role of religion

Question 1

functionalism and the role of religion

Answer 1

. maintains the status quo

. conservative force

. sees religion as a good thing for
society

. Michell said that religion gives
people a sense of identity

. secondary socialiser (Parsons) - gives us norms/values - 10 commandments

. social solidarity ( Durkheim) - unites people - collectively

. social order

. helps explain unknown questions what will happen when I die

. Malinowski - went to Trobriand islands - helps explain changing events

Question 2

Durkheim

Answer 2

1858-1917

he argued there was a difference between the profane (normal everyday life) and the sacred (set apart and forbidden)

he studied the totemism of Aboriginal Australians

religion acted to bind people to society - through shared values of religious beliefs

religion also served to regulates peoples behaviour by providing moral guidance

Question 3

Malinowski

Answer 3

1925

saw religion as the response of individuals to the uncertainty of the world

sense of security

in his research of the Trobriand islands he discovered some people use religion as a way of coping during hard situations - fishing in dangerous waters

Question 4

Talcott Parsons

Answer 4

1949

saw religion as continuing to fulfil some of the needs of society

parsons argued that religion operates as a mechanism of adjustment

somewhere to turn when there are life crises

Question 5

is functionalism an inclusive or exclusive religion

Answer 5

its inclusive

for Durkheim anything that is sacred can be seen as a faith system

Question 6

some criticism

Answer 6

extremist groups
religions also fight
hard to generalise