Functions Of Religion Flashcards
Functionalist theories
All functionalist theories of religion suggest that religion serves as an important purpose in society - it acts as social cement strengthening society and creates social harmony and consensus.
Durkheim - the sacred and profane
Sacred - objects that are regarded as sacred often revoke strong emotions or respect, awe and defence
Profane - objects that are not sacred
Durkheim believed that all societies create sacred objects and these serve to symbolise society’s shared beliefs, values, traditions and norms called collective consciousness. Without this he believed society would collapse into a state of anomie. Collective consciousness creates and provides social solidarity bringing everyone together.
Evaluation of Durkheim
STRENGHTS
- supporting evidence from aboriginal tribes where each clan had a totem which distinguished itself from other clans. It was regarded as sacred and embodied collective consciousness.
- universal - universal theory that can be applied to all religious groups in all cultures
WEAKNESSES
- unrepresentative
- oversimplified
- out dated
Malinowski - two functions of religion
First function - to help the individual deal with life crises such as birth, death, marriage and puberty which he said are potentially disruptive and cause stress
Second function - to deal with anxiety created by events over which people have little control with the use of ritual eg praying in a dangerous situation like hunting.
Evaluation of Malinowski
STRENGTHS]
- supporting evidence from trobriand islanders where religious rituals were commonly used to deal with life crisis. He found that when the islanders fished in calm waters they carried out no religious rituals but beyond the barrier reef a large number would take place
WEAKNESSES
- unrepresentative
- misinterpreted
Parsons - two functions of religion
1 - religion provides core norms for society eg in Christian society individuals follow the 10 commandments for guidelines, taken from the bible. Many of the norms of the social system are taken from religious beliefs eg thou shalt not kill
2 - it strengthens social solidarity by neutralising threats to it. For example, religion provides answers to eternal questions about humanity and the world such as why good people suffer. He says that religion helps us make sense of the apparently meaningless by helping people in their situations to promote social stability and avoid anomie
EVALUATION of Parsons two functions theory
STRENGHTS
One strength of Parsons ideas is that
there is anecdotal evidence from all
major religions to show they provide
the core values in society.
It is also a universal and flexible
theory that can be applied to most
religions.
WEAKNESSES
Conflict - ideas do not account for the conflict that religious causes
What came first - religion or core norms
Bella’s function of religion - civil region in America
Bellah says that Americans have a ‘civil’ religion and that religion and nationality are intertwined. Americans are very proud of their country,
therefore religion in America is about their pride and identity, not about spiritual beings and ceremonies. They have a collection of beliefs, symbols and rituals. They have respect for sacred things that are an established part of American society although in themselves these are not actually religious; however, they provide the USA with social solidarity. America’s civil religion
has its own prophets (Lincoln), martyrs (Davy Crockett), sacred events (Independence Day), sacred places (White House), solemn rituals (Pledge of
Allegiance) and symbols (Flag).
EVALUATION of Bellah Civil Religion in America
STRENGTH
- generalisable - civil religions may well exist in other cultures eg UK
WEAKNESS
- not religion
Feminist theories of religion - Holm evidence that religion is patriarchal
1 - religious scriptures - women are often subordinate and invisible eg Eve committed the original sin whilst God, Jesus and his disciples are male.
2 - barred from religious clergy - in Catholicism women do not become priests. There is a stained glass ceiling that determines how far up the ladder a female can progress in the clergy
3- patriarchal and religious practices - for men polygamy is permitted in Islam for example but for women in many countries there are serious punishments eg in Muslim countries women can be executed for commiting adultery.
Simone de Beauvoir -religion key to maintaining patriarchy
She used Christianity as an example to illustrate her ideas -
1 - all major figures in the bible are men
2 - women are compensated for their suffering as the bible makes a virtue of this by making sure that women are more likely to go to heaven in the afterlife
3 - women are portrayed as being closer to God as they are more nurturing and caring but thus just makes them easier to control
Saadawi - interpretation of religion
She illustrates her ideas in relation to Islam and she herself went though FGM and other oppressive experiences. Rather than saying religion is a source of patriarchy she suggests that men support and reinforce patriarchy in how they interpret religion
1 - Islamic society developed patriarchal ways so religion and religious practices have been changed to support this
2 - men have interpreted religious texts in ways that support the patriarchy eg seeing Eve as committing the original sin
EVALUATION of feminist theories
STRENGTHS
- Supporting evidence of religion treating women unequally in texts and worships
- Stained glass ceiling
WEAKNESSES
- Overgeneralised
- March of progress
- Misinterpretation
Marxist explanation of religion
Religion is the ‘opium of the people’ according to Marx. He said religion is a form of capitalist ideology by reinforcing false class consciousness ensuring proletariat see capitalism as inevitable and unchallengeable. Religion hides class conflict like opium distorting reality and dulling the pain
Marxist two functions of religion as a capitalist ideology
1- compensates the proletariat for their exploitation and suffering - like opium. To make life more bearable
2- reproduces and legitimises capitalist class system - religion justifies existing social order and a persons place within the social hierarchy - explains why the rich are rich and the poor poor
