defining religion + functionalism

functional definitions

* ‘a unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things that is to say things set apart and forbidden’
* sacred, unite, practice

substantive definition

* ‘religion refers to the existence of supernatural beings which have a governing affect on life’

functionalism

* is primarily concerned with religion meeting the basic needs of society.
* maintains social solidarity and social order
* societies divide the world into 2 categories: profane (ORDINARY) and sacred (SPECIAL AND SET APART)

Durkheim and the Arunta tribe

* all members of the clan regarded themselves as a member of one family
* the name of the clan is totem and the totem of the clan is also that of each member

totenism

totems serves to maintain social order since people are worshiping society through different symbols.

religion reinforces the collective conscience this may be done through collective rituals.

criticisms Durkheim

* durkheims ideas overstate the case. Is religion really the worship of society
* his ideas are more relevant to pre-literate societies where integration is strong.
* religion is not always associated with positive things

Malinowski

* Trobriand island
* religion reinforces social norms, values and promoting social solidarity.
* the function of religion is to cope with emotional stress
* reducing anxiety if allowed to develop can be dysfunctional for society
* religious ceremonies deal with many emotional crisis i.e death
* religious rituals were important to trobriands in a time of crisis i.e if someone goes missing after hunting at sea

Talcott Parsons

* we have a cultural system
* religion is part of the cultural system where religious beliefs give guidelines for human behavior.
* ten commandments. Thou shalt not kill etc
* religion serves to solve certain life problems: unforseen events, uncertainty.

Bellah

* religion serves to bind together members of a society by encouraging awareness of their common membership of an entity greater then themselves.
* Americans were unified by values and orientations derived from protestantism.
* despite differences Americans were mostly united by the faith in Americanism
* American civil religion does include supernatural entity.
* ‘in god we trust’

shills and young

* re affirming affects of the coronation
* this brought the nation together
* we can see again we are being brought together by King Charles