Theories Of Religion

Question 1

Functionalism - UAPI

Answer 1

-Unites People
-Answers Ultimate Questions
-Provides Comfort
-Integrates Society

Question 2

Religion Unites People

Answer 2

-Functionalism
-Durkheim
-toteism-worshipping society
-perform rituals
-trobriand islanders
-social glue
-builds bonds
-brings society together
-collective conscience - think as one

Question 3

Religion Answers Ultimate Questions

Answer 3

-Functionalism
-Parsons
-what happens after death
-prevents challenging commitment to society
-prevents anomie
-keeps people committed/working for society- follow rules

Question 4

Religion Provides Comfort - func

Answer 4

-Functionalism
-Malinowski
-Trobriand islanders-ritual to keep safe
-certinity +comfort in uncontrollable situations-gives sense of control
-time of crisis
-provides support-war time, covid-church attendance soared during war

Question 5

Religion Integrates Society

Answer 5

-Functionalism
-Bellah
-Americanism-civil religion
-Multi-faith society in America
-American dream, believe america is best
-loyalty to nation state+belief in God
-pledge allegiance to flag
-American God-binds together Americans from diff ethnics+backgrounds-independence day
-brings society together

Question 6

Religion Provides Comfort - marxism

Answer 6

-Marx
-poor are exploited+alienated in workplace
-turn to religion for comfort
-opium of the people
-opiate-dull the pain of exploitation
-masks underlying problem
-promises afterlife - illusory happiness
-distracts attention from capitalism
-maintains status quo

Question 7

Religion Maintains Capitalism

Answer 7

-Marx/Lenin
-belief system-distorts peoples perception of reality
-serves working class
-church = idealogical state apparatus
-idealogical weapon by ruling class-legitimate suffering of poor-God given
-missleads poor-suffering is virtous-favoured in afterlife
-“pass camel through eye of needle”
-creates false class conciousness
-Lenin-spiritual gin-intoxicant to dole out masses
-mystical fog-cant see cause of exploitation

Question 8

Religion Legitimates the Hierarchy

Answer 8

-legitimates power of dominant class
-god-given
-divine right of kings-god’s representitive on earth-owed total respect
-Hindu caste system
-based on ascribed status-born into-have to full fill duty to be rewarded with high status
-keeps poor in place

Question 9

Radical Feminism - SHP

Answer 9

-Legitimates gender heirachy
-maintains patriachy
-segregates the sexes
-instrument of male domination

Question 10

Legitimates Gender hierarchy

Answer 10

-Rad fem
-De Beauvoir
-book - second sex
-religion=instrument of male domination-women seen as inferior because of religion
-men control religious orgs-claim authority comes from God
-“divine right”-justify position
-false believe-suffer=heaven-false consciousness-keeps women in place
-unaware of exploitation
-Adam +Eve-“second sex” - firts sin committed by woman
-hierarchy-male gods, prophets, texts -
written by men
-teaches women are inferior to men

Question 11

Segregation of the Sexes

Answer 11

-rad fem
-Holm-places of worship
-marginalise women
-women seated behind scenes-men occupy sacred spaces
-not allowed to speak or read from sacred texts
-taboos-menstruation, childbirth, pregnancy
-Islam-menstruating women not allowed to touch Qur’an
-stained glass ceiling - controls women

Question 12

Religion Maintains patriarchy

Answer 12

-rad fem
-Armstrong
-male dominated-despite more women participate
-Orthodox Judaism, Catholicism - forbid women from becoming priests
-marginalisation-women’s exclusion from priesthood
-social barrier-stained glass ceiling-unable to access top jobs/positions

Question 13

Liberal Feminism - FCR

Answer 13

-Culture is oppressive not religion
-Religious organisations do not maintain patriarchy
-Religious forms of feminism
-religion empowers women

Question 14

Culture is oppressive not religion

Answer 14

-Lib fem
-El Sadaawi
-society is patriarchal-res-shaped religion
-society has influenced religion
-rise of monotheism (one god)-legitimates power of men
-religion now contributes to women’s oppression-due to men inter operating religious beliefs to benefit patriarchal society.

Question 15

Religious organisations do not maintain patriarchy

Answer 15

-lib fem
-MOP
CofE- allow women to be priests-1993-2015-female bishops allowed-1/5 of priests women
-non-orthodox Jews-allow women to be Rabbis
-Islam-now allowing men and women to pray together

Question 16

Religious forms of feminism

Answer 16

-Lib fem
-Woodhead
-religions isn’t patriarchal
-not true of all religions-women use religion to gain freedom and respect
-e.g, hijab- symbolise resistance to oppression
-escape confines of home, entering education and employment]
-frees women from male gaze-enter public sphere while retaining culture.
-break stained glass ceiling-religious orgs moving towards gender equality.

Question 17

Religion empowers women

Answer 17

-lib fem
-NAM
-access top positions within NAMs-empower m ore feminists to take on dominant role-break stained glass ceiling.