Theories of religion

Question 1

Feminism and religion - what are feminists 4 main views regarding religion?

Answer 1

• There is poor representation
• associations of God with men only
• religion is used to oppress women
• negative associations of religion and women

Question 2

Feminism and religion- Who said women can never be Roman Catholic priests?

Answer 2

Pope Francis

Question 3

Feminism and religion- what did the UK church statistics in 2005 - 2015 find in baptist and independent churches regarding their percentage of female ministers?

Answer 3

Baptist churches only had 14% of female ministers

Independent churches only had 2% of female ministers

Question 4

Feminism and religion- What does poor representation of women indicate about religion?

Answer 4

that women are marginalised within religion

Question 5

Feminism and religion- what does DeBeauvoir speak about women being the 2nd sex?

Answer 5

DeBeauvoir- speaks about the second sex as Ephesians 5:33 - says women should submit to their husbands. Religion deceives women into thinking they are equal but really they are disadvantaged

Question 6

Feminism and religion- What does Burchill argue regarding the hijab?

Answer 6

Burchill- argues muslim women carry around with them a mobile prison

Question 7

Feminism and religion- What does El Saadawai say as evaluation regarding religion?

Answer 7

El Saadawi- argues religion is not the cause of oppression rather its the patriarchal forms of society over last thousand years. Patriachy influenced religon

Question 8

Functionalism and religion- how is religion conservative in 2 ways?

Answer 8

• traditional = defends moral views and roles and uphold traditional beliefs in society
• preservation = keeps things as they are

Question 9

Functionalism and religion- what are the 5 functions of religion?

Answer 9

• socialisation
• social cohesion/ solidarity
• civil religion
• preventing anomie
• coming to terms with life changing events

Question 10

Functionalism and religion- who coined the term civil religion and what did they say?

Answer 10

Bellah- argues that religion unites you tot he nation you live in. In the USA this was Americanism and it created value consensus

Question 11

Functionalism and religion- Evaluation for functionalism?

Answer 11

most western societies are multi religious so social cohesion doesn’t apply

religion can be dysfunctional instead of binding people it has caused so many world conflicts

Question 12

Functionalism and religion- Evaluation for Bellah- civil religion?

Answer 12

Bellah suggests civil religion is in decline as people see personal gratification above obligation

the events of 9/11 led people to go back to America’s civil religion

Question 13

Functionalism and religion- What does Malinowski argue religion is ?

Answer 13

Malinowski argues religion is useful at times of uncertainty and at times of life crises

Question 14

Functionalism and religion- What does Durkheim argue about religion plus his study of totems?

Answer 14

Durkheim believed all religion had a key feature

His study on Australian aboriginals saw that totem was their primary form of worship

Question 15

Marxism and religion- what did Marx view religion as?

Answer 15

Marx - viewed religion as an ideology that shaped peoples views and reproduced/ reinforced false class consciousness among the wc

Question 16

Marxism and religion- what are the 4 function to religion?

Answer 16

• legitimates social inequality
• religion is a compensator
• product of alienation
• disguises the true nature of exploitation

Question 17

Marxism and religion- How does Eagleton define ideology?

Answer 17

Ideology is the way in which meaning serves to sustain relations of domination

Question 18

Neo Marxism and religion- what is the neo marixist overall idea regarding religion?

Answer 18

Neo Marxists reject the idea that all cultural institutions are under the rule of ruling class. They suggest there is a relative autonomy to do what they want.

Question 19

Neo Marxism and religion- what does bloch argue about religion and hope?

Answer 19

Bloch- argues religion can provide a utopia of hope

Question 20

Neo Marxism and religion- what does Maduro argue about religion?

Answer 20

Maduro- argues there is relative autonomy in religion and leaders lead by conscience and speak out against inequality