Religion as a conservative force- Functionalism

Question 1

What is meant by conservative force?

Answer 1

Religion maintains social stability
Structuralist view- R is a key institution to maintain social order
- reinforces tradition, culture, maintains status quo

Question 2

What is society’s basic need according to Functionalists?

Answer 2

Social order

Question 3

Why social order?

Answer 3

It is needed for social solidarity so members of society can co-operate
- without this, individuals would pursue their own selfish desires and society would disintegrate or be dysfunctional

Question 4

How is social order achieved?

Answer 4

Possible through the existence of value consensus
e.g. shared norms and values by which society’s members live by

Question 5

Why is religion a conservative force according to Functionalists?

Answer 5

• afterlife
• community
• respect the elderly
• morals
• manners/politeness

Question 6

How does religion perform soicalisation?

Answer 6

Core morals, values, traditional ideas
X different religions=conflicting norms and values

Question 7

How does religion perform integration?

Answer 7

Part of a wider community, something bigger than yourself
X declining influence, secularisation

Question 8

How does religion prevent anomie?

Answer 8

Belief will help you stay grounded and cope, belief in wider society
- normlessness, chaos, war, unemployment, natural disasters

Question 9

Durkheim
Elementary forms of religious life

Answer 9

Integrate social systems
- profane, cross, totem given sacred value
- promotes emotional security to collective group, reinforced group identity and communalism
- The totem provides emotional stability in times off threat

Question 10

What did Durkheim mean by ‘collective effervescence’?

Answer 10

The clan participating in spiritual rituals together, they become enthused/motivated and committed to their religion by watching others enacting religious rituals

Question 11

What is social solidarity and how does religion do this?

Answer 11

Loyalty/a bond with others in your society
- performing spiritual rituals and have a symbol to worship

Question 12

What is collective conscience and how does religion do this?

Answer 12

Agreement over the values of society, agreed awareness of what is right
- share beliefs to create a strong community

Question 13

What is a conservative force and how does religion do this?

Answer 13

Maintaining the norms and values of society to maintain stability
- prevents anomie by providing emotional stability in times of threat

Question 14

How does Hajj promote the collective conscience?

Answer 14

Muslim pilgrimage- Mecca, Saudi Arabia
- see people with the same identity
- modern day example
- other people who share the same beliefs
- journey=social solidarity

Question 15

MALINOWSKI

Answer 15

Argues that death is the main reason for the existence of religious belief
- reinforces solidarity amongst survivors, notion of immortality gives comfort to bereaved through the denial of death
- religion helps to minimise disruption of social changes in groups
- birth, puberty, marriage, especially death
Importance of funeral rituals

Question 16

PARSONS

Answer 16

Agreed with Malinowski also suggested
- creates and legitimises central values through the teachings of sacred texts, scared moral codes
Agent of secondary socialisation
- reinforces the value consensus and creates social order
Primary source of meaning
- provides answers to Qs that may threaten commitment to societies shared values, helps to deal with life crisis
Provides a psychological function

Question 17

What concept does BELLAH discuss?

Answer 17

Civil Religion

Question 18

What is a civil religion?

Answer 18

Phrase to describe how nationalism has become a belief system like religion
- argued that it performs the same functions as religion by uniting people through shared beliefs, experiences and rituals

Question 19

What are some examples of American civil religion?

Answer 19

• Lincoln as a Saint
• Mount Rushmore as a shrine
• independence day as a ceremony
• flag of America is a symbol
  These provide unity and creates an identity for American people

Question 20

What important questions did Beckford propose?

Answer 20

Is civil religion applicable to different societies?

Question 21

Is civil religion applicable to different societies?
BECKFORD

Answer 21

Occasion when the UK is drawn together by rituals and events
- people attend church in times of crisis and need of stability
- at best occasions at worst weak
- less binding influence

Question 22

What do Stark and Bainbridge mean by religion as a supernatural compensator?

Answer 22

• makes up for doubts, uncertainties, struggles
• compensates for the unknown, afterlife, death, losing people
  Marx says this is a negative thing

Question 23

What does Swanston say about how religion helps to maintain the social order of society?

Answer 23

Does this by supporting the dominant system
e.g. Totems-clans
Modern society-Monotheism, one god
- get used to leadership

Question 24

Criticisms of functionalism

Answer 24

X rose tinted view, emphasise positive functions, neglect negative aspects(source of oppression)
X Marx said it masks exploitation
X dysfunctional, source of division and conflict
X emergence of religious pluralism and diversity, Durkheim’s theory, difficulty dealing with (Hamilton)
X rise in secularisation
X are Malinowski and Durkheim etc relevant, cannot be generalised