Theories of Religion

Question 1

What do substantive definitions of religion focus on?

Give at least two examples.

Answer 1

At least two from:

• The content of religious belief such as a belief in God or the supernatural.
• Drawing a clear link between religious and non-religious belief.
• Conform to a widespread view that religion is a belief in God.

Question 2

What do functional definitions of religion do?

Answer 2

• Define religion in terms of the social or physiological functions in performs for the individual or society.

Question 3

How do functional definitions distinguish between religious and non-religious belief?

Answer 3

• They do not draw a clear line.

Question 4

What do constructive definitions of religion focus on?

Answer 4

• How members of society themselves define religion.

Question 5

What do constructive definitions of religion argue?

Answer 5

• That it is not possible to produce a single, universal definition of religion, since religion means different things to individuals or groups.

Question 6

What is the basic definition of religion?

Answer 6

• Religion is a shared set of beliefs and values between a group.

Question 7

What do functionalists believe are the main functions of religion?

Answer 7

• Socialisation - socialize societies members into a value consensus by investing values with sacred qualities.
• Social integration and solidarity - members are able to express values and strengthen unity.

Civil religion - sacred qualities are attached to aspects of society.

• Preventing anomie - fear for modern, industrial societies where individuals would become less integrated and their behaviour less regulated.

Question 8

According to Functionalists, how does religion prevent change from happening?

Answer 8

• By encouraging an awareness of common membership.

Question 9

Complete the sentence below:

- Functionalists believe that religion is a ______ force which keeps things the way they ___ and keeps the status ____

Answer 9

• Conservative.
• Are
• Quo

Question 10

Complete the sentence:
Feminists see religion as a ____ force, because it acts as an _____ that legitimates ______ power and maintains women’s ____ position in the family and wider ____.

Answer 10

• Conservative
• Ideology
• Patriarchal
• Subordinate
• Society

Question 11

How is religion patriarchal?

Give at least two examples.

Answer 11

• God is considered to be a man.
• In Middle Eastern countries, women face some restrictions about what they do and wear due to their religion.
• It is frowned upon for women to take positions of authority in the Church.
• Churches are male dominated – Vicars are usually men.

Question 12

Complete the sentences:

___ texts tend to mainly feature the doings of ____gods, and prophets, and normally the texts themselves are ____ and interpreted by men.
Stories involving ____ are often _____ stereotyped e.g. Adam and Eve, where Eve, in Christianity, caused humanity’s fall from grace.

Answer 12

• Sacred
• Male
• Written
• Women
• Negatively

Question 13

Complete the sentences:

Churches are mainly ____ dominated.
It is ____that you see a _____ priest in the church. Orthodox Judaism and _____ actually ____ women from becoming priests.

Answer 13

• Male
• Rare
• Female
• Catholicism
• Forbid

Question 14

Complete the sentences:

Places of _____ often _____ the sexes and _____ and restrict women. For example, women ___ being allowed to read ____ texts or enter certain areas of places of worship. For example, Islam restricts _____ women from touching the Qur’an. and _____ have to cover themselves in some places of worship.

Answer 14

• Worship
• Segregate
• Marginalise
• Not
• Sacred
• Menstruating
• Women

Question 15

Complete the sentences:

Women have fewer rights than ____, e.g. ____ to divorce, how many spouses they may marry, decision making, and dress codes. In Islam women are forced to cover themselves head to toe in Burkhas where only their eyes are showing.

Answer 15

• Men

- Access

Question 16

What do Marxists argue about religion overall?

Answer 16

• Religion discourages people from attempting change, so the dominant groups can retain their power. - For example, looking at the nature of faith and the way in which religion of the poor concentrate on the afterlife. This maintains that status quo.

Question 17

What is a conservative force?

Answer 17

• This is made up of Functionalist, Marxist and Feminist ideas.
• The idea of religion as a conservative force, is about using religion to keep the status quo and keeping things the way they are.
• Conservative force theories try to give a traditional view of religion.

Question 18

How can the Marxist view of religion be evaluated?

Answer 18

• It fails to explain the existence of religion where it does not appear to contribute to the oppression of a particular class.
• There are examples of religious movements that have brought about radical social change and helped remove the ruling class elites.
• Althusser (1971) rejects the concept of alienation as unscientific and argues that human beings have ‘true self’.
• This theory of religion fails to consider secularisation - the ideological power of religion is undermined if fewer than 10% of people attend church.
  Marxists failed to explain why religion continues to exist when oppression has come to an end e.g. USSR under communism.
• religion does not necessarily function effectively as an ideological way to control the population. Abercrombie and Turner (1978) argue Christianity only had limited impact on the peasentry in pre-capitalist society.
• Marx ignores the positive functions of religion, such as psychological adjustment to misfortune.
• Neo Marxists have recognised the way in which religion is sometimes used as the only means to oppose the ruling class e.g. church providing a haven for immigrant groups facing deportation.