Such - Religious theories

Question 1

Functionalist belief on religion

Answer 1

-religion contributes to social solidarity and integration
-adds value to peoples lives
-helps people cope with stress and gives them meaning

Question 2

Marxist beliefs on religion

Answer 2

-sees religion as a way of maintaining class divisions and oppressing the proletariat
-they think it stops people from clearly understanding their situation =false consciousness
-marx said its the opuim of the masses
- Marx said it maintained capitalism by suggesting inequality if unforgivable therefore unchangeable

Question 3

Feminist beliefs on religion

Answer 3

• tend to be critical of religion because of its patriarchal undertones
  -women are prevented by the ‘stained glass ceiling’ from jobs in religious institutions
  -some aspects of religions are oppressive towards women and their rights

Question 4

Postmodern views on religion

Answer 4

• think other theories of religion are outdated and that we can’t really have a theory of religion
  -religion is relatively unimportant in our very diverse society
  -cannot act as a social force for change

Question 5

feminism-role of wife and mother

Answer 5

-religious institutions advocate traditional family structure, thus helping to put woman into a more subservient role as cares and home makers at the expense of their own carers and opportunities
-in western christianity a wife was the property of her husband.

Question 6

evaluation of feminist approach

Answer 6

• in many ancient and folk religions goddesses have had key positions