BIS- theories of religion topic 1

Question 1

what are the 3 definitions of religion?

Answer 1

-substantive
-functional
-constructionist

Question 2

substantive definition of religion:

Answer 2

• focus on the content or substance of religious belief. e.g. belief in God or supernatural
• god is a power that is above nature and cannot be explained scientifically or rationally.
• conforms to the view that religion is centred around god or supernatural being.
• exclusive: these definitions draw a clear line between religious and non religious beliefs accused of western bias e.g. christianity.

Question 3

Defining religion

Answer 3

1. a belief in some kind of supernatural power.
2. an expression of this belief in collective worship.
3. a set of moral values which guid action
4. a force which brings people together and unifies society.

Question 4

functional definitions of religion: Durkheim

Answer 4

• religion performs social or psychological functions
• Durkheim: the collective consciousness and social solidarity
  -Yinger: provider of ‘ultimate questions’ e.g. what’s our purpose?
• doesn’t conform to the view that religion is a belief in God , providing it performs a social function for a group of people.
  -Inclusive: they allow a wide range of beliefs and practices that perform functions.
• no bias against non-western religions.

Question 5

constructional fit definitions of religion:

Answer 5

• interpretivist approach: individuals define religion differently
• interested in how members of society define religion.
  -dont conform to the view that religion is a belief in god or supernatural.
  -generalsing about the nature of religion can’t be done.

Question 6

what do Glock and Stark say a relgious person will do:

Answer 6

A religious person will:
-accept the major beliefs of their religion e.g. teachings of the bible.
-carry out certain practices to show their commitment. e.g. formal worship, prayer, fasting.
-have some experience of or communication with a god e.g. visiting sacred place.
- have some knowledge and understanding of the teachings of their religion.
-expected to adopt behaviour appropriate to their religion e.g. love thy neighbour.

Question 7

Evaluation:
Conservative VS social change

Answer 7

conservative force:
- religion maintains social order in society
-functionalism, marxism, feminism hold this view

Social change:
-Weber- calvinism and capitalism
-MLK civil rights movement
- ghandi - hinduism peaceful protest.

Question 8

Functionalist theories of Relgion:
Durkheim

Answer 8

Durkheim on religion:
-society is system of interrelated parts (dual purpose/individual)
-society has needs which are met by different institutions e.g. family, education, religion.
- religion plays a part in creating + maintaining value consensus and social order.

Question 9

Functionalism
Function 1: the sacred and profane Dichotomy

Answer 9

-Prefane: Mundane + ordinary every day life activities. e.g. going to work, weekly shop
-sacred: things that are set apart, surrounded by prohibitions + taboos + create feelings of awe. e.g. Church, Quran, waxed candle
- fundamental established distinctions between them is what makes religion.
-relgion is not just a set of beliefs but rituals + practices in relation to the sacred things. these are practiced collectively.
- emote powerful feelings, evoked by the sacred implies that it represents something of great power.

Question 10

functionalism:
function 2 Totemism

Answer 10

-believed that the essence of religion could be discovered by studying it in its simplest form in the simplest society.
-the Arunta (an aboriginal tribe) has ritchuals around the clans emblem that reinforce group solidarity
- the totem represents the power of society that the individual relies on.

Question 11

functionalism:
function 3, collective consciousness

Answer 11

-sacred symbols represent society collective consciousnce.
- shared norms, values, beliefs that allow individuals to co-operate.
-rituals reinforce this + maintain social integration.
-rituals bind people together, reminds them that they are part of something bigger than themselves.

Question 12

functionalism:
Function 4, cognitive functions of religion

Answer 12

-relgion is the source of our ability to reason + think conceptually.
-relgion is the origins of shared categories space, time, infinity that allows us to think + share ideas.
-relgion is the origin of human thought, reason + science.

Question 13

functionalism, evolution of Durkheim (A03)

Answer 13

Worsley:
-there isn’t a clear division between sacred and profane.

-explains religion creates integration within communities but not the conflict between them.
-harder to apply to larger scale societies

postmodernist:
-increasing diversity has fractured the collective conscience
- there is no shared value system anymore.

Question 14

Malinowski: psychological functions

Answer 14

-relgion provides psychological functions that promotes social solidarity.
-helps the individual cope with stress that could undermine solidarity.

Question 15

Malinowski’s study Trobriand Islanders

Answer 15

Trobriand islands were likely to pray when;
1. the outcome is uncertain
fishing in the lagoon: no rituals as outcome is certain and the situation is safe.
fishing in the ocean: ritchuals take place as outcome is uncertain + situation is dangerous.

2.At times of life crisis
events such as births + death can cause disruptive changes in social groups.
religion brings together and explain why these happen.

Question 16

functionalism:
Parsons: values and meaning

Answer 16

religion helps people cope with uncertainty.
- creates and legitimises society values:
religion sacralises values thus promoting solidarity through relgious teaching ‘love thy neighbour’
-strengthen bonds with the community, tolerance.
-provides a source of meaning:
religion answers unanswerable questions, helping people to adjust.

Question 17

Bellah civil religion

Answer 17

• a belief system that attaches sacred qualities to society.
  -intergrates society in a way that individual religion can’t, because there are so many.
  -in America there is no dominant religion that claims loyality of all.
  -involves loyalty to the notion state: a belief in god is equal to being a true American = Americanism
• americanism is expressed in rituals which the American way of life sacralises.
  -unites people in belief of American way of life (the American dream)

Question 18

evaluating functions: theories of religion

Answer 18

+ emphaises the social nature of religion
- is civil religion really a religion?
-ignores religion as a source of conflict and oppression.

Question 19

Football as a religion
the church of Maradonia

Answer 19

• have a ‘god of soccer’
  -commandments
  shrine
  religious holidays