Theories of Religion Flashcards
What do functionalists believe?
They see society as an organism, with basic needs it must meet in order to survive
Each institution performs a certain function to maintain the social system.
Social order and solidarity through a value concensues - a set of shared norms and values for people to follow
What is Durkheims input on religion and society?
Durkheim argues religious institutions play a central part in creating/maintaining a value concensues, order and solidarity
What three things does Durkheim analyse for religion?
The Sacred and Profane
The collective conscience
Cognitive functions of religion
What does Durkheim say about The Sacred and Profane?
Durkheim sees a key feature of all religions is the fundamental distinction between the sacred and the profane
The sacred - things set apart and forbidden, inspiring feelings of aw, fear & wonder, with taboos and prohibitions
The profane - are ordinary things that have no special significance
He believes that rituals and sacred objects are suggestions of society as a whole. When religious groups participate in rituals or for example, worship a totem, they are worshipping society and the totem inspires awe in the members precisely because it represents the power of the group
What does the sacred and the profane mean?
The sacred - things set apart and forbidden, inspiring feelings of aw, fear & wonder, with taboos and prohibitions
The profane - are ordinary things that have no special significance
What was Durkheim’s study on The Sacred and the Profane?
Durkheim studies Arunta, an aboriginal Australian tribe with a clan system. The group come together to perform ritual worship of a totem
What’s a totem?
A totem is the clans emblem, such as an animal or plant that symbolises the clans identity . The totemic rituals renerate it reinforcing the groups social solidarity and sense of belonging
What is collective conscience? What did Durkheim suggest about the collective conscience and religious rituals ?
He suggested that the sacred symbols represent societies collective consciousness - the shared norms, values and beliefs that make cooperation between individuals possible. Without these society would fail
Rituals reinforce the collective conscience and maintain social integration & rituals remind individuals of the power of society - thus, religion also performs an important function for the individual - by making us feel part of something greater than ourselves
What did Durkheim mean by cognitive functions of religion?
Durkheim sees religion as also being the source of our cognitive capacities - our ability to reason and think conceptually. In order to hunk at all we need categories such as space and time.
-religion provides the concepts and categories we need for understanding the world and communicating with others.
Durkheim Argus religion provides the basic categories of time, space and causation (eg, the creation of the world). ‘Religion is the origin of human thought, reason and science’
What does Malinowski suggest about religion and society?
He argues that religion promotes social solidarity by performing physiological functions for individuals, helping them cope with emotional stress
What two psychological functions does Malinowski say religion has? What was his study on Lagoon fishing?
1 - where the outcome is important but uncontrollable and uncertain. (In his study of Trobiand Islanders, Malinowski contrasts lagoon fishing and ocean fishing. Lagoon fishing is safe but ocean fishing is dangerous and uncertain - so is always accompanies by a “canoe magic’ - rituals to ensure safe expedition, this gives people a sense of control and eases tension, gives them confidence to take on hazourdous tasks and reinforces group solidarity
2 - at times of life crisis. (Events such as bithrth, puberty, marriage and especially death are potentially disruptive chag]news. Malinowski argues death is the main reason for the existence of religious beliefs.
What two other essential functions of religion in modern society does Parsons highlight?
1 - it creates and legitimises societies basic norms and values (by making them sacred)
This promotes value concensues and social stability
2- it provides a source of meaning, answering ‘ultimate questions (about life eg, why good people suffer. These may undermine our commitment to societies values. By answering such questions, religion helps people to adjust to adverse events and maintains stability.
What does Bellah suggest about civil religion in America?
Bellah argues that religion unifies society, especially in a multi faith society like America what unifies American society is an overarching civil religion - a belief system that attaches sacred qualities to society itself. Civil religion is a faith in the ‘American way of life’
Civil religion integrates society in a way that individuals cannot. American civil religion involves loyalty to the nation state and belief in God, both of which are equated with being a true American . It is expressed in rituals, symbols and beliefs - eg- the flag
What do Marxists say about functionalists and believe?
Marxists believe that functionalists emphasise the positive functions of religion and neglect the negatives.
Unlike functionalists, Marxists see all societies as divided into two classes, one which exploits the labour of the other. In modern capitalist society, it is the capitalist class who own the means of production and exploit the working class. This creates class conflict and Marx predicts the WC will eventually one day become aware of their own exploitation and overthrow capitalism
What two ways do Marxists see religion
Religion as an ideology and product of alienation
