Religion

Question 1

Substantive definitions of religion

Answer 1

Focus on the substance of religious belief (what they actually believe or do)

Question 2

Functionalist definitions of religion

Answer 2

Define religion through its social or psychological functions
Uniting force and comfort people with the idea of life after death

Question 3

Social constructionist definitions of religion

Answer 3

Argue that the definition of religion depends on the believers themselves and how they define their own beliefs

Question 4

Emile Durkheim

Answer 4

Functionalists sociologist who argued that religion represents society and binds people together

Question 5

Sacred and profane objects

Answer 5

Sacred objects and rituals evoke such powerful feelings because they represent society itself, unite us together into a single moral
Profane objects are simply things we use or do

Question 6

The Arunta

Answer 6

Tribe from Australia
Rituals involved the worship of a sacred totem usually animals or plants
Represents the power of the group which without each individual would be helpless

Question 7

Collective conscience

Answer 7

Shared norms, values, beliefs and knowledge that make co-operation possible

Question 8

Cognitive functions of religion

Answer 8

Make sense of time, space, cause and classification in order to make sense of the world
Religion helps us to explore these concepts

Question 9

Malinowski

Answer 9

Religion helps individuals cope with stress that would otherwise undermine social solidarity

Question 10

Trobriand Islanders

Answer 10

Malinowski studied these they poisoned the lagoon, ocean was dangerous
‘Canoe magic’ involves a series of rituals designed to keep the canoe safe

Question 11

God of the gaps

Answer 11

Malinowski sees rituals as a ‘god of the gaps’, making us feel as though we are in control

Question 12

Parsons

Answer 12

Religion makes sacred objects society’s norms and values

E.g. the US have ‘American values’ which are also promoted as ‘Christian values’ these promote social stability

Question 13

Parsons and arbitrary life

Answer 13

Religion provides meaning when life seem arbitrary and unfair

Question 14

Bellah

Answer 14

Society’s values are a religion in themselves
The way Americans venerate the Stars and Stripes, the way they pledge their allegiance to the flag and the constitution by singing the national anthem
‘Civil religion’

Question 15

Religion as a conservative force

Answer 15

Functionalists argue that religion stabilises society by resisting change and upholding the status quo

Question 16

Religion and social consensus

Answer 16

We all charge values and people who do not conform are ‘sinners’
Gives us a collective identity

Question 17

Weber

Answer 17

Calvinism caused the emergence of capitalism

Question 18

Calvin and predestination

Answer 18

PREDESTINATION - that God already knows who will go to Heaven or Hell

Question 19

Divine transcendence and salvation panic

Answer 19

DIVINE TRANSCENDENCE - that it was impossible to know Gods will
SALVATION PANIC - even though they asked for forgiveness they could not truly know whether God had forgiven them to go to Heaven

Question 20

Protestant work ethic

Answer 20

Calvinists believed that God called them to live in the world and glorify Gods name through their work
Hard working and disciplined they were very successful and acquired significant wealth

Question 21

Asceticism

Answer 21

Calvinists believed they should not spend money on themselves so instead they made businesses which became wealth therefore they kept putting money into the business
This bought about modern capitalism

Question 22

Bruce

Answer 22

Considers the American Civil Rights Movement as an example of religiously motivated social change

Question 23

Taking the high moral ground

Answer 23

They shamed whites into changing the law because they used the values of the whites own religion to point out the unfairness of the system

Question 24

Channelling dissent

Answer 24

Providing a way to express feelings of injustice or anger

Question 25

Acting as an ‘honest broker’

Answer 25

Churches are often neutral ground for both sides in a conflict as they are respected by both sides, so they are a good place to hold negotiations

Question 26

Mobilising public opinion

Answer 26

Church congregations are often large, and gatherings can be used to spread ideas

Question 27

Marx

Answer 27

Argued that religion was a conservative force holding back the proletariat from revolting

Question 28

Alienation

Answer 28

People were cut off from any creativity or satisfaction in their work
Marx saw religion as the ‘spirit of a spiritless situation’

Question 29

False consciousness

Answer 29

Religion was the ‘opium of the people’ creating a false consciousness that it was good to be meek and that the oppressed will be rewarded in Heaven

Question 30

Engels

Answer 30

Religion can challenge the status quo and encourage social change e.g. the abolition of slavery

Question 31

Ernest Bloch and the dual character of religion

Answer 31

It can hold back change because people are deceived with promises of reward in Heaven but this good image of Heaven can inspire change for a better world

Question 32

Gramsci and organic intellectuals

Answer 32

‘Organic intellectuals’ help the poor recognise their real situations and help them form organisations such as trade unions

Question 33

Dwight Billings

Answer 33

Studied textile workers who went to a ‘company church’ and were submissive and accepted the status quo
Miners went to ‘free’ local churches and they were encouraged to fight for better pay and better conditions

Question 34

Maduro

Answer 34

The only place where people could gather safely in large numbers are places of worship
Religious leaders may speak out in their sermons and they couldn’t be stopped

Question 35

Liberation theology

Answer 35

Catholic Church upheld the status quo but some priests went to live amongst the poorest communities helping workers by establishing support groups and introducing literacy programmes