Theories of religion Flashcards
(41 cards)
What is Bellah’s view of religion?
He’s a neo functionalist- believes civil religion has replaced aspects of religion in USA due to secularisation. Americanism has become a major religion.
What did Malinowski’s study in the Trobriand Islands of South Pacific find?
Religion serves psychological functions
-support for emotional stress
-ceremonies ease anxieties
What did Bruce say the purpose of religious ceremonies are for in the West?
social/ getting people together
What did Weber say the role of religion is?
to fulfill the needs of individuals
What religion allowed capitalism to thrive during the Industrial revolution and why?
Calvinism in Europe- protestants believed that if they worked hard they’d go to heaven and be rewarded in the after life
What’s De Beauvoir’s view of religion?
-Religion is oppressive but compensates women
-women are controlled by religion
-women indoctrinate young people into religion through socialisation
-religion provides hope for the afterlife
Woodhead’s view of religion?
- women can gain freedom
-spirituality can empower women eg NAMs give women power
Holm
-many women are excluded from power in religions
-religion controls womens reproductive system
+however this is changing in 21st century eg women priests in Church of England
What’s post modernism and its ideas?
-modern era
-more science and rationality
-more individualistic
-religion isn’t declining but changing
What is Lyon’s phrase?
“spiritual shoppers”
What does Lyon say religion is like?
-shopping for products (due to technology)
-Disneyland (it’s detached from reality)
Why have NRMs become popular for younger people?
Youths aren’t socialised into a traditional religion
NRMs give self responsibility
What’s the main aim of NRMs and NAMs according to Heelas?
Self improvement
What has disneyland become a metaphor of? (Lyon)
religion- it has become Disneyland because its based on consumerism, entertainment, globalisation, culture
What does Huntington say about religious identity?
It’s becoming more important for people to be religious so people can separate themselves and have identity eg Hindus Sikhs
How do Marxists say the w/c are controlled?
- violence/ threat of violence
- control over society’s values
What’s the function of religion according to Marxists?
to control the w/c and prevent a revolution
What are the 6 reasons for religion helping capitalism?
- it keeps people happy in their impoverished positions
- it justifies the status quo, saying that god created rich and poor
- religion makes poverty more tolerable
- it gives people false consciousness (rewards in the afterlife)
- it offers hope
- it has close links with the ruling class
What type of force do marxists say religion is?
conservative because it justifies the denomination of the r/c
What’s an example of the ruling class having close links with religion in USA?
Trump rewarded the right wing for their support in the election by allowing religious leaders to get more involved with politics
How does Daly say religion supports the family?
religion promotes gender socialisation- women having an inferior role through domestic role
What does Aldridge claim about religion?
It provides women with comfort and security (through gender socialisation)
What does Woodhead say about the veil worn by muslim women?
it empowers them- prevents women being seen as sex objects, it is a response to secularisation
What does Daly say needs to happen to patriarchal religions?
they need to be overthrown by feminist religions with the rebirth of goddess
