perspectives on religon as a conservative force

Question 1

functionalist - Durkheim

Answer 1

all societies divide into sacred and profane helping maintain value consensus promoting social order and stability

Question 2

functionalist - malinowski

Answer 2

religion provides an explanation for the events that otherwise would be unexplainable and provide security in the face of uncertainty

Question 3

functionalist - Parsons

Answer 3

provides and underpins the core values of society while helping with adjustments

Question 4

marxist

Answer 4

religion acts as the opium of the people cushioning oppression as they are told God will compensate their oppression in the afterlife

legitimises the RC power by suggesting inequalities are God given

Question 5

feminist

Answer 5

many religions are patriarchal e.g. god is a man jesus is a man reproducing inequality

women are seen as subordinate e.g. islamic women cannot touch the quran while menstruating + Karen Armstrong - women are blocked from the higher positions

Question 6

interprevist

Answer 6

Berger: universe of meaning helping people to interpret and make sense of the world creating a theodicy

religion is loosing its influence

Question 7

religion as a compensator

Answer 7

Stark and Bainbridge - religion provides individuals with stability and potential reward when social order is disrupted with hardship