beliefs in society topic 1

what are two ways religion can be seen as a conservative force?

• conservative in the sense that its traditional and defends traditional customs

• conservative because it functions to conserve or preserve the status quo

define and give an example of substantive definition of religion

• defines religion in terms of belief in God or supernatural

• Weber described religion as belief in a superior/supernatural power that is beyond nature and cant be explained scientifically ( approach is exclusive , clear boundary between religious and non religious beliefs )

give strength and weakness of the substantive definition

• strength = clear definition , reflects widespread view of religion

• weakness = western bias , excludes non theistic religions like buddhism

define and give example of functional definition of religion

• focus on the roles or functions that religion performs for individuals and society

• for example Durkheim states that religions main function is to promote social integration

give strength and weakness of functional definition

• strength = inclusive because it recognises practices that serve similar social or psychological purposes to religion

• weakness = the definition is too broad

define and give example of social constructionist definition of religion

• focus on how people themselves define religion , cant produce universal definition as it varies across societies (interpretevist approach)

• Aldrige states how scientology is regarded as a religion by its followers but has been denied legal recognition in some countries

give me strength and weakness for social constructionist definition

• strength = acknowledges lived experiences and avoids imposing rigid definition

• weakness = it becomes difficult to generalise about what ‘religion’ is since meanings differ to society

define and give example of sacred (durkheim)

• something that holds religious significance and value

• holy book , prayer mat , religious figures

define and give example of profane (durkheim)

• ordinary things

• table , tv and pen

evaluate sacred and profane ( durkheim )

the meaning of sacred and profane can’t be generalised as people’s opinions can differ

define and give examples of collective consience and cognitive functions (durkheim)

• religious rituals reinforce the collective conscience ( shared values and beliefs )

• religion also provides cognitive functions ( categories like time , casuality , morality ) that allow society society to think and share ideas

• for example aboriginal totemic rituals or national rituals aruta and totemism

evaluate collective conscience and cognitive functions (durkheim)

it assumes religion is always a source of unity but religion can divide for example conflict

define and give examples of value and meaning (parsons)

• sees religion helping individuals to cope with unforeseen events , provides a source of meaning

• for example it explains suffering as a test of faith that will be rewarded in heaven

• religion creates and legitimates society’s central values

• for example in the USA , protestantism has sacralised core american values of individualism , meritocracy and self discipline

evaluate value and meaning (parsons)

• it ignores religion as a source of division and conflict , neglects negative aspects

describe and give example of psychological function (malinowski)

• religion promotes social solidarity by performing psychological functions for individuals helping them cope with emotional stress

• for example funeral rituals reinforce a feeling of solidarity among the survivors , notion of immortality gives comfort to bereaved

evaluate psychological function by malinowski

it’s limited to pre industrial societies

describe and give example of civil religion

• religion unifies society

define ideology

Marx believed that religion was an ideology that distorts people’s perception of reality in the interests of the ruling class

how does religion act as an ideological weapon?

• it legitimises inequality as it states how suffering has a reason and is a test and how it’s something inevitable and god given

• for example according to christianity it’s easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven

• these ideas create false class consciousness

how is religion ‘spiritual gin’ (lenin)

• ruling class uses religion cynically to manipulate the masses

• they keep them attempting to overthrow the ruling class by creating a mystical fog that obscures reality

how does religion legitimate the power and privilege of the dominant class?

• by making their position appear to be divinely ordained

• for example 16th century idea of the divine right of kings explain how kings are gods representative on earth

• plus it explains how they’re owed total obedience so disobedience is not just illegal but a sinful challenge to gods authority

evaluate religion and ideology

• ignores positive functions of religion such as psychological adjustment to misfortune

• neo marxists see certain forms of religion as assisting not hindering the development of class consciousness

define alienation and give an example

• involves becoming separated from or losing control over something that one has produced or created

• for example workers are alienated because they don’t own what they produce and have no control over production in process

• in these conditions religion is a form of consolation , acts as opiate to dull pain of exploitation

explain how religion is a product of alienation (marx)

religion aries out of suffering and acts as a consolation for it but fails to deal with its cause namely class exploitation

evaluate religion and alienation

• some marxists such as althusser reject the concept of alienation as unscientific and based on a romantic idea that human beings have a ‘true self’

• this would make the concept an inadequate basis for a theory of religion

explain how religious organisations demonstrate patriarchy

religious organisations are mainly male dominated for example orthodox judaism and catholicism forbid women from becoming religious leaders and priests

explain how sacred texts demonstrates patriarchy

• they largely feature doings of male gods and prophets etc and are usually written and interpreted by men

• stories often reflect anti female stereotypes such as Eve

explain how places of worship demonstrates patriarchy

• they often segregate the sexes and marginalise women for example seating them behind screens whilst the men occupy the more central and sacred spaces

• women’s participation may be restricted for example not being allowed to preach or read from sacred texts eg. in islam menstruating women aren’t allowed to touch the quran

• jean hole describes this as devaluation of women in religion

explain how religious laws and customs demonstrate patriarchy

• may give women fewer rights than men for example in access fo divorce and how many spouses they may marry

• religion influences cultural norms may also lead to unequal treatment such as genital mutilation

• many religions legitimate and regulate women’s traditional domestic and reproductive role for example catholic church bans abortion and artificial contraception

• woodhead argues that exclusion of women from the catholic priesthood is evidence of the church’s unease about emancipation of women

what did mary daly say?

monotheistic religions are patriarchal because they dismiss the idea that God could be female

what did karen armstrong say?

they argue that early religions often placed women at the centre for examples earth mother goddesses fertility cults and female priesthoods were found throughout middle east until about 6000 years ago

what does nawal el saadawi?

religion is not the direct cause of their subordination , rather this is the result of patriarchal forms of society coming into existence in last few years . sees rise of monotheism as legitimating power of men over women

what does woodhead say?

there are religious forms of feminism where women use religion to gain greater freedom and respect for example the hijab