Theories of religion Flashcards
What is Bellah’s view of religion?
He’s a neo functionalist- believes civil religion has replaced aspects of religion in USA due to secularisation. Americanism has become a major religion.
What did Malinowski’s study in the Trobriand Islands of South Pacific find?
Religion serves psychological functions
-support for emotional stress
-ceremonies ease anxieties
What did Bruce say the purpose of religious ceremonies are for in the West?
social/ getting people together
What did Weber say the role of religion is?
to fulfill the needs of individuals
What religion allowed capitalism to thrive during the Industrial revolution and why?
Calvinism in Europe- protestants believed that if they worked hard they’d go to heaven and be rewarded in the after life
What’s De Beauvoir’s view of religion?
-Religion is oppressive but compensates women
-women are controlled by religion
-women indoctrinate young people into religion through socialisation
-religion provides hope for the afterlife
Woodhead’s view of religion?
- women can gain freedom
-spirituality can empower women eg NAMs give women power
Holm
-many women are excluded from power in religions
-religion controls womens reproductive system
+however this is changing in 21st century eg women priests in Church of England
What’s post modernism and its ideas?
-modern era
-more science and rationality
-more individualistic
-religion isn’t declining but changing
What is Lyon’s phrase?
“spiritual shoppers”
What does Lyon say religion is like?
-shopping for products (due to technology)
-Disneyland (it’s detached from reality)
Why have NRMs become popular for younger people?
Youths aren’t socialised into a traditional religion
NRMs give self responsibility
What’s the main aim of NRMs and NAMs according to Heelas?
Self improvement
What has disneyland become a metaphor of? (Lyon)
religion- it has become Disneyland because its based on consumerism, entertainment, globalisation, culture
What does Huntington say about religious identity?
It’s becoming more important for people to be religious so people can separate themselves and have identity eg Hindus Sikhs
How do Marxists say the w/c are controlled?
- violence/ threat of violence
- control over society’s values
What’s the function of religion according to Marxists?
to control the w/c and prevent a revolution
What are the 6 reasons for religion helping capitalism?
- it keeps people happy in their impoverished positions
- it justifies the status quo, saying that god created rich and poor
- religion makes poverty more tolerable
- it gives people false consciousness (rewards in the afterlife)
- it offers hope
- it has close links with the ruling class
What type of force do marxists say religion is?
conservative because it justifies the denomination of the r/c
What’s an example of the ruling class having close links with religion in USA?
Trump rewarded the right wing for their support in the election by allowing religious leaders to get more involved with politics
How does Daly say religion supports the family?
religion promotes gender socialisation- women having an inferior role through domestic role
What does Aldridge claim about religion?
It provides women with comfort and security (through gender socialisation)
What does Woodhead say about the veil worn by muslim women?
it empowers them- prevents women being seen as sex objects, it is a response to secularisation
What does Daly say needs to happen to patriarchal religions?
they need to be overthrown by feminist religions with the rebirth of goddess
What year could women become bishops for CoE?
2014
What does Aldridge argue about women in religion?
women can use religion to gain status and
respect in the home.
How do neo Marxists view religion?
it’s a revolutionary force
What do neo-marxist’s say religion can help to express?
rebellion and resistance to the ruling class
What did Gramsci argue that religion can do?
give working class people a way of challenging the dominant ruling class
What did Maduro find in developing countries about religion?
Religious leaders/ religion can stand for the oppressed- they can speak up for the working class to express their unsatisfaction and can cause change
what religion has stood for the oppressed?
Fundamentalist Islamic groups have spoken out about poverty faced by Palestinian Arabs
What’s liberation theology?
social change within Catholic church
Who was assassinated in
1980 for speaking out against the corrupt right wing government of El
Salvador?
Archbishop Romero
In Catholicism/ christianity who is a figure that stands for the poor, slaved and oppressed?
christ
what religious leaders helped the poor in South America in the 1960s and 70s? how?
priests- spoke out about ruling class’ corruption and organised the poor into a revolutionary force
What do Weberians argue?
religion can change society
What was the Iranian Revolution in 1979?
The shah (leader of the country) made Iran more secular-promoting Western values- he was living in luxury whilst most people were living in poverty. He was replaced by a new government who returned back to strict Islamic laws e.g. veil wearing, no votes for women,
What’s ISIS?
a sectarian group wanting another Islamic state across Syria and Iraq
What is ISIS strictly following?
islamic religion
What does religion justify according to Bruce?
political cause (war, violence etc)
What does Armstrong say is behind religious violence?
economic and political factors
