Theories of Religion - Functionalism Flashcards
What do functionalists see religion as?
Conservative force
i.e. it helps maintain social stability and prevent social change
What does functionalist Durkheim see the two functions of religion as?
It reinforces a collective consciousness
It creates social solidarity
What are sacred objects according to functionalist Durkheim?
Sacred objects represent the collective consciousness (i.e. basic norms and values) of society
Based this on his study of religion he called totemism among Australian Aboriginal communities
How does functionalist Durkheim argue religion creates social solidarity?
Creates social solidarity through shared acts of ritual and collective worship that bring people together and unites society with the same norms and values (collective consciousness) creating social solidarity
What are the criticisms of functionalist Durkheim’s views of religion?
Religion may be a divisive force rather than creating social solidarity
Durkheim’s theory was based on a small-scale, pre-industrial society with one religion so may not apply to post-industrial large-scale societies with many different religions
Postmodernists argue that religious diversity means one religion can no longer create a collective consciousness of all of society
Durkheim didn’t recognise secularisation
Marxism: religion only benefits the RC
Feminists: religion reproduces patriarchy
What did functionalist Malinowski argue the functions of religion are?
Religion helps people cope with stress:
- during life crises
- when outcomes are uncertain or uncontrollable
How does functionalist Malinowski argue religion helps people with life crises?
Helps people cope with life crises, such as births, marriages and deaths - brings people together and offers support, creates social solidarity
How does functionalist Malinowski argue religion helps people relieve anxiety?
Helps relieve anxiety in situations where the outcome is unknown or uncontrollable
A religious ritual such as prayer may relieve feelings of anxiety and enable people to carry out their task
What does functionalist Parsons argue the two functions of religion are?
To legitimise societies core values
To be the primary source of meaning
How does functionalist Parsons argue society legitimises core values and preserves life’s meaning?
Religion legitmises the core values of society by making them sacred
e.g. Protestantism in the USA sacralises the core values of individualism, meritocracy and self-discipline, creating a value consensus and social solidarity
Religion helps preserve the sense that life has meaning
e.g. good people who suffer will be rewarded in the afterlife
What does neo-functionalist Bellah look at?
Looks at how a civil religion performs the functions of traditional religion
What is a civil religion?
A belief system that attaches sacred qualities to society itself
How is the USA an example of a civil religion?
USA made up of many religions so one church cannot unite society
However, the civil religion of Americanism can do this to create a collective consciousness and maintain social solidarity
What is the evaluation of functionalist theories of religion?
Feminists argue they ignore how religion oppresses women and reproduces a patriarchal ideology
Marxists argue religion is part of an ISA that spreads a ruling class ideology to benefit capitalism, not society as whole
Postmodernists argue functionalists ignore religious diversity
- i.e. many religions in one society
Functionalists ignore the process of secularisation and that some people may not be religious so religious belief is unlikely to unite them
Beckford argues civil religion doesn’t really exist in the UK because events like Remembrance Sunday happen occasionally and cannot heal the social devisions within British society today
