Beliefs In Society - Functionalist Perspective On Religion

Question 1

What do Functionalist’s see religion as?

Answer 1

A conservative force

Question 2

What do they believe religion promotes?

Answer 2

Social harmony, integration & solidarity

Question 3

How is social harmony, integration & solidarity reinforced?

Answer 3

Through a value consensus

Question 4

What are the basic needs that must be met if society is to survive?

Answer 4

Functional prerequisites

Question 5

How is the role of religion analysed according to functionalists?

Answer 5

Functional prerequisites

Question 6

Religion is seen as?

Answer 6

Part of the culture

Question 7

SOCIOLOGIST: What is cultural defence according to Bruce?

Answer 7

Where culture acts as a focal point for the defence of community identity (seen as under threat from external force)

Question 8

SOCIOLOGIST: What is cultural transition according to Bruce?

Answer 8

Where groups (e.g. minority) move to a diff country/culture with religion providing source of identity/support during the transition

Question 9

SOCIOLOGIST: What did Durkheim see religion as?

Answer 9

important element in social integration and stability

Question 10

Who argues all societies divide world into sacred & profane?

Answer 10

Durkheim

Question 11

SOCIOLOGIST: What is the sacred, according to Durkheim?

Answer 11

Special & forbidden that are spiritual, religious or holy and can be extraordinary or fearful etc

Question 12

SOCIOLOGIST: What is the profane, according to Durkheim?

Answer 12

the ordinary, every-day non-sacred, non-special & non-holy

Question 13

SOCIOLOGIST: What does Durkheim suggest about the sacred?

Answer 13

Doesn’t necessarily have do be about supernatural phenomena but can be about anything people regard as sacred

Question 14

What is a totem?

Answer 14

A sacred object representing and having symbolic significance and importance for a group

Question 15

SOCIOLOGIST: What did Durkheim argue about totems?

Answer 15

created by society so it is sacred (symbol of society)

Question 16

AO2: How do individuals in minority ethnic communities use religion to maintain social order?

Answer 16

Often a means to maintain own cultural identity and plays key role in integrating community

Question 17

SOCIOLOGIST: How does religion create a collective conscience, according to Durkheim?

Answer 17

helps people develop moral ties
develops sense of shared identity, commitment and belonging

Question 18

AO2: What is the lives of celebrities an example of?

Answer 18

civil religions

Question 19

What are civil religions?

Answer 19

sacred qualities are attached to aspects of society itself with non religious rituals and ceremonies performing similar functions to religion (doesn’t have link to supernatural)

Question 20

Who said the supernatural dimensions of religions would eventually disappear and be replaced by cultural religions?

Answer 20

Durkheim?

Question 21

SOCIOLOGIST: How is Malinowski’s view on religion similar to Durkheim?

Answer 21

it reinforces social norms & values -> promotes social solidarity

Question 22

SOCIOLOGIST: How does Malinowski’s view on religion differ to Durkheim?

Answer 22

provides explanations for events that are hard to explain
fulfils need for emotional security & relieves situations of emotional stress that threaten social solidarity

Question 23

AO2: What events might produce emotional stress & threaten social solidarity & why?

Answer 23

death/divorce -> make people bitter/uncertain when they encounter events they cannot understand

Question 24

AO2: How can funeral services provide comfort for individuals?

Answer 24

Acts as a source of comfort for grieving (through beliefs of life after death/support from friends/relatives)

Question 25

SOCIOLOGIST: What is Parson's view of religion?

Answer 25

Provides & underpins the core values of the culture & social norms which can become deeply engrained through socialisation that it affects believers and non believers

Question 26

AO2: How can beliefs that are deeply engrained through socialisation affect the behaviour of believers & non-believers?

Answer 26

If social rules about killing are broken they can produce a guilty conscience

Question 27

SOCIOLOGIST: How are Parson's views on religion similar to Malinowski's?

Answer 27

gives meanings & explanations to inexplicable & uncontrollable life events

Question 28

SOCIOLOGIST: Who proposed the 'mechanism of adjustment' and what is it?

Answer 28

Parsons -> providing a means of emotional adjustment in the face of various crises which can provide a means of returning to a sense of normality

Question 29

What are the overall functionalist beliefs about religion?

Answer 29

reinforces social solidarity builds collective conscience & value consensus gives meaning to suffering/disasters & provides meaning of life source of socialisation builds moral community

Question 30

EVALUATION: How does the functionalist perspective of religion downplay social change?

Answer 30

suggests religion promotes social harmony & protects the status quo but downplays role that religion can play in social change

Question 31

EVALUATION: How is declining religiosity and growing secularisation a criticism of the functionalist perspective?

Answer 31

religious thinking, practices & institutions are becoming less important in people's lives -> shown in dramatic decline in attendance of church services in UK

Question 32

EVALUATION: How can religion be seen as a disruptive and socially divisive influence and how is this a criticism of the functionalist perspective of religion?

Answer 32

different religions, beliefs & values can tear people & communities apart (poses threats to social order & stability) -> evident through the wars & conflicts in history

Question 33

What are conflicts in the same & between different religions an example of?

Answer 33

examples of religion causing conflict & instability

Question 34

AO2: What are some examples of conflicts within the same religion?

Answer 34

Protestants vs Catholics Sunni vs Shia muslims

Question 35

AO2: What are some examples of conflicts between different religions, suggested by Huntington?

Answer 35

religious identity are important aspects of different civilisations (can cause conflict & 'clash of civilisations') example: clash between Christian west & Islamic fundamentalism (often linked to terrorism e.g. 9/11)