Religion as a conservative force- functionalism Flashcards
How does religion perform role of socialisation?
Reinforced moral codes, what’s right and wrong and teaches values
Summarise Durkheim’s study and conclusions in elementary forms of religious life?
Collective coinscence- ppl thinking in same way
Profane- ordinary object ppl imbued w religious significance
Totemism- everyone worships totem due to no god, worshipping each other, symbol of their solidarity
Durkheim, function of religion, helps w integration leading to social solidarity
What else did Durkheim believe about religion?
Believed promoted emotional security to collective group. Reinforced group identity.
“Collective effervescence”- clan partaking in spiritual rituals together- become motivated and committed to religion by watching others enacting religious rituals
Religion prevents anomie, totem provides emotional stability in times of threat
What is collective coinscence?
Ageeement over the values of society. Agreed awareness of what is right.
How does Hajj promote the collective coinscence?
People making pilgrimages to Mecca reinforced collective identity, joint trip, integration.
What does Malinowski say about religion?
Religion only promotes social security in times of stress, fishers only pray when fishing in open sea, not in safety of lagoon, we’re sacred, religion gave security.
What did Paraons say about religion?
By combining sacred and profane, reinforced religious core values
Example- baseball match( profane p) they say “god bless America” (sacred)
What did Parsons and Malinowski both say religion does?
Performs psychological comfort- religious places to gather in time of war, afterlife gives people comfort when close to death
What 3 things does Parsons says religion does?
Creates and legitimises values through teachings of sacred texts- sacred moral codes
Agent of secondary socialisation
Primary source of meaning- provides answers to questions that may threaten the commitment to societies shared values
What else does Malinowski say about religion?
Death reinforces feeling of solidarity amongst survivors, notion of immortality gives comfort
What is civil religion?
Phrase for describe how nationalism has become a belief system like religion. It is argued that civil religion performs the same functions as religion by uniting people through shared beliefs
What is the argument about civil religion?
Excessive patriotism has meant that nationalism has replaced religion
Example- Lincoln is seen as a saint, raising from nothing to president places like Lincoln memorial
What does Beckford say about civil religion being applicable to different societies?
Occasions when the UK is drawn together by rituals and events like the queens funeral
People attend church in times of crisis and need of stability
“If the uk has a civil religion it is as best occasional and at work weak”
What do stark and bainbridge say?
Religion is a supernatural compensator for losing people
What does Swanson say about religion?
Believes that religion helps to maintain the social order of society by supporting the dominant system
Example- Totems, clans
Modern society- monotheism
