Topic 1- Theories of religion Flashcards
What are the three definitions of religion?
- Substantive
- Functional
- Constructionist
Substantive defintion
- These focus on the content or substance of religious belief, such as belief in God or the supernatural.
- For example, Weber defines religion as belief in a superior or supernatural power that is above nature and cannot be explained scientifically.
- To be a religion, a set of beliefs must include a belief in God or the superatural.
- AO3- leaves no room for beliefs and practices hat perform similar functions to religion but do not involve in God.
Functional definition
- Rather than defining it in terms of specific inds of belief, functional definitions define it in terms of the social or psyhological functions it perform for individuals or society.
- For example, Durkheim dfeines it in terms of the social contribution it makes to social intergration, rather than any specific belief in God or the supernatural.
- AO3 Eval
-Inclusive -> including a wide range of beliefs , and practice sthat perform functions such as intregration.
-However, just because an institution helps intergrate individuals into groups, this does not make it a religion (collective chanting at football matches might give as sense of intergration but is not a religion).
Constructionist definition
- Social constructionists take an interpretivist thay focuses on how members of society themselves define religion.
- They argue that is is not possible to produce a single universal definiton of religion that will cover all cases, since in reality different individuals and groups mean very differeny things by ‘religion’.
- Alridge shows how, for its followers, socientology is a religion, whereas several governments have denied it legal status as a religion and sought to ban it.
- AO3 eval
- Allows them to get close to the meanings people themselves give to religion.
- However, this makes it impossible to generalise about the nature of religion, since people may have widely differing views about what counts as a religion.
Functionalist theories: Overall functionalist theory of religion
Religion contributes to social solidarity and integration, and adds value to people’s lives.
Functionalist theories: Durkheim- The sacred and profane
- The key feature of religion was not a belief in gods, spirits or the supernatural, but a fundamental distinction between the sacred and the profane found in all religions.
- The fact that the scared things evoke such a powerful feelings in believers indicates to Durkheim that this because they are symbols representing something of great power.
- In his view, this thing can only be society itself, since society is the only thing powerful enough to command susch feelings. When they worship the scared symbols, therefore, people are worshipping socciety itself.
Functionalist theories: Durkheim- Totemism
Essence of all religion could be found by studying its simplest form, in the simplest type of society- clan society. He used studies of Arunta, an Aboriginal Australian tribe with a clan system.
Consists of bands of kin who come together periodically to perform rituals involving worship of a sacred totem. The totem symbolises the clan’s identity. Shared totemic rituals serve to reinforce the group’s solidarity and sense of belonging.
When clan members worship their totemic animal they are in reality worshipping society.
Functionalist theories: Durkheim- The collective conscience
The collective conscience is the shared norms, values, beliefs and knowledge that make social life and cooperation between individuals possible- without these, society would disintegrate.
Shared religious rituals reinforce the collective conscience and maintain social integration.
Functionalist theories: Cognitive functions
In order to think at all, we need categories such as time, space, cause, substance, number etc. in order to share our thoughts, we need to use the same categories as others.
Durkheim and Mauss- religion provides basic categories such as time, space and causation- for example ideas about a creator.
Thus for Durkheim, religion is the origin of human thought, reason and science.
Functionalist theories: Psychological functions (Malinowski)
Where the outcome is important but is uncontrollable and thus uncertain-
In his study of the Trobriand Islanders of the Western Pacific, Malinowski contrasts fishing in the ocean.
-Lagoon fishsing** is safe and successful method od poisoning. When the islanderws fish in thev lagoon there is no ritual*
-Ocean fishing is dangerous and uncertain, and thus is always accompanied by ‘canoe magic’- rituals to ensure a safe and successful expedition.
At times of life crises
Events such as birth, puberty, marriage and especially death mark major and disruptive changes in social groups. Religion helps to minimise disruption.
Functionalist theories: Parsons values and meanings
- It legitimates society’s central values
- It is the primary source of meaning
Functionalist theories: Civil religion Bellah
Civil religiopn integrates society in a way that Ameerica’s many different churches and denominattions cannot. American civil religion involves loyalty to the nation-state and a belief in God, both of which rae eqauted with being a true Anerican.
For example, ‘One nation under God’ pledge of allegiance.
Marxist theories: Religion as ideology
Marx argues that vthe class that controls economic production also controls the production and distribution of ideas in society, through institutions such as the church, the education system and the media.
Lenin describes religion as ‘spiritual gin’- an intoxicant doled out to the masses by the ruling class to confuse them and keep them in their place.
Functionalist theories: Evaluation
Emphaises the social nature of religion and the positive functions it performs, but it neglects negative aspects, such as religion as a source of oppression of the poor or women.
It ignores religion as a source of division or conflict.
Marxist theories: Religion and alienation
Religion is the productof alienation and capitalism, it is often used by the exploited for consolidation, opium of the people.
