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Religious Studies Ethics A2 > Secular Thinkers on God > Flashcards

Secular Thinkers on God Flashcards

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1
Q

meaning of ideology:

A

a set of ideas that serve a purpose

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2
Q

meaning of social control:

A

functions on behalf of the ruling class and defends the status quo

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3
Q

meaning of ‘false class consciousness’:

A

conditioned into thinking certain ways

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4
Q

what does Marx argue about religion?

A
  • religion functions in the interest of the ruling class
  • justifies social inequality so people accept it
  • opium of the people, offers illusory compensation for the inequalities that exist
  • therefore people have less reason to revolt
  • creates a promise of a better life in heaven, so no need to make things better on earth
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5
Q

Durkheim and religion:

A
  • religion he argued, was not only a social creation, but society divinized
  • religion gives society social cohesion, collective consciousness, and values and norms
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6
Q

Freud and religion:

A
  • religion is wishful thinking
  • a stage in human development
  • the mind creates the illusion as a way to deal with the outside world
  • religion addresses fears about the world and society
  • religion is a form of neurotic illness associated with repressed sexual memories
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7
Q

what does Freud think religion does to people?

A
  • religion provides comfort

- religion has been used to suppress people

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8
Q

why does Freud think religion started?

A
  • Oedipus complex, children feel sexually towards the parent of the opposite sex, so in the case of the mother, the father becomes a rival, but yet he is also protector, therefore feelings of guilt arise
  • a person will humanize the threats imposed by nature as a way to cope with them
  • give them the character of a father, and create a God
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9
Q

stages of human history according to Marx:

A
  • primitive societies dominated by religion
  • master economies, production depended on slavery, polytheism was the main religion
  • feudal societies, Catholicism
  • capitalism, where the bourgeoisie own the means of production and exploit the less well off to do the work, Protestant Christianity is dominant with its work ethic
  • Marx thought that the proletariat (the less well off) would take over and religion would cease to exist however that hasn’t happened yet
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10
Q

what did Marx believe about religion and its foundations

A
  • created by society

- no historical foundation

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11
Q

Marx and Jesus:

A

it doesn’t matter whether Jesus existed or not but whether he is divine or not, if he isn’t God, then the movement named after him is purely secular

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12
Q

what does Marx believe happens when a person believes in a religion

A
  • give up control of their lives and destinies

- in the hope of a better afterlife they tolerate misery in this one

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13
Q

why did Marx believe religion played an important role in society?

A
  • helps people cope with difficulties

- promises a better future life

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14
Q

what did Marx mean by ‘religion is the opium of the people’?

A
  • it drugs them out of the reality of their current lives

- softens the pain of suffering from hunger, work, abuse

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15
Q

what is liberation theology?

A
  • elements of Marxism, plea for liberation of the poor from oppressive employers
  • joined with teachings of Christ
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16
Q

arguments against Marxism:

A
  • isn’t genuine knowledge as it can’t be falsified according to the falsification principle (if something can’t be proved wrong then it is meaningless)
  • Marx only saw religion as a drug for the oppressed, and a means of oppression, however religion is much more than that
17
Q

what did Freud see God as?

A
  • a psychological concept

- a neurosis: what happens after trauma or repression of memories of fear and guily

18
Q

what are the 3 parts of the mind Freud analysed and in which one was religion created in?

A
  • the conscious ego
  • the super ego
  • the id (the unconscious) this is where relious belief and worship
19
Q

why did we create religion according to Freud?

A
  • out of a need to worship a father figure

- out of a fear of death

20
Q

link between sexuality (neuroses) and religion:

A
  • repression of sexuality is prominent in many forms of Christianity
  • Eve’s sin in the garden of Eden created sexual awareness
21
Q

Durkheim and functionalism:

A
  • in society there are features and institutions which have a function for the working of a society
  • he compared society to the human body who’s organs are vital for the body to continue to exist
22
Q

Durkheim’s beliefs about God and religion:

A
  • religion is real
  • religion is a functional institution
  • God is a concept that has been created in the context of a functioning society
  • God is not real, God is society
23
Q

what are religions functions according to Durkheim:

A
  • is a unifier, brings people together as they share a moral code
  • this moral code from society working out that things such as dishonesty and theft don’t allow society to work
  • so the ten commandments instead of coming from a divine being are a product of society’s awareness to what it requires to continue existing
24
Q

Durkheim’s views on ritual:

A
  • when people take part in rites and ceremonies it strengthens their moral and social feelings
  • the difference between rituals betweens religions is unimportant
25
Q

Durkheim’s views on the soul:

A
  • it’s real
  • its the social aspects of a human being
  • society is external to the individual, but it is also internalised within each person
  • it’s immortal because the idea of society is immortal
26
Q

what does Durkheim think the most important part of religion is? and how did this affect his methods of research?

A
  • the important part of religion is not the beliefs but the practises
  • analyse what people do not what they believe
27
Q

Durkheim’s views on taboos:

A

-social order is only possible when individuals give up some of their wishes and desires

28
Q

what is the view that Durkheim and Marx share?

A

that as society progresses religion would become insignificant

29
Q

how is religion explained for Durkheim? rather than theological ideas

A

religion is explained in terms of its rituals, what people do together when practising their faith rather than theological ideas

30
Q

did Durkheim look at religion in terms of a society or the individual?

A

society

31
Q

why can’t Durkheim’s arguments not be generalised?

A

because he only looked at primitive societies so generalising to modern societies as well is flawed

32
Q

overview of religion and its effect on society: (8)

A
  • maintains moral order
  • maintains social order
  • tool of oppression
  • separates people from their true selves
  • makes life tolerable
  • encourages and justifies rebellion against harsh regimes
  • can’t know God’s purpose-justification of suffering
  • claims of religious experience-justification of war

Religious Studies Ethics A2 (7 decks)

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