Topic 2 - Theories Of Religion Flashcards
DURKHEIM
-Everything is divided into sacred and profane
-Totemism- basic religion, worship of society. Shared worship creates collective conscience. Applicable to minority ethnic groups
- Civil religions- supernatural will decline, non religious rituals replace.
BUT - is that religion?
MALINOWSKI
- Religion reinforces norms and values to create social solidarity.
-gives comfort and explanations in face of uncertainty to create emotional security and prevent disillusionment that may threaten society.
Ie funeral services
PARSONS
Powerful socialising and controlling agent
Religious values embedded in society, even if not religious feel guilt if break religious norms (ie thieve)
Religion is a mechanism of adjustment- enables emotional adjustment and return to normalcy.
Explains unexplainable, stabilises society.
Criticisms of functionalism
Ignores the fact religion can act for social change.
Secularisation means religion can now only fulfil some functional prerequisites.
Religious pluralism prevents social cohesion. A lot of religious conflict.
BERGER - Interpretivists
- religion provides universe of meaning, giving life order
- helps make sense of fundamental questions are provides theodicy.
- provides sacred canopy shielding society from meaninglessness.
BUT
Cannot provide in postmodern society, belief too fragmented and secular. Religion lost validity and so turn to science.
Interpretivists
Interested in how religion is used to create meaning, and the meaning sacred objects have for individuals.
SADAAWI
Men distort religion, become patriarchal through misinterpretation of belief.
Religion justifies and continues oppression.
Aldridge
Veiling is a symbol of patriachy
Aunt et al
Three factors disillusion women with religion
1) feminism
2) working women
3) family diversity
BEAUVOIR
religion creates divine right of male dominance
deceives women to accept their unequal position by making them believe they are equal.
BUT - women are vital for religion.
HOLM
There are signs of hope within religion - female bishops now allowed within the Church of England.
BADAWI
signs of hope:
Islamic women can choose strand of religion.
They can often choose to keep their name if desired.
Criticisms of feminist theory
WATSON- very ethnocentric. Veiling seen in some cultures to be liberating, allows women to leave the home and gain an education or a job whilst maintaining their culture.
STARK AND BAINBRIDGE
compensation ideology controls behaviour, religion acts as a conservative force. There will always be demand for religion as the afterlife fulfils a need and meaning that humans desire.
NEO MARXISM
SOCIAL CHANGE. Religon has relative autonomy from ruling class.
Engels
Christian sects revolt against Roman rule.
GRAMSCI
Religion can be focus for counter hegemony. outlet of resistance against the ruling class.
MADURO
Liberation Theology - mix of marxism and christianity. Used by catholic priests in the 60s and 70s in South America to fight corruption in government.
christ portrayed as reforming revolutionary not passive peacemaker.
examples of religion acting as a force for social change.
1980s Poland
Civil rights (Luther king and N.Ireland)
Islam fight against Americanisation.
MARX
religion is key to the dominant ideology, reinforce false consciousness.
enables control. across history convert to religion to control, ie slaves and workers in 18thC controlled by christianity.
inequalities justified as Gods Will (i,e divine right of kings) cannot challenge inequality without challenging God.
OPIUM OF THE PEOPLE
MARX-
pain relieving - promises of the afterlife
creates illusions so accept position.
gives sense of purpose to prevent their alienation of the individual within capitalist society.
3 ways to appease pain:
1) Reward in afterlife - ‘The meek shall inherit the earth.’
2) supernatural intervention will solve earths problems. No need to address them now. - ‘Battle of Armedeggon’
3) inequality justified as God’s will. - India caste system- if hindu believe that you will be reincarnated into a lower caste if you challenge the system.
MARX - Future of religion
If truly liberated, then there is no need for religion.
ALTHUSSER
religion is an ideological state apparatus. Reinforce false consciousness and ruling class dominance.
SHIFFERS
Religion supports dominate groups within society.
2/3rds of Christian New Right vote George Bush
HOOK
Catholic Church anti-contraception policy cause mass problems in poorer countries.
LEACH
80% of bishops are oxbridge
CRITICISMS OF MARXISM
- No evidence for false consciousness.
-Doesn’t always support dominant groups i.e nazism in Germany, Poland 1980s etc. - It is a MODERNIST theory, secularisation means religion can no longer act as the opium of the people.
The existence of religion is not explained.
MARXISM AND RUSSIA
Russia disproves Marx’s theory. Religion was banned but it didn’t die.
GREELEY 1991 47% of Russians believe in God.
HOSKINS - Soviet Union more religious than Northern Europe.
Which theories believe religion is a conservative force?
Feminism Marxism Stark and Bainbridge interpretivist Functionalist.
WEBER - social action theorist
Religion is a force for social change.
religion shapes world view of an individual, if beliefs develop, then will affect individuals actions and create social change.
THE PROTESTANT WORK ETHIC AND THE SPIRIT OF CAPITALISM’
Britain had the material conditions and normative conditions for industrialisation from Calvinism. This preached hard work, thrift and no self indulgence. created social change.
BRUCE
Fundamentalism is both a conservative force - as it opposes modernisation and has strong traditional values - but also a force for social change, as they seek to change the modern social order.
MCGUIRE AND ROBINSON
2001
4 factors determine whether religion conservative or force of change.
1) Nature and extent of religion. If most hold religious beliefs, and these beliefs are in conflict with society, then religion will criticise society and so there will be social change.
2) Level of central control. If there is strong central control, then religion has the power to promote or restrict. Ie Islam in Iran.
3) Degree of social involvement with religion. If religion is important politically and economically then religion will have a high degree of influence and can create social change. This is especially applicable to societies that do not have democracy. ie Liberation Theology.
4) Significance within society.
If religion is significant then it can justify and change behaviour. If it is not, then religion can have little role in social change.
