Theories of beliefs

functional definition of beliefs: considers their role and function within society

Functions of religion

Marxism

1. ‘opiate of the masses’, Marx: religion pacifies the working class and keeps them quiet (acts as a painkiller to numb the pain) so they do not complain about exploitation so it continues.

2. false spiritual compensator: would argue that heaven/ afterlife does not exist so do not get reward after hard work. w/c just fooled into staying passive.

3. ‘spiritual gin’, Lenin: w/c get drunk on religion and are easy to exploit.

4. ‘flowers in the chains’: distracted from exploitation e.g. by music, smell of incense, grand buildings.

5. legitimises inequality: makes it seem fair. e.g. Hindus believe karma is built up as credit or debit in one life and in the next you are then rewarded or punished. Therefore your social situation is fair as you deserve your position, therefore stay passive.

6. alienation- means you feel as if you do not belong. The work is repetitive, hard and we do not see the reward as alienated from the product. Religion provides compensation meaning we continue to work.

Functionalism

1. social solidarity through value consensus, Durkheim

   • religion brings us together as one group as we agree on what is important

   • for example: the Arunta, an Aboriginal tribe in north Australia

     • saw value consensus in totems (had etchings of animals e.g. bears which represents strength)

     • community worship these totems so everyone understands the values of society therefore creating social solidarity.

     • sacred (significant and revered) and profane (ordinary and unremarkable) - all objects, ideas and values were separated into these.

   • created a collective conscience: the ritual actions of the society in worshipping the totems meant right and wrong were understood not individually but collectively across society.

2. psychological function, Malinowski - religion or beliefs serve the role of helping us cope with dangerous or scary situations. ( existential security)

   • studied Trobriand islanders

     • used open sea- had a high yield of fish but was dangerous OR

     • lagoon- low yield of fish but safer

   • used canoe magic before setting off as a psychological comfort to feel safer due to open sea being more dangerous e.g. praying, ceremonies

Feminism

Feminists argue that religion is patriarchal and that it legitimises and supports the patirarchy.

1. religious organisations- women cannot have many roles in leadership e.g. the Pope is male, leaders in Islam or Judaism etc. are always male.

2. women are not able to attend services in Islam or Judaism while on their period

3. religious buildings favour men e.g. separate prayer rooms in Islamic mosques for men from women and children.

4. different cultural expectations e.g. headdress in Islam

5. different religious laws for men and women e.g. access to divorce (women not able to request it). man as the head of his wife like Jesus is the head of the church.

Radical and conservative force

Radical- religion helps change society

Conservative- religion keeps society the same

Marxism- religion is conservative because it acts as a false spiritual compensator keeping us passive so that we continue to be exploited and therefore society does not change. Without religion being an opiate, we might try and change society.

Functionalism

• Malinowski: religion gives us comfort in times of difficulty so we do not seek change.

• Durkheim: religion creates social solidarity so we feel like members of a ‘club’ and do not seek change. e.g. blood pressure pills means we continue having a poor lifestyle