Key Theorists - Theories of Religion

Question 1

Key Theorist - Weber (1905): Definitions of Religion

WHEN DID WEBER COME UP WITH HIS THEORY?

Answer 1

• 1905

Question 2

Key Theorist - Weber (1905): Definitions of Religion

WHAT DOES WEBER ARGUE?

Answer 2

• Religion is a belief in a superior supernatural that is above nature and cannot be explained scientifically.

Question 3

Key Theorist: Durkheim: Definitions of Religion

WHEN DID DURKHEIM COME UP WITH HIS THEORY?

Answer 3

• 1915

Question 4

Key Theorist: Durkheim: Definitions of Religion

WHAT DOES DURKHEIM ARGUE?

Answer 4

• Religion is defined by the contribution it makes to social integration, rather than a belief in God or the supernatural.

Question 5

Key Theorist - Aldridge: Definitions of Religion

WHAT DOES ALRIDGE ARGUE?

Answer 5

• Scientology is a religion for its followers, whereas several governments denied it legal status as a religion and attempted to ban it.

Question 6

Key Theorist - Durkheim: Functions of Religion

WHAT DID HE ARGUE TOTEMISM IS?

Answer 6

• The process of worshipping a sacred object known as a totem.

Question 7

Key Theorist - Durkheim: Functions of Religion

ACCORDING TO DURKHEIM, WHAT DOES THE TOTEM REPRESENT?

Answer 7

• Religion in its most basic form.

Question 8

Key Theorist - Durkheim: Functions of Religion

WHO DOES DURKHEIM ARGUE CREATES THE TOTEM, AND WHAT IS HIS REASON FOR THIS?

Answer 8

• Society, because it is a symbol of the group or society.

Question 9

Key Theorist: Parsons: Functionalist View of Religion

WHAT DOES HIS THEORY DO?

Answer 9

• Emphasise the role of religion in providing and underpinning the core values of any culture.

Question 10

Key Theorist: Parsons: Functionalist View of Religion

WHAT DOES HE BELIEVE ARE THE TWO MAIN FUNCTIONS OF RELIGION?

Answer 10

• To create and legitimate basic norms and values by sacralising them (putting emphasis on what is sacred). This promotes social solidarity and value consensus.
• It provides a source of meaning by answering ‘ultimate questions’ about society.

Question 11

Key Theorist - Malinowski: Functionalist View of Religion

WHAT FUNCTIONS DID THIS THEORY ARGUE THAT RELIGION PERFORMS?

Answer 11

• Social solidarity
• Reinforcing social norms and values
• Emotional security
• Phycological functions

Question 12

Key Theorist - Bellah: Civil Religion

WHAT DOES THIS THEORIST SUGGEST?

Answer 12

• Religion does not necessarily have any link with the supernatural.
• Examples of civil religion might include the devotion towards royalty, the lives of celebrities, popular music or football.
• Religion unifies society especially in a multi-faith society like America.
• Civil civil religion is a belief system that attaches sacred qualities to society itself.
• Civil religion integrate society in a way that individuals cannot. It involves loyalty to the nationstate and I believe in God
• Civil religion sacralises the American way of life and bind together Americans from many different ethnic and religious backgrounds.

Question 13

Key Theorist – Armstrong: Evidence to Support Religious Organisations

WHAT DID ARMSTRONG ARGUE?

Answer 13

• Women’s exclusion from the priesthood of more religions is clear evidence for their marginalisation.

Question 14

Key Theorist – Woodhead (2002): Religious Laws and Customs

WHAT DOES WOODHEAD ARGUE?

Answer 14

• That the exclusion of women from the catholic priesthood is evidence of the Church’s deep unease about the emancipation (liberation) of women generally.

Question 15

Key Theorist – Marx: Marxist View of Religion

WHAT DOES HE ARGUE ABOUT RELIGION?

Answer 15

• The primary function of religion is to reproduce, maintain and justify class inequality.
• Religion is an ideological apparatus (such as the Bible or the Church as an institution), which serves to reflect ruling-class ideas and interests.
• Religion is an instrument of social control (through the Ten Commandments) and exploitation.
• Religion is a conservative force in society. However, he did not agree that this force was essentially positive and beneficial to society.

Question 16

Key Theorist – Marx: Marxist View of Religion

WHAT RELIGION WAS AT THE CENTRE OF MARX’S THINKING?

Answer 16

Christianity

Question 17

Key Theorist – Marx: Religion as an Ideology

WHAT DOES MARX ARGUE ABOUT THIS?

Answer 17

• An ideology is a belief system that distorts people’s view of reality. This benefits the ruling class.
• That the class that controls economic production, also controls the production and distribution of ideas in society, through institutions such as the Church, the education system and the media.

Question 18

Key Theorist – Lenin (1870-1924): Religion as Ideology

WHAT DOES LENIN DESCRIBE RELIGION AS?

Answer 18

• ‘Spiritual gin’ – an intoxicant doled out by the masses by the ruling class to confuse them and keep them in their place.

Question 19

Key Theorist – Lenin (1870-1924): Religion as Ideology

WHAT DOES LENIN ARGUE?

Answer 19

• The ruling class use religion cynically to manipulate the masses and keep them from attempting to overthrow the ruling class by creating a ‘mystical fog’ that obscures reality.

Question 20

Key Theorist – Marx (1844): Religion and Alienation

WHAT DOES MARX ARGUE WITH REGARDS TO RELIGION AND ALIENATION?

Answer 20

• Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creatures, the sentiment of a heartless world… the soul of soulless conditions. It is the ‘opium of the people’. Marx describes religion as the ‘opium of the people’, because it prevents the working class from being aware of the true nature of exploitation by the ruling class and doing anything about it. However, they see it as ‘God’s will’ and passively accept things how they are, in a state of false consciousness.

Question 21

What evidence is there to support Marxist view of religion?

Give at least two examples.

Answer 21

• Halevy (1927) - Methodist religion played a key role in preventing working–class revolution in 19th century Britain. Methodism distracted the proletariat from their class grievances by getting them to see enlightenment in spirituality.
• Leach (1988) argues the Church of England recruits essentially from an upper class base. The church, he argues is wealthy. The church has lost contact with ordinary people.
• Religion is used to support dominant groups in America.
• Some fundamentalist groups (the New Christian Right) suggest that wealth and prosperity are a sign of God’s favour, while poverty, illness and homosexuality are indicators of sin
• Hook notes that the (then) Pope had a very conservative stance on contraception, abortion, women priests and homosexuality. They suggest that the considerable wealth of the church could be doing more to tackle world poverty

Question 22

How do Functionalists criticise Marxist theories?

Answer 22

• Marxism ignores the positive benefits of religion to society, such as the way it creates stability and shared values, which are needed for society to function effectively. Religion benefits the everyone, not just the ruling class.

Question 23

How does Secularisation criticise Marxist theories?

Answer 23

• Religion seems to have declined in many Western societies, suggesting that it is no longer needed to maintain ruling class power.

Question 24

How does Religion as a Radical Force criticise Marxist theories?

Answer 24

• Religion does not always support the status quo and the preservation of ruling class power. Some radical religions such as liberation theology challenge ruling class power.

Question 25

How to feminists criticise Marxist theories?

Answer 25

• Religion acts to preserve male, patriarchal power not just ruling class power.
• Marxists ignore gender inequality