Definitions of Religion Flashcards
(18 cards)
What is the substantive view of religion?
Belief in God or the supernatural, focuses on content of religion belief eg: holy texts
What is the functional view of religion?
Focuses on the functions religion does for individuals and society
What is the social constructionist view of religion?
Focuses on how definitions of religion are created, changed and defended by believers
What is Durkheim’s view of religion?
The sacred and profane
Sacred - holy texts, holy places eg church
Profane - mundane/ordinary objects
What did Durkheim’s totemism study suggest about religion?
A small-scale tribe in Australia represented the social solidarity religion creates
What did Durkheim say about collective conscience and religion?
Sacred symbols create a collective conscience and sense of community and shared belief
What did Durkheim say about the cognitive function of religion?
Religion is the source of our ability to reason and think conceptually
What is a criticism of Durkheim’s view of religion?
- Postmodernists argue increased metanarrative’s and diversity has fractured the idea of collective conscience
What does Malinowski say about the psychological functions of religion?
Religion helps individuals cope with stressful/life changing events eg: birth and death
What did Malinowski say about their study of the Trobriand islanders?
Religion bridges gap between controllable and uncontrollable situations
Lagoon fishing - no prayer/rituals as the outcome is certain and the situation is safe
Ocean fishing - prayer/rituals as the outcome is uncertain and dangerous
What does Parsons say about the values and meanings of religion?
Values - promotes solidarity
Meanings - answers unanswerable questions, helps people adjust to new scenarios through prayer
What does Bellah say about civil religion?
Belief which attaches sacred qualities to society, eg: loyalty to the nation state and a belief in God eg: in America
What is a criticism of Bellah’s theory of civil religion?
Rose tinted view - ignores conflict and oppression religion causes
What do Marxist’s say about religion being an ideology?
- Religion creates false consciousness to the WC so the MC can continue to exploit them
- Lenin: ‘religion is a spiritual gin’
What do Marxist’s say about religion being a product of alienation?
- Workers are alienated because they have no freedom to express true nature
- Marx: ‘Religion is the opium of the people, dulling their pain’
What is a criticism of Marxist theories of religion?
- Functionalist’s would say Marxists ignore the positives religion can bring
- Althusser: concept of alienation is unscientific
What does Woodhead say about Religious Feminism?
Religion isn’t oppressive itself, its the male domination of religion which is the issue for women
What do Feminist’s say is evidence of the patriarchy in religion?
Places of worship - genders are sometimes kept separate
Sacred texts - largely feature male God’s
Religious laws and customs - women have fewer rights, may lead to unequal treatment
