Wk2 Flashcards
- According to Karl Marx, how does he describe religion and its role in society?
According to Karl Marx, religion is the ‘opium of the people,’ serving to divert attention from or justify fundamental inequalities in society.
- In Karl Marx’s view, why does religion remove attention from fundamental inequalities in society?
In Marx’s view, religion removes attention from fundamental inequalities by offering a form of ideological comfort or justification, preventing people from challenging the existing social structure.
- What is the role of religion in supporting capitalism, according to Marx, and why does he see capitalism as a threat to religion?
Marx sees religion as supporting capitalism by providing ideological support for the existing social order. However, he also views capitalism as a threat to religion because it constantly disrupts traditional communities and ways of life.
- How did Emile Durkheim study religion, and what did he focus on in understanding religiosity?
Emile Durkheim studied Australian Aboriginal culture to elaborate on the ‘elementary forms’ of religion, focusing on collective emotions generated in gatherings and rekindled through ritual practices.
- Explain Durkheim’s concept of collective moral power and what type of gods does Durkheim say are likely among local tribes that form larger collectives?
‘Mana’- It is symbolized through totems, associated w/ moral order and seen as sacred.
Durkheim say that gods that are less concerned with local matters and focus on general morality are more likely
- According to Durkheim, what is the role of religion in supporting collective moral feelings and providing social unity?
Social Function by supporting collective moral feelings, which provide social unity. It discredits the concept of ‘individual religion.’
- Why does Durkheim discredit the notion of ‘individual religion’?
Individualism poses a problem in Durkheim’s perspective as it leads to a lack of shared morality, causing people to feel directionless (anomie), and society lacks order.
- What is the concept of ‘anomie’? (as Durkheim views it)
a state of normlessness / lack of social order resulting frm breakdown in shared values +norms, often associated with individualism.
- How does Max Weber view religion as a social construction, and what elements does he focus on, unlike Durkheim?
social construction- made by ppl to make sense of wrld + guide how to live life, focusing on ‘belief’ and ‘knowledge,’ unlike Durkheim who emphasized collective emotions and rituals.
says religion’s origins from magic which was a simple form of science
(prophets=religious intensity»operationalise loses some intensity)
- According to Weber, what role did the Protestant ethic, especially Calvinism, play in the growth of modern capitalism?
CRUCIAL ROLE. Calvinism’s ascetic (abstaining from sensual pleasure) and inner-worldly (concerned w/ life in this wrld) nature promoted a work ethic, celebrating God through rational, calculating work, idleness.
They believe God has alr picked those chosen for salvation- promotes self-confidence.
This ethic contributed to the rise of modern capitalism, even as it eventually threatened religion’s influence due to disenchantment (ppl cannot hope to understand God & priests no help).
- How does socio-historical development give way for poly-theism to change to monotheism according to Weber?
Societies become increasingly rationalised with the development of science and tech. He agrees w/ durkheim that as societies became larger, a belief in a single god that transcended singular tribes was more useful
