Sociological Perspectives on Religion Flashcards
Durkheim (Functionalist)
Religion is based upon the division of the sacred and the profane
religion: sacred things and what they represent
Durkheim’s Definition of Religion
a unified system of beliefs and practices related to sacred things, that is to say things set apart and forbidden
Totemism (definition)
simplest and most basic form of religion
Australian Aborigines
Totemism as a form of religion (Durkheim quote)
in worshiping god, people are in fact worshiping society. society is the real object of religious veneration
Why do people not worship society itself and worship totems instead?
“it is easier for a person to visualize and direct his feelings of awe toward a symbol than towards a more complex thing as a clan” - Durkheim
Religion and Collective Consciousness
religion reinforces collective consciousness
worship of society strengthens the values and moral beliefs that form the basis of social life
Collective Worship
social groups come together in religious worship
express common faith
strengthen the integration into society
Criticisms of Durkheim
- Dawson
- Durkheim only studied a limited number of Aboriginal groups
- cannot generalize such findings - Hamilton
- Durkheim ignored the conflict between religious beliefs and the society - Exaggeration of the relationship between society and religion
- while religion can be important in promoting social solidarity and reinforcing social values, critics believe that religion is not the worship of society
- Durkheim’s views are relevant to smaller, non-literate societies and less relevant in modern societies
The importance of Durkheim’s research
Dawson
“despite its limitations, Durkheim’s research continues as an important reference point for contemporary sociological reflection”
Evidence
-Paden
Western Wall in Jerusalem has great symbolic importance to Jews
-sacred objects
Malinowski and Emotional Stress/ Life Crisis
1) Trobriand Islands, New Guinea
religion alleviates the pain and stress associated with life crises such as death
ex. funeral rites related to religion
2) rituals
ex. fishing rituals to reduce the anxiety of fishing beyond the lagoon
Criticisms of Malinowski
Tambiah
- exaggeration of the importance of religious rituals in helping people cope with situations of stress and uncertainty
ex. many of the rituals in the Trobriand Islands have to do with maintaining social solidarity, many of those rituals are related to maintaining prestige in the society
Malinowski (General)
religion reinforces social social norms and values and promotes social solidarity as it helps deal with situations of emotional stress that threaten the stability of society
Parsons (Value Consensus)
religion provides guidelines for everyday conduct
establishes general principles, moral beliefs
establishes a consensus necessary for stabilizing society
Ex. 10 Commandments
-Thou shall not kill
Christianity
Parsons (Social Order)
religion addresses the problems that occur in society and disrupt social life
- Unexpected
- death// premature death - Uncertainty
- weather affecting agriculture
AS SUCH^ EVENTS CANNOT BE FORESEEN OR PREDICTED, RELIGION HELPS MAINTAIN SOCIAL STABILITY BY RELIEVING STRESS AND ANXIETY AND MAINTAINING SOCIAL ORDER
Parsons (Functions of Religion)
to make sense of all the experiences of life, no matter how meaningless or useless
religion provides meanings to events that people do not understand or have difficulty overcoming
ex. why people endure pain and deprivation?
- Religion: suffering is imposed by God to test the person’s faith
