functionalist theories of religion

what is the most basic need of a society?

social order & solidarity between members

what does durkheim argue about religion?

religious institutions play a central part in creating & maintaining value consensus, order & solidarity

what is the key feature of religion?

a distinction between the sacred & the profane

what is the sacred?

things set apart & forbidden that inspire feelings of awe, fear & wonder, and are surrounded by taboos & prohibitions

what is the profane?

things that have no special significance

what does religion involve?

• definite rituals & practices in relation to the sacred

• collective rituals

what is the simplest form of society?

clan society

what is arunta?

• aboriginal australian tribe with a clan system

• clans consisted of bands of kin who came together periodically to perform rituals

• worshipped a sacred totem

what did durkheim argue about totemism?

when people worship totems, they are really worshipping society but are unaware

what is a collective conscience?

the shared norms, values, beliefs & knowledge that make social life & cooperation between individuals possible

how do regular shared rituals aid society?

• reinforces collective conscience

• maintains social integration

• binds individuals together

• reminds individuals of power of society

how is religion a source of our cognitive capabilities?

provides categories for us to share with others & organise our thoughts into

what categories do durkheim & mauss argue religion provides?

• time

• space

• causation

what are the criticisms of durkehim on religion?

• evidence on totemism is unsound - no sharp division between sacred & profane

• theory better applies to small-scale societies with a single religion

• postmodernist: increasing diversity has fragmented the collective conscience

what does malinowski argue?

religion provides psychological functions for individuals and therefore promotes solidarity

what two situations does religion perform psychological functions?

• where the outcome is important but uncontrollable & uncertain

• at times of life crisis

what is an example of where the outcome is important but uncontrollable & uncertain?

• malinowski’s ethnographic study

• trobiand islanders lagoon fishing vs ocean fishing

• ocean fishing accompanied with canoe magic

• canoe magic serves as a god of the gaps

what is canoe magic?

rituals to ensure a safe & successful expedition

what is a god of the gaps?

something that fills the gaps in human beings’ control of the world

how does religion aid times of life crisis?

minimises disruption

what are examples of life crisis?

• birth

• puberty

• death

• marriage

what does malinowski argue the main reason for religion existing is?

death

what are the criticisms of malinowski?

• religion can be dysfunctional e.g., english civil war

• fails to explain the origin of religion

what does parsons see religion as?

a way to help individuals cope with unforeseen events & uncontrollable outcomes

what two essential functions does parsons say religion performs?

• creates & legitimises society’s central values

• it is the primary source of meaning

how does religion create & legitimise society’s central values?

by sacralising basic norms & values e.g., protestanism sacralising individualism, meritocracy & self-discipline

how is religion the primary source of meaning?

it answers ultimate questions about the human condition & enables people to adjust the adverse events, maintaining stability

what are the criticisms of parsons?

• fails to explain origins

• ignores dysfunction of religion

• only a minority of people attend church

what does bellah talk about?

civil religion

what is civil religion?

a belief system that attaches sacred qualities to society itself

how is there civil religion in america?

• integrates american individuals

• involves loyalty to the nation-state

• expressed through rituals e.g., pledge of allegiance

what are functional alternatives?

non-religious beliefs and practices that perform functions similar to that of organised religion

what are the criticisms of civil religion?

• it ignores what makes religion distinctive & different

• doesn’t explain origins of religion

what are the strengths of functionalism?

• emphasises the social nature of religion & the positive functions it performs

• civil religion overcomes religion as a source of division

what are the weaknesses of functionalism?

• neglects negative aspects of religion i.e. oppression

• ignores religion as a source of division & conflict

• is civil religion really religion? - not based on a belief of supernatural