Sociology Unit 3

Question 1

Functionalist view of religion?

Answer 1

Maintain harmony/social cohesion: inhibits change/helps keep society as it is - positive role [creates social order based on value consensus]

Question 2

Functionalist studies of religion

Answer 2

DURKHEIM - Aboriginal tribe/Arunta clans
MALINOWSKI - emotional stress
PARSONS - core values/integration
BELLAH - civil religion

Question 3

Durkheim studies/ideas (2/3)

Answer 3

Studied Aboriginal society: suggested that sacred worship of totems was equivalent to worshipping society itself [sacred religious worship encourages shared values]

Collective conscience (shared norms/values/beliefs that make social life/cooperation betw indvs possible) [without: society would disintegrate] - regular shared religious rituals reinforce collective conscience & maintain social integration 
Important function for indv: religion strengthens us to face life's trials & motivates us to overcome obstacles that would otherwise defeat us

Question 4

Malinowski study summary

Answer 4

Studied how religion deals w situations of emotional stress that threatens social order: unpredictable/stressful events [births/deaths] => disruption = religion manages tensions & promotes stability [ceremonies]

Question 5

Parsons theory

Answer 5

Religion provides guidelines for human action in terms of “core values” - helps to integrate p into value consensus + allows them to make sense of their lives

Question 6

Bellah idea

Answer 6

Civil religion = when secular symbols.rituals create social cohesion in similar way to religion [flags/poltc figures => collective feeling that generates order/stability]

Question 7

Criticisms of functionalist view of religion? (2)

Answer 7

Emphasises positive functions but neglects dysfunctional aspects of religion: can be source of oppression of poor/women

Ignores religion as source of division/conflict esp in complex/modern societies: religious pluralism = diffc to see how it can unite/promote integration

Ignore fact that they can bring about social change

Question 8

Criticism of Durkheim’s theory

Answer 8

Durkheim’s theory applies better to small-scale societies w a single religion - harder to apply to large-scale societies [2/more religious comms may be in conflict] = theory explains social integration within communities but not conflicts between them