Funtcionalist theories of religion? Flashcards
(30 cards)
What do functionalist theories of religion compare society to?
Functionalists see society as like an organism, with basic needs that it must meet to survive.
What is society’s most basic need according to functionalists?
Society’s most basic need is for social order and solidarity.
What concept makes order possible for functionalists?
Value consensus - a set of shared norms and values for people to follow.
Who argued that religious institutions play a central part in creating value consensus?
Durkheim (1915) argues that religious institutions play a central part in creating and maintaining value consensus, order and solidarity.
What is the key feature of all religions according to Durkheim?
The sacred and the profane.
What are the sacred in Durkheim’s view?
The sacred are things set apart and forbidden, inspiring feelings of awe, fear and wonder, with taboos and prohibitions.
What are the profane according to Durkheim?
The profane are ordinary things that have no special significance.
What role do rituals play in religion?
sacred rituals or practices that are collectively performed by social groups.
What do sacred symbols represent for believers?
Sacred things create powerful feelings in believers because they are symbols representing something of great power, which can only be society.
What happens when people worship sacred symbols?
When people worship sacred symbols, they are worshipping society itself.
What essential function do sacred symbols perform according to Durkheim?
Sacred symbols perform the essential function of uniting believers into a single moral community.
What did Durkheim believe about studying the simplest form of religion?
Durkheim believed the essence of all religion could be found by studying its simplest form, in the simplest type of society.
Which tribe did Durkheim study to understand religion?
He used studies of the Arunta, an Aboriginal Australian tribe with a clan system.
What do the totems represent in the Arunta tribe?
The totem is the clan’s emblem, such as an animal or plant that symbolizes the clan’s identity.
What do totemic rituals reinforce among clan members?
The totemic rituals venerating it reinforce the group’s solidarity and sense of belonging.
What do clan members worship when they worship their totem?
When clan members worship their totem, they are in reality worshipping the power of the group.
What does Durkheim mean by the collective conscience?
The collective conscience represents society’s shared norms, values, and beliefs that enable cooperation between individuals. Without it, society would disintegrate.
How do regular shared religious rituals affect the collective conscience?
They reinforce the collective conscience and maintain social integration.
What important function does religion serve for individuals according to Durkheim?
Religion makes individuals feel part of something greater than themselves, strengthening them to face life’s problems.
What cognitive functions of religion does Durkheim identify?
Religion is the source of our cognitive capacities, providing categories such as time and space necessary for understanding the world.
What do Durkheim and Mauss argue about religion and human thought?
They argue that religion provides basic categories necessary for reasoning and is the origin of human thought, reason, and science.
What psychological functions of religion does Malinowski discuss?
Religion promotes solidarity by helping individuals cope with emotional stress that could undermine social solidarity.
In what situations does religion help individuals cope with emotional stress according to Malinowski?
- When the outcome is important but uncontrollable and uncertain. 2. At times of life crises such as birth, puberty, marriage, and death.
What example does Malinowski provide regarding religion and coping with uncertainty?
In his study of the Trobriand Islanders, he contrasts lagoon fishing (safe) with ocean fishing (dangerous), which is accompanied by ‘canoe magic’ rituals.
