Topic 1 - Perspectives on religion Flashcards
(23 cards)
1
Q
What idea does Durkheim develop?
A
- That religious institutions play a central part in creating and maintaining value consensus and solidarity
2
Q
What does Durkheim believe about the key feature of religion?
A
- -That it is not to have a belief in God or the supernatural, but the key feature is that shows a clear distinction between the sacred and the profane that is found in all religions
3
Q
What is the sacred?
A
- Things that are set apart and forbidden, and that inspire feelings of awe, fear and wonder and are surrounded by taboos
4
Q
What is the profane?
A
- Things that have no special significance and are ordinary
5
Q
What did Durkheim study and what did he find?
A
- Studied the Aruna which was a Australian tribe with a clan system which performed religious rituals such as worshiping their sacred totem, which is a symbol that represented their origin or identity and he found this reinforced a sense of belonging and solidarity.
6
Q
What does Durkheim believe sacred symbols represent?
A
- Societies collective conscience and without this society would disintegrate.
7
Q
What role does religion perform for the individual?
A
- It allows the individual to feel part of something greater then themselves and this motivates them to overcome things that would usually defeat them.
8
Q
What are the criticisms of Durkheims study and theory?
A
- His theory can only small scale communities because in large scale ones there is more of a chance of 2 or more religious groups which will then lead to conflict and his theory does not take this into consideration
- Worsley criticises Toteism and argues that there is no division between the sacred and profane and that different clans worship share the same totem
- post modernist Mestrovic also argues his theory cannot be applied to a contemporary society because of increased diversity which ensures that their is no single shared set of values for religion to reinforce.
9
Q
What does Malinowski agree with Durkheim about?
A
- That religion promotes solidarity, but he says it does so by performing psychological functions for individuals which helps them cope with emotional stress.
10
Q
According to Malinowski what are the 2 types of situations religion performs this role in ?
A
1- Where the outcome is important but uncontrollable
2- At times of crisis such as birth and marriage and funerals where it creates solidarity
11
Q
What is Parsons view on religion?
A
- That it helps individuals cope with events with uncontrollable outcomes
- Religion sacralises central values
- e.g., in the USA, Protestantism legitimates values like individualism, hard work, and meritocracy.
- This helps promote value consensus
, leads to social order. - religion offers comforting explanations (“it’s God’s plan,” “reward in the afterlife”), helping people stay committed to society despite suffering.
12
Q
What does Bellah argue ?
A
- introduces the idea of civil religion — a non-denominational belief system that binds diverse societies together.
- In the USA, this includes: Belief in “Americanism” and “One nation under God”
- argues this is not tied to any one religion, but it works like a shared national religion, giving people a collective identity that transcends individual faiths.
13
Q
eval of functionalism
A
- Functionalism focuses too much on the positive functions, and ignores how religion can be oppressive or divisive:
- Ignores religion as a source of conflict
In pluralistic societies (with many religions), religion is often a source of division, not unity.
14
Q
what is the marxist perspective on religion ?
A
- Religion only exists in class-divided societies.
- Once capitalism is overthrown and a classless society emerges, religion will no longer be needed and will disappear.
- Justifies the suffering of the poor as God’s will (e.g. “blessed are the poor”).
- Encourages belief in afterlife rewards, making people accept misery now.
- Creates false consciousness – prevents the working class from seeing the true cause of their oppression and rebelling.
15
Q
what does lenin say ?
A
- Religion is like a drug, used by the ruling class to dull the masses’ awareness.
- It clouds judgement with a “mystical fog” and stops people from resisting their oppression.
16
Q
what does Marx argue ?
A
- Religion is a product of alienation
- Alienation is being cut off from something you have created
- Under capitalism, workers are alienated because: They don’t own what they make.
- Religion is the “opium of the people”
It dulls the pain of alienation and exploitation, but doesn’t fix the cause. - Like a drug, religion offers temporary comfort but prevents real change.
- It creates illusory happiness, distracting from the real source of suffering: capitalism.
17
Q
what is an example of religion maintaining social inequality ?
A
- Hindu Caste System
- Was a hereditary social system based on ascribed status (your status is fixed at birth).
- It determines: Your occupation and your Marriage options
- Your current position in the caste system is based on past-life behaviour.
- Obedience in this life = rebirth into a higher caste; disobedience = rebirth into a lower caste.
- These doctrines encourage acceptance of suffering and inequality as deserved or temporary.
- Those at the top see their privilege as a spiritual reward, not a result of exploitation.
18
Q
eval of marxist
A
- Marx shows how religion may be a tool of oppression… However, he ignores positive functions such as psychological adjustment to misfortune
- Neo-Marxists see certain forms of religion as assisting, not hindering, class consciousness.
- Religion can be a force for change, not just control.
19
Q
what is the feminist view on religion ?
A
- Feminists see society as patriarchal (male-dominated).
- Religion is viewed as a patriarchal institution that reflects and maintains gender inequality.
- Religious beliefs often function as a patriarchal ideology that justifies and legitimates female subordination.
20
Q
what evidence of patriarchy in religion is there ?
A
- Religious organisations are male-dominated: Women often excluded from leadership roles (e.g. no female priests in Catholicism or Orthodox Judaism).
- Places of worship often segregate sexes and marginalise women:
- Women may sit behind screens or be barred from preaching or reading sacred texts. Menstruation and childbirth seen as polluting – e.g. in Islam, menstruating women can’t touch the Qur’an.
- Jean Holm (2001) sees this as the devaluation of women.
- Sacred texts are typically: Written and interpreted by men. Focused on male gods/prophets. Contain anti-female stereotypes (e.g. Eve blamed for the Fall in Genesis).
21
Q
what are some arguments from some key feminist thinkers ?
A
- Armstrong, Early religions were female-centred (e.g. fertility cults, goddesses). Patriarchy replaced this with male monotheism around 4,000 years ago.
- El Saadawi, Religion isn’t inherently patriarchal. Patriarchal society reshaped religion to reflect male dominance. Religion now contributes to women’s oppression due to male reinterpretation.
- Woodhead Criticises feminists who see religion only as oppressive. Argues for ‘religious forms of feminism’ – where women use religion for empowerment
22
Q
what are some religious forms of feminism ?
A
- Hijab, Seen by Western feminists as oppressive. But many Muslim women see it as liberating, allowing education and work.
- However some argue young British Muslim women wear it to gain parental approval and access to public life
- In Colombia, women use Pentecostal beliefs (e.g. men should respect women) to challenge male behaviour.
23
Q
Eval of Feminism
A
- Not all religion is patriarchal – some groups actively promote gender equality.
- Religion can be a source of empowerment and support for women
- Feminist perspectives may overlook diversity within religions and the agency of women within religious contexts..
