2.1 Religion as a Conservative Force Flashcards
How do the functionalists believe that religion acts as a conservative force? (Durkheim, Parsons & Malinowski)
Durkheim –> Religion is important in maintaining social cohesion and stability. It takes on the role of agent of socialisation as well as a form of informal social control which helps to maintain the status quo. It does this by providing a cultural basis for the norms and values and legitimises them.
Malinowski –-> Religion provides explanations for the big questions in life, it fulfils a need for emotional security and relieves social stress which can lead to bitterness, disillusionment and a breakdown in social solidarity.
How do the Marxists believe that religion acts as a conservative force?
Marxism sees religion as an ideological status apparatus that helps to maintain and legitimise ruling class power and ideology.
Marx suggested that this is achieved by using religion
as an “opium of the masses” which clouds them from
oppression and exploitation of capitalist society.
This is achieved by promising eventual escape for the hardships in the afterlife and suggesting that hardship in this life is God’s test.
The Hindu religion also shows how religion can be used to legitimises social inequality through the caste system.
How do the feminists believe that religion acts as a conservative force? (3 ways but mention at least 2)
- Feminists believe that religion is a conservative force because it helps to maintain patriarchy.
- Religious beliefs justify, reinforce
and reproduce inequality based on male domination and control of women. - This is achieved by showing women in a submissive way in religious text, marginalising and restricting women in religious organisations and hierarchy and religious laws and customs which give women fewer rights than men including things such as divorce and property rights.
What do Stark and Bainbridge mean by religion being a compensator and how does this maintain social stability?
Stark and Bainbridge’s theory of religion is similar to that of Berger as they examine the meaning and function of religion.
They see religion as meeting the needs of the individual when their sense of social order is disrupted.
They argue that religion helps to make sense of the disorder and chaos and acts a compensator (a belief that if the individuals act in a certain way, the will eventually be rewarded).
Stark and Bainbridge there fore argue that by acting as a compensator it is contributing to the maintenance of stability in social life.
What are the four functions of religion in society according to Durkheim?
Emile Durkheim argued that religion provides
- Social cohesion
- Social control to maintain society in social solidarity. 3. Norms to help maintain conformity and control in society
- Offers meaning and purpose to answer any existential questions
What is meant by religion as a compensator?
a belief that if the individuals act in a certain
way, the will eventually be rewarded
What are the main two ways that religion can be seen as a conservative force?
1 maintains or seeks to restore traditional values, beliefs
2 customs maintain the status quo
What did Marx mean by Religion being the Opium of the People?
For Marx religion becomes a ‘sedative’ that the working class take and turn to dull their oppressions and alienation by their life of working for the rich under capitalism.
Give two criticisms of religion as a conservative force.
- Liberation Theology – a movement for the oppressed in Latin America stood against the powerful elites. However, it didn’t seem to have much succession in changing anything.
- The Baptist Church and the Civil Rights movement in the USA, much more successful.
Give two ways that religion could be seen as maintaining patriarchy.
• Depicting women in religious texts as bad influences or impure – e.g. Eve causing the fall from grace, Delilah taking Samson’s strength, Mat Magdalene as a
prostitute.
• Portraying God as a man
What is meant by the term collective conscience?
collective conscience is the shared norms, values beliefs and knowledge that make social living possible.
Durkheim believed that regular religious rituals reinforce the collective conscience and maintains social integration reminding people that they share a common moral outlook to which they owe loyalty.
