theories of religion Flashcards
what is religion?
. Substantive definition
-> has to believe in god or the supernatural to be classed as a religion
. Functional definition
-> defined in terms of the social or psychological functions it performs for individuals.
. Constructionist definition
-> how members of society themselves define religion
-> not possible to produce a single universal definition of religion that covers all cases
Functionalist theories of religion.
. Durkheim
. Religion plays central part in creating and maintaining value consensus, order and social solidarity.
Functionalist theories of religion
. The sacred and the profane
. The scared are things that are set apart and forbidden, inspire feelings of awe, fear and wonder and are surrounded by taboos and prohibitions.
. The profane are things that have no special significance (ordinary and mundane).
. Durkheim said that the sacred were able to project powerful feelings in those that believed cos they are symbols representing a great power.
-> believed this great power was society itself cos nothing else was strong enough. so when they worship the sacred they worship soc
-> the sacred perform function of uniting believers into single moral community
Functionalist theories of religion
. Totemism
. Durkheim
-> studied tribe in Australia with clan system
-> found that the clans were made up of different kin that came together to perform rituals - e.g worship of the sacred totem
-> the totem is the clans emblem (normally something to do with nature)
-> the shared rituals enforce the groups solidarity + sense of belonging
-> worshiping totem = worshiping society
Functionalist theories or religion
. The collective conscience
. Durkheim
. shared norms and values that make social life and interaction possible.
. shared rituals = reinforce it + maintain social integration
-> binds ppl together = reminds that they are part of a single moral community
. performs great function for the individual cos makes them feel part of something greater
-> religion encourages to face life trials + motivate us to overcome obstacles
Functionalist theories of religion
. Cognitive functions of religion
. Durkheim
. source of intellectual or cognitive capacities (our ability to reason and think)
. religion provides the basic categories like time, space and causation that we need to think in to be able to share the info
. religion = origin of human thought
Functionalist theories of religion
. criticisms of Durkheim
. no sound evidence for totemism
-> Worsley - no sharp difference between scared and profane and different clans can share the same totems
-> even if he is right not prove he discovered the essence to all other religions
. theories applied better to small scale societies with single religion
-> theory could explain integration within communities but not conflict between religions within a community
. postmodernist argue that his ideas cant be applied to contemporary society cos of increased diversity.
Functionalist theories of religion
. Psychological functions
. Malinowski agrees with Durkheim - religion promotes social solidarity
-> he says it helps individuals cope with emotional stress that would undermine social solidarity
-> two situations where religion performs this role
1) where the outcome is important but uncontrollable
. studied islanders in the west pacific
-> lagoon fishing = safe + predictable method of poisoning - no ritual for lagoon fishing
-> Ocean fishing = dangerous + uncertain so always accompanies by ‘canoe magic’ - rituals to ensure a safe trip (gives the people a sense of control)
-> sees rituals as enforcing social solidarity
2) at times of life crisis
->birth, death, puberty and marriage - religion helps to minimise disruption.
. criticism
-> limited study
-> overemphasises religion’s capability to help
Functionalist theories of religion
. Parsons
. performs 2 essential functions
1) creates + legitimises society’s central values
2) primary source of meaning
-> answers ‘ultimate’ Qs
. religion is the guidelines for behaviour (provides a social norm)
. agrees with Malinowski about religion in crisis
Functionalist theories of religion
. criticisms of Parsons
. Ignores fact that many soc laws are broken
Neo-functionalism
. Civil religion
-> Bellah
. what is it?
-> promotes ID based on national/ideological way of life
-> ‘make America great again’
-> uniquely in US cult -> incorporates entire society
-> a belief system that attaches sacred qualities to society itself
. examples
-> pledging allegiance to the flag
-> 4th July
-> thanks giving
. solve Durkheim + Malinowski’s problems
-> overcome prob of not able to apply to contemporary society
-> soc still have overarching belief system shared by all
-> is it religion if not based on super natural
Marxism
. Ideal society
. production communally owned
-> disappear social class -> members of society fulfilled -> religion not exist cos soc conditioned to produce anymore
Marxism
. religion as an illusion
. provides deceptions
. eases the pain of exploitation/ oppression
. myths that justify + legitimise the subordination of the subject class
. Karl Marx
-> the opium of the people
-> acts as one to dull the pain of oppression (false class conscious)
Marxism
. Lenin
. “a spiritual gin in which the slaves of capital drown their human shape + claim to any decent life”
Marxism
. 4 ways to dull the pains of oppression
. Promises paradise of eternal bliss (afterlife)
. Makes virtue of suffering produced by oppression
. Offers hope to supernatural intervention
. Justifies social order + peoples place within it
