Sociolgy Beliefs: Theory And Secularisation Flashcards
Functionalism on religion:
Totemism
Durkheim
-religion can be studied by the simplest society-clans
-the totem of the clans emblem which symbolises the clans origins and identity
-brings a sense of solidarity
-the totem inspire awe
Functionalism on religion:
Durkheim: collective conscience
-the sacred symbols represent society’s shared norm,values and beliefs
-shared religions rituals reinforce social intergration
-religion makes individual feel like they’re part of something bigger then themselves to help overcome obstinate
Functionalism on religion:
Durkheim: critique
Worsley- clans worship the same totems Durkheim’s theory might apply to small scale society’s with a single religion but is hard to apply to society’s with more then one religion and why they have conflict
Functionalism on religion:
values and meaning
Parsons
-it’s a primary source of meaning
-answers the ‘ultimate’ questions such as death and suffering
-e.g suffering is a test of faith that is rewarded in heaven
-helps the individual adjust to adverse events
Functionalism on religion:
Civil religion
Bellah
-civil religion is a belief system that attaches sacred qualities to society
-e.g Americans are loyal to the state and a belief in god
-this is expressed as the pledge of allegiance
-it sacralises American way of life and binds together different religions and ethnicities
Functionalism on religion:
Critique of functionalism
-neglects negative aspects such as oppression of poor or women
-civil religion -ignore what makes religion distinctive and different- it’s belief in the supernatural
Marxism on religion:
Religion as ideology:
Marx&Lenin
-belief system that distorts people’s perception of reality in ways that serve the bourgeoisie
-bourgeoisie control the distribution of ideas in society
-through the church, education and media
-used as a ideological weapon to legitimate and create a false class consciousness
-Lenin describes religion as ‘spiritual gin’ given to the masses to keep them in their place and prevent overthrowing by creating a ‘mystical fog’
-makes them belive being poor Will favour them in afterlife
Marxism on religion:
Religion and alienation:
Marx
-Alienation Involves becoming separated over something that one has created
-alienation reaches a peak in the division of Labour in the capitalist factory’s where endless repetition occurs devoid of meaning
Marx-“the opium of the people. It is the sigh of the oppressed creature”
-religion is a opiate to dull the pain of exploitation
-distorts the view of the world and promises afterlife illusion that distracts the true source of suffering
Marxism on religion:
Critique: Althusser and others
Althusser- rejects the concept of alienation as unscientific and based on a romantic idea of humans having a true self
-Marx ignores the positives of religion such as psychological adjustment to misfortune.
Feminist theory’s on religion:
Evidence of patriarchy:
(Listed)
-religious organisations
-places of worship
-sacred texts
-religious laws and customs
Feminist theory’s of religion:
Religious organisation
-mainly males dominated this can be show as Catholics forbid women priests
-Armstrong: sees exclusion from priesthood as evidence of marginalisation
Feminist theory’s of religion:
Places of worship
-often segregate men and women e.g not being allowed to preach or read from sacred texts
-Holm: devaluation of women in religion
Feminist theory’s of religion:
Sacred texts
-e.g eve was the down fall of humanity and banished from the garden of Eden
Feminist theory’s of religion:
Religious laws and customs
-Woodhead: agrees the exclusion of women from the Catholic Church priest hood is evidence of churches unease of women
Feminist religion critique
-El saadawi: women in Islam wear hijab to symbolise freedom
Criticisms of secularisation
-religion is changing not declining
-falling in church attendance ignores people who belive but don’t go to church
Secularisation in Britain
-a decline in The proportion of church goers
Wilson - 5% of adults go to church on Sundays
-one measure of institutional weakness is the reduction in clergy
Bruce- predicts the church will fold by 2030
Secularisation in America
-decline in church rate
-being religious is socially desired in America as 40% of Americans lied about going to church according to statistics
Bruce - claims Americans religion as changed and instead of glorifying god it’s used as a form of the theropy
Religion: choice
Privatising
Davie
-it used to be people had to go to church whereas now it’s Beacuse people want to
-he also said people are increasing not wanting to belong to an organisation
Religion: choice
Spiritual health service
Davie
-church’s now have Multiple purposes
-people still attached to church but do not attend
Religion: choice
Davie critique
Bruce
-both church attendance and belief are declining according to study
-if people don’t go to church then shows weak belief
Religion: choice
Spiritual shopping
Pilgrims
Hervieu-Leger
-follow path of self discovery
-through new age spirituality or therpy
-decline in institutional religion
Religion: choice
Spiritual shopping
Converts
Hervieu-leger
-joins religious groups that offer strong sense of belonging
-create sense of community
Religion: choice
Religious consumerism
Postmodern
-pick and mix elements of different religions to suit our tastes
-which religion is useful to them
-religion isn’t declining but new religions will appear that can be sampled
Religion: choice
Spiritual revolution
Postmodern
-religion is now about personal development
-spiritual market such as books, corses and meditation
-new age spirituality has grown because of culture that is to explore inner self
-winners appeal to self
Religion: choice
Weakness of spiritual revolution
Bruce
-parents do not tend to pass down spiritual interests
-women with spiritual interests tend to be childless
Religion: choice
US vs Europe
Stark
-religion thrives in US due to competition
-whereas in Europe there is a monopoly e.g Church of England
-secularisation says it’s demand that influences religion but they claim it’s supply
Religion: choice
US vs Europe critique
Bruce
-stats show that diversity has accompanied by religious delince in Europe and US
Religion: choice
Existential security theory
Norris
-religion meets the need for security therefore where people feel secure have low level demand for religion
Rich societies: high standard of living therefore less religion
Poor societies: face life threatening risks and high insecurity therefore are more religious
Religion: choice
Online religion
Helland
-these religions online exist in cyber world
-creates non-hierarchical structures and a sense of community
