Theories of religion

What are the 3 type of definitions of religion

Substantive, functional, and constructionist

What is the substantive definition of religion and its criticisms?

Weber : Belief in a superior or supernatural power and cannot be scientifically explained

• Lacks focus on self-benefit and community

• Has a western bias and ignores religions like Buddhism, which does not worship a superior being

What is the functional definition of religion and its evaluation?

Durkheim : Religion is defined as its contribution to its social integration, rather than any belief in a supernatural figure

Yinger : Defines religion by the contributions performed for individuals such as answering ultimate questions

• Its an inclusive definition with no cultural bias.

• Not all belief systems, which promote social integration are religious in nature.

What is the constructionist definition of religion?

Interpretist view : Focuses on how members of society define religion

Aldridge : Definitions are debated and contested

• Its impossible to generalise the nature as religions very

• This makes it difficult to measure and study religion.

What did Durkheim mean by the sacred vs the profane?

The sacred - Set apart and forbidden, which inspire feelings of awe, fear, and wonder — such as rituals and practices

The profane - Things with no special significance

What did Durkheim mean by the collective conscience and how do rituals reinforce it?

Collective conscience are the shared norms and values of society. Rituals bind people together to represent how they are part of a single moral community.

What are the cognitive functions of religion?

The concept that religion is the origin of categories needed for reasoning and understanding. There ideas are time, space, cause, substance, numbers, etc

Criticisms of Durkheim’s view on religion

• Worsley : There is no division between the sacred and profane. Different clans may share the same ‘sacred’ totems.

• Durkheim’s ideas don’t apply to large scale societies.

• “Diversity undermines collective consciousness” - Postmodernism(Individualisation)

• Ignores the conflicts that happens between groups because of religion.

What was Malinowski’s view on religion?

Malinowski agrees with Durkheim that religion promotes social solidarity but that its done by carrying out psychological functions: Where the outcome is important but uncontrollable and uncertain; at times of life crises(e.g. death and grief)

What were the 2 other functions that Parsons claimed religion performs?

• Creates and legitimisation of society’s central values

• It is the primary source of meaning

Evaluate the functionalist view of religion

• Its an optimistic view of religion but it ignores the conflicts caused and religion used to justify oppression

• Its a structural theory that ignores individual differences

• Its outdates; now there are more secular communities.

• Marxism would argue that religion justifies class inequality

Ideology

A set of beliefs or ideas

How do Marxists argue that religion acts as an ideological weapon?

Religion creates ‘false consciousness’ in the lower class, which means they are unable to objectively assess society, stopping them from challenging their exploitation

What did Marxist Lenin claim about religion?

Lenin claimed that religion is ‘spiritual gin’, which means it creates a mystical fog as a cheap form or escape/cope

How do Marxists say religion legitimises the power and privilege of the dominant classes?

Religion keeps the lower class submissive, claiming that suffering is virtuous or rewarding.

Evaluate the Marxist view of religion

• It’s pessimistic, ignoring the benefits of religion

• It is deterministic and doesn’t consider individual autonomy — people who may be religious while also acknowledging their exploitation

• Individual beliefs may just be independent to the economy.

What is the overall feminist view on religion?

Feminists view religion as an institution that oppresses women and contributes to inequality

What are some examples of the patriarchy in religion?

• Gender segregation in mass/rituals, which are typically being lead by men

• Implications of women being beneath men in sacred texts

• Women having to uphold strict modesty rules significantly more than men

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