FUNCTIONALIST APPROACHES TO RELIGION

What are the two broad camps people fall intow hen discussing religion and change?

1. Conservative force (keeps things the same)​

2. Force for social change

Who favours the idea that religion is a conservative force?

Functionalists and marxists

What is Engel’s view on religion and change?

on the fence

What are Neo-Marxists view on religion and change?

religion is a force for change

What is the key concern of functionalists in regards to religion?

the contribution that religion makes to the wellbeing of society

What did Durkheim base his study of religion on,why?

totemism, as it was a ‘primitive’ religion that had only the most basic elements

What did Durkheim define religion as?

Durkheim defined religion in terms of a distinction between the sacred holy and the profane. ​

Why did Durkheim suggest that the totem is sacred?

because it is symbolically representative of the group itself. ​

What does Durkheim argue that the totem stands for?

he values of the community, who by worshipping the totem are effectively worshipping their society.

What does Durkheim argue that religion is rarelt an individual matter of?

religion is rarely a matter of individual belief, but involves collective worship with ceremonies and rituals. ​

What does Durkheim argue that the group experience of religion allow for?

this group experience, an individual is able to recognize the divine influences of God and the moral guidelines they provide for that particular social group.​

What did Durkheim argue that God was used for?

Gods were used an expression of this influence over the individual. And that God is actually a recognition that society is more important than the individual. ​

Why does Durkheim argue that religion is a conservative force?

it maintains social solidarity

According to Durkheim waht happens when social solidairty is not maintained?

new ideas may emerge that effectively become a new religion. ​

What did Durkheim argue that were new examples of religion?

regarded Nationalism and Communism as examples of the new religions of industrial society, taking over from Christianity but performing the same functions.

Where is there nuance in regards to Durkehiem’s view on religion as a conservative force?

not saying that religion does not change as clearly its form does, but he was saying that its functions do not. ​

Why is religion imprtant as a conservative force according to Durkheim?

essentially its function was to perform support for the status quo. ​

What is collective conscience?

the idea of a group of people all believing in the same idea/concept

Which tribe did Durkheim study?

conducted a study of the Arunta, an Australian aboriginal tribe’s religious beliefs

How did Durkheim study the Arunta tribe?

secondary research methods ( looked at accounts of ethnographic research

Why is Durkheim’s research subjective?

takes a highly westernised view

What are Durkheim’s 4 key functions of religion in society?

euphoric, vitalising, cohesion, discipline?

What does Durkheim mean by ‘discpline’?

religious rituals impose self-discipline, which encourages individuals to behave sociably and not simply pursue their own selfish course of action, which would be anti-social and destabilising.​

What does Durkheim mean by ‘cohesion’?

The key function is social cohesion: worship brought the community together. Through worship people reaffirm and reinforce the bonds that keep them together.​

What does Durkheim mean by ‘vitalising’?

Durkheim also argued that religious belief maintained traditions, ensuring that the values that are passed down from generation to generation are kept vital and at the heart of the society.​

What does Durkheim mean by ‘Euphoric’’?

Finally, if members of society were ever to become frustrated or lose their faith, the religion serves to remind them of their place in something much bigger. Again, it prevents individuals from becoming anti-social.​

What does Durkheim say about secularisation?

Durkheim recognised that society was becoming less religious and more secular, but he argued that there was still this secular function for religious belief.

How builds off of Durkheim’s work?

Bellah

When did Bellah put forward his research?

1967

What does Bellah say about secularisation?

argued that in some modern secular states, people worshipped society in a clear way, still based around symbols, but without the supernatural, divine element of traditional religions.

What example does Bellah give?

Americanism, the way American society, which was religiously diverse and increasingly secular, coalesced instead around America itself, with the religious symbols being the flag, the national anthem, famous historical figures, etc. ​

Which ideas do Bellah and Durkheim agree on?

promotes social cohesion, order, stability and prevents radical change, again acting as a conservative force. ​

What is the Uk example of Bellah’s civil religion?

trong association with a royal family reveals a similar sort of civil religion (e.g. the public mourning on the death of Princess Diana in the UK

What is Bellah’s theory called?

civil religion

Does bellah argue that religion, or the same religion is necessary for social cohesion?

People can unite around ideas like “God Bless America!” without necessarily all worshipping the same God, or practising the same religion (or practising a religion at all).

When and where does Malinowski conduct his research?

(1954) studied the religious practices of the Trobriand islanders. ​

What is Malinowski’s theory called?

psycholigical functions

What does Malinwoski say about fishing and religion?

when the islanders were fishing on inshore, safe waters they did not practice religious ceremonies, but they did so when fishing in more dangerous waters. ​

He concluded that religion had a psychological function: it helped individuals to deal with an anxious and stressful situation. ​

According to MAlinowski, how does religion help with instability?

unpredictable events can cause instability and disruption in society, so by performing this psychological function religion also helped preserve the stability of society.

How is Malinowski’s thoery applied to the modern day?

events like births and deaths, religious ceremonies accompany this to comfort and preserve stability

What does Parsons argue about religion?

made a case for religion performing these fundamental functions to integrate people into the value consensus. ​

What does Parsons say about religion and socialisation, example?

directly socialised people into shared values, which were often stated quite directly by the religion, such as the 10 Commandments

What does parsons say about religion and ultimate questions?

eligion answers the ultimate questions, those that were deemed to be beyond the scope of science. Why do good people suffer or die young? Religions can offer answers in terms of tests of faith and rewards in the afterlife. This gives meaning to what might otherwise seem a meaningless existence.​

What is an evaluation point for Parsons?

out of date, science can answer more unansweable questions now