beliefs in society

theories of religion

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substantive definition of religion

• focus on the content or substance of religious belief (such as belief in god)

• Weber defines religion as belief in a superior or supernatural power that is above nature and can’t be explained scientifically

functional definition of religion

• defines religion in terms of the social or psychological functions it performs for individuals or society

• durkheim defines religion in terms of the contribution it makes to social integration

constructionist definition of religion

• argue that it is not possible to produce a single universal definition of religion

durkeim view on religion

• sacred and profane

• totemism

• collective conscience

• cognitive functions of religion

the sacred and profane

• key feature of religion for durkeim is the distinction between the sacred and profane

• the sacred are things set apart and forbidden

• the profane are things that have no special significance (ordinary)

• Durkheim believes that sacred things are symbols representing something of great power and he believes that this is society

• and when people worship sacred things they’re worshiping society itself

totemism

• durkeim used studies of the arunta (Australian tribe with a clan system)

• Arunta clans consist of people who come together to perform rituals involving worship of a sacred totem

• the totemic rituals reinforce the groups solidarity and sense of belonging

• durkiem believes that when they worship their totem they’re actually worshiping society

the collective conscience

• durkiem believed that the sacred symbols represent society’s collective conscience

• the collective conscience is the shared norms, values, beliefs and knowledge that makes social life between individuals possible- without these society would disintegrate

• durkeim believes that regular shared religious rituals reinforce the collective consciousness

• religion makes us feel apart of something greater than ourselves

Criticisms of durkeim

• worsley notes that there is no sharp division between the sacred and the propane

• durkeims theory is hard to apply to large scale societies where there are multiple religious communities

psychological functions of religion

• Malinowski agrees with durkeim that religion promotes solidarity but by performing psychological functions for individuals, helping them cope with emotional stress

• for example in times of life crises like birth or puberty, religion helps to minimise disruption

parsons and religion

• parsons sees religion as helping individuals to cope with unforeseen events and uncontrollable outcomes

• argues that religion also creates and legitimates society’s central values and it is the primary source of meaning

evaluation of functionalism

• it emphasises the social nature of religion and the positive functions it performs but neglects the negative aspects like oppression of women

• ignores religion as source of division and cinflict

Marxist theories of religion

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religion as ideology

• Marx believes that ideology is a belief system that distorts people’s perception of reality in ways that serve the interests of the ruling class

• marx believed that religion operates as an ideological weapon used by the ruling class to justify the suffering of the poor as soemthing inevitable

• religion misleads the poor to believe that they will be favoured in the afterlife because of their suffering

religion and alienation

• Marx sees religion as the product of alienation

• working class are alienated compared to upper class so the exploited turn to religion as a form of comfort

• religion also acts as an opium to dull the pain of the exploited but it masks the pain and doesn’t treat it

evaluation of Marxist view on religion

• Marx ignores the positive aspects of religion and focuses on the negative

feminist theories of religion

• see it as patriarchal

• based on male domination

evidence of patriarchy

• religious organisations are mainly dominated by men. E.g. in some religions women aren’t allowed to be priests. (ARMSTRONG)

• religious laws may give women fewer rights than men. E.g. access to divorce, how many people they marry, dress codes.

criticisms of feminism

• Armstrong argues that women haven’t always been segregated from religion. In early religions they were often placed at the centre of religion. E.g. fertility cults

religion and social change

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religion as a conservative force

• often seen as conservative in the sense of being traditional

• also because it functions to conserve or preserve things as they are and stabilises society

religions beliefs

• most religions have traditional conservative beliefs about moral issues

• most religions uphold “family values” and often favour a traditional patriarchal domestic division of labour

religions functions

• religion and consensus- functionalists see religion as a conservative force as it functions to maintain social stability

• religion and capitalism- Marx sees religion as a conservative ideology that prevents social change

• religion and patriarchy- feminists see religion as a conservative force as it acts as an ideology that legitimates patriarchal power

Weber and religion as a force for change

• argued that the religious beliefs of Calvinism helped to bring about major social change

• notes that many past societies had capitalism in the sense of greed for wealth. However modern capitalism is unique because it is based on pursuit of profit for its own sake rather than for consumption

Calvinist beliefs

• predestination- god has predetermined which sounds would be saved and which wouldn’t

• divine transcendence- god was far above and beyond this world

evaluation of Weber and religion as a force for change

• Marx disagrees as he saw economic or material factors as the driving for social change whereas Weber argues that material factors alone are not enough to bring about capitalism

• Weber has been criticised as capitalism didn’t develop in every country where there were calvinists

religion and social protest

• Steve Bruce compares two protests that have tried to change society

the American civil rights moment

• Bruce uses this as an example of religiously motivated social change

• started with rosa parks

• ended with segregation outlawed

• Bruce argues that the law was changed due to the black clergys christian values of equality

• Bruce sees religion as bringing about change

the new Christian right

• aim was to take America “back to god” and make abortion, homosexuality and divorce illegal

• believes strongly in the traditional family and traditional gender roles

• Bruce found that it was unsuccessful due to three reasons: campaigners found it very difficult to corporate with other religions, lacks widespread support

• Bruce describes this movement as a failed movement for change

Marxism, religion and change