Theories of religion: Functionalism

Question 1

functionalist

Answer 1

argue that religion is a conservative force and that it is a positive function for society and individuals.

Question 2

Durkheim (1912)

Answer 2

religion is the collective practice of marketing off and maintaining distance between the sacred and the profane, which is typically done through rituals, prayer is an example of an ‘occasional (sacred) ritual’ is marked out from ordinary mundane (or profane) life.

Question 3

sacred

Answer 3

refers to anything which transcends the humdrum of everyday life: which typically take the form of collective representation which are set apart from society (churches, mosques are examples of sacred places).

Question 4

profane

Answer 4

refers to mundane ordinary life: our daily routine/grind of getting up in the morning, going to college, eating, etc.

Question 5

Durkheim and Mauss

Answer 5

argue that religion provides basic categories such as time, space and causation. Thus for Durkheim, religion is the origin of human though, reason and science

Question 6

1) criticisms of Durkheim

Answer 6

• no sharp division between the sacred and the profane, all of which are culturally relative.

Question 7

2) criticisms of Durkheim

Answer 7

• Durkheim’s theory may apply better to small scale societies with a single religion (Totemism), very difficult to apply to large scale communities where two or more religions are in conflict with another, as it does nothing to help promote order, values consensus and social solidarity.

Question 8

3) criticism of Durkheim

Answer 8

• increasing diversity has fragmented the collective conscience, so there is no longer a shared value system for religion to reinforce.

Question 9

Malinowski (1954)

Answer 9

sees religion as reinforcing social norms and values and promoting social solidarity. unlike Durkheim, he does not see religion as reflecting society as a whole, nor does he see religion ritual as the worship of society itself. Malinowski sees religion as being particularly concerned with situations of emotional stress that threatens social solidarity.

Question 10

religion and life crises

Answer 10

Malinowski argued that the main function of religion was to help individuals and society deal with the emotional stresses which occur during life crises such as birth, puberty, marriage and death.

Question 11

religion and control

Answer 11

Malinowski argued that a second function of religion was to help people deal with situations or events which could not be fully controlled or predicted. when there is uncertainty and unpredictability and danger, people engage in religious rituals to try to ensure a particular outcome: these were social events which served to reduce anxiety by providing confidence and a feeling of control over the situation.

Question 12

1) criticism of Malinowski

Answer 12

• has been criticized for exaggerating the importance of religious rituals in helping people to cope with situations of stress and uncertainty.

Question 13

2) criticism of Malinowski

Answer 13

• a particular function or effect that religion sometimes has, has been mistaken for a feature of religion in general.

Question 14

Parsons

Answer 14

sees religion as part of the cultural sub-system of society and religious beliefs provide a guideline for human action which give rise to a more specific set of norms according to which people should act. religion provides set values which for the basis of value consensus, which other institutions then reinforce in more concrete ways.

Question 15

1) religion and social order

Answer 15

occasions when people are hit by events which are totally unexpected and have a negative impact. in such situations, religion can help people make sense of these events and restore normal patterns of life.

Question 16

2) religious and social order

Answer 16

there are those routine aspects of life in which people invest considerable time and effort in order to achieve a particular outcome, but are still characterized by uncertainty of outcome. religious beliefs offers an explanation for the disastrous outcome, helps people cope with the hardships with may follow, and helps to restore faith in the initial effort made despite said disastrous outcome.

Question 17

Parsons and Malinowski

Answer 17

argues that religion serves to maintain social stability by relieving the tensions and frustrations that arise following such unpredictable problems.

Question 18

religion and meaning

Answer 18

helps individuals to make sense of experiences which are contradictory thus religion helps people to adjust to the various worldly experiences of inequality and injustice, again maintain harmony.

Question 19

criticisms of Parsons

Answer 19

religion does not always promote harmony: it can promote conflict.

Question 20

bellah: Civil Religion in America (1967)

Answer 20

argued that ‘civil religions’ has become the main type of religions in the 20th century, as mainstream, traditional religions declined. Civil religions effectively performing many of the same functions of traditional religions’, just without the concept of a God or higher power.

Question 21

civil religion

Answer 21

as any belief system which didn’t rely on a conception of a God, or gods, but which still inspired a passionate mass response with members displaying a high degree of commitment to that belief system.

Question 22

2) civil religion

Answer 22

historical examples of belief systems which might be regarded as ‘civil religions’ include Nazism, and the forms of nationalism, and at a more international level, Marxism. such movements provided their adherents with an idea of the ‘true path’ to a ‘better life,’ to be achieved through obeying certain moral codes as well as a degree of commitment to charismatic leaders. these movements also had plentiful symbols and rituals to generate a sense of shared identity.

Question 23

Americanism

Answer 23

Bellah argues that ‘Americanism’ is the civil religion of America. the civil religion of Americanism stresses commitment to the ‘American way’.

Question 24

American way

Answer 24

a belief in the ‘free market’ and a drive to make the most of available opportunities. it also emphasis a commitment to God, but that God is an America first, rather than a Catholic, Jew or Muslim, and he welcomes everyone from all backgrounds who are willing to accept commitment to the American dream.

Question 25

American civil religion

Answer 25

according to Bellah, the American Civil Religion unites people across all sexes, classes and ethnic backgrounds.

Question 26

1) criticism of concept of civil religion

Answer 26

• it is quite a loose concept in the it is possible to interpret any nationalistic activity as being part of a ‘civil religion’.

Question 27

2) criticism of concept of civil religion

Answer 27

• it is unlikely that people taking part in watching sporting events, or even ‘pledging allegiance’ to the flag are as committed in their belief in America as traditionally religious people are to their religions

Question 28

3) criticism of concept of civil religion

Answer 28

to criticize Bellah’s concept of Americans specifically it is clear that not all Americans have been united equally into the American nation. For example American Muslims have experienced particularly high levels of ostracism

Question 29

3) Evaluation of Functionalist Theories of Religion

Answer 29

• emphasizes the positive functions religious performs, but it neglects the negative aspects, such as religion as a source of oppression of women and the poor.

Question 30

2) Evaluation of Functionalist Theories of Religion

Answer 30

• ignores religion as a source of division and conflict, where there is religious pluralism, making it hard hard to see how it can unite people.

Question 31

3) Evaluation of Functionalist Theories of Religion

Answer 31

Civil religion overcomes this to some extent by suggesting societies all share overreaching belief systems, but can this really be classed as religion? (No Belief in God or the supernatural.)