Theories of Religion

Question 1

Definitions of Religion

Answer 1

Substantive, Functional, Constructionist

Question 2

Substantive

Answer 2

content of substance of religious belief e.g. God or supernatural. Weber - belief in superior power that is above nature and cannot be explained scientifically. Exclusive.
AO3 ~ there is a western bias as it excludes religions like Buddhism which don’t believe in God.

Question 3

Functional

Answer 3

social or psychological functions religion performs. Durkheim - religion is social integration as it brings people together in society. Yinger - it answers questions like meaning of life. Inclusive.
AO3 ~ just because an institution helps integrate individuals doesn’t make it a religion e.g. football.

Question 4

Constructionist

Answer 4

define religions themselves so lots of definitions. Impossible to come up with just one. Interested in how definitions are constructed, challenged, and fought over e.g. Scientology seen as religion by some Govs but not others.
AO3 ~ impossible to generalise about the nature of religion.

Question 5

Functionalists

Answer 5

religious institutions play a central role in creating and maintaining the value consensus, order, solidarity

Question 6

Sacred and Profane (overview)

Answer 6

Durkheim, totemism, collective conscience, cognitive functions.

Question 7

Sacred

Answer 7

things set apart and forbidden, inspire feelings of fear and wonder and encourage shared values

Question 8

Profane

Answer 8

have no special significance

Question 9

Sacred and Profane

Answer 9

religion involves practise done collectively, sacred symbols are symbols of great power - must be society itself, unite believers into one moral community as the whole religion is described by this distinction

Question 10

Totemism

Answer 10

simplest form of religion (clan culture), Arunta worship totems which bond people together, emblem of clans identity, represents power or group and reinforces solidarity, like worshipping society itself.

Question 11

Collective Conscience

Answer 11

shared norms and values that make society possible, remind individual of power of society, something greater than themselves

Question 12

Cognitive Functions

Answer 12

Mauss - part of their ability to reason and think, gives cause to time, space etc, schools came through Sunday school before.

Question 13

Evaluation (Sacred and Profane)

Answer 13

Worsley - questions usefulness of totems to society as not seen in western cultures much, can not apply to large scale communities, Postmodern - no longer share some values as no one truth

Question 14

Psychological Function

Answer 14

Malinowski - promotes solidarity and helps with emotional stress, outcome is important but uncontrollable, ‘God of Gaps’ as when missing something find it in religion, minimise disruption in time of crisis e.g. funeral, religion manages tensions and stability
AO3 ~ during COVID statistics of religion increased

Question 15

Value and Meanings (overview)

Answer 15

Parsons, civil religion, functional alternatives

Question 16

Value and Meanings

Answer 16

create and legitimise society’s central values as it sacralises values e.g. meritocracy for Protestants, primary source of meaning maintaining stability by giving life and suffering a meaning, makes sense of life

Question 17

Civil Religion

Answer 17

Bellah - belief system attaches sacred qualities to society, integrates society a way one religion can’t, creates cohesion in similar way to religion, bring together people through things like pledge of allegiance

Question 18

Functional Alternatives

Answer 18

similar affect but not religious beliefs, used to show loyalty to something, e.g. Nazi Germany

Question 19

Evaluation (Value and Meaning)

Answer 19

neglects negative functions, ignores conflict in modern society e.g. NI, civil religion ignores what makes religion distinctive, religion can be progressive e.g. how it is Iran

Question 20

Marxists

Answer 20

Ideology and Alienation

Question 21

Ideology

Answer 21

ideology distorts perceptions of reality to serve needs of ruling class, religion is ideological weapon used by ruling class to legitimise suffering as inevitable and God-given, suffering favoured in afterlife, false consciousness, Lenin - religion is spiritual gin provides a mystical fog that obscures reality, legitimises power and privilege they have by making position divinely ordained so disobedience not just illegal but also sinful.

Question 22

Alienation

Answer 22

reaches peak when meaningless tasks in factories could them to turn to religion for consolidation, opiate to dull pain but doesn’t treat cause, distorted view of world, no solution by promise of afterlife creating illusory happiness to distract from source of suffering, product of alienation

Question 23

Evaluation (Marxism)

Answer 23

ignores positive functions of religion e.g. psychological, Neo-Marxists see certain forms as assisting not hindering class consciousness, Althusser criticised alienation for being not begin scientific but a romantic idea, ideology has limited impact.

Question 24

Feminism

Answer 24

religion impacts the position of women, and function of religion

Question 25

Religion impacts position of women (supports)

Answer 25

God doesn’t judge differently based on gender, women within faith are leaders, and lots of them, use biblical scriptures to show women are equal - ‘do not let your brother supress another’, beginning to promote women and address taboo topics e.g. DV, changing message and promoting women’s rights

Question 26

Religion impacts position of women (undermines)

Answer 26

misrepresentation and misuse of religious scripture influence social policy, don’t learn from female religious leaders, the decision makers are men and control faith, change wasn’t permanent, not easy to challenge distorted religious messages - lead to threats, use own religion to remove from their roles

Question 27

Function of religion (patriarchy)

Answer 27

religious organisations are mainly male dominated despite more women participate e.g. Orthodox Jew and Catholics forbid female priests, segregate sexes at place of worship, scared texts mainly feature male Gods and Prophets with anti-female stereotypes, religious laws and customs can give women fewer rights
AO3 ~ Saadawi - religion not patriarchal, but society so men interpret religion this way

Question 28

Function of religion (empowerment)

Answer 28

early religion places women at centre e.g. earth mother and Goddesses, Brusco - women gain greater respect for role in private hemisphere e.g. Pentecostal groups believe men should respect women, piety movements support traditional teachings about women’s roles, Quakers and Unitarians commit to gender equality and women playing lead roles e.g. 1/3 ministers, July 2014 CofE passed law to allow women to be bishops.