- reproduces and legitimises the capitalist class system

Question 20

Althusser - ideological state apparatus (neo-Marxism)

Answer 20

saw religion as an example of the ideological state apparatus, or one of the institutions which controls the working class by ideas and not by force

Question 21

Gramsci/Maduro - cultural hegemony (neo-Marxism)

Answer 21

2 thinkers who tried to make Marxist ideas fit better with modern society and decided that revolution had not occurred in some capitalist countries because the ruling class’s ideology was so powerful over the working classes (cultural hegemony) that they would not revolt

Question 22

strengths/supporting evidence of Marxist theories of religion

Answer 22

• does account for negative sides of religion unlike functionalists
• slavery (slaves turned to Christianity as it suppresses rebellion by promising salvation)
• Hindu Caste system (individuals are born into a caste they cannot change, will be promoted in next life if good)
• Divine Right of Royalty (king was chosen by god so could not argue with god making rebellion less likely)
• New Christian Right (in America they support the rich and powerful at expense of others by donating money to political parties that represent their views)

Question 23

weaknesses/criticisms of Marxist theories of religion

Answer 23

• religion can account for change in society (Martin Luther King used religion to bring equality for black people)
• religion still exists in communist countries (Cuba, USSR etc)

Question 24

feminist view of religion

Answer 24

religion is a form of patriarchal ideology where men justify their oppression of women with the tool

Question 25

Holm - evidence of patriarchy in religion (feminism)

Answer 25

- religious scriptures (women are subordinate and often invisible) - barred from religious clergy (limits to how far women can progress in CoE - ‘stained glass ceiling’) - patriarchal religious practices (polygamy allowed in Islam, forced to wear hijab in Afghanistan, female genital mutilation in Islam)

Question 26

Simone de Beauvoir - the second sex (feminism)

Answer 26

believed religion maintained patriarchy in many ways, using Christianity as her main example: - all major figures in the Bible are male - women have compensated for their suffering as the Bible makes a virtue of this, ensuring women are more likely to go to heaven - women are portrayed as nurturing and therefore closer to god, but this just makes them easier to control

Question 27

Nawab El Saadawi - hidden face of Eve (feminism)

Answer 27

she herself underwent female genital mutilation in Islam and suggests that men are the reason religion is patriarchal rather than the religion itself, and this occurs in the following ways: - Islam has developed in patriarchal ways so religion has been changed to support this , resulting in negative marriage and divorce policies for women - men have interpreted religious texts to support patriarchy (Eve committed the original sin causing all the ills of the world, but she was actually Adam’s intellectual superior and can be viewed as a tale of empowerment)

Question 28

strengths of feminist theories of religion

Answer 28

- supporting evidence from many religions - limited change as ‘stained glass ceiling’ limitation still exists

Question 29

weaknesses of feminist theories of religion

Answer 29

- overgeneralised to ignore positive roles of women as goddesses (eg Hinduism, ancient Greek, Roman) - ignores march of progress as many religions have now opened up leadership positions to women - misinterpretation of some aspects of religion being oppressive, such as hijab wearing