theories

Evaluate the claim that religion performs ideological functions in the interest of powerful groups

Intro:

P1: feminism - Feminist thinker Davie analysed sacred texts and their depictions of women, she argued that women mainly appear in scriptures to reinforce good and bad female behaviour, for example in Christianity the Virgin Mary is a representation of the ‘perfect’ women since she is pure, innocent, and a mother, in contrast Eve is portrayed as a temptress, wicked, and the reason we are born with sin.

P2: Marxists - Marx believes that religion is ‘the opium of the people’, he argues that religion is an ideological illusion created by the bourgeoise to maintain capitalism and prevent revolution by making the proletariats position seem unchangeable and unquestionable because if they were to question these inequalities they would be questioning the authority of god.

P3: functionalism - functionalist thinker parsons believes religion is a source of socialisation, he argues that religion shapes the core values of culture ad becomes embedded into society through socialisation which leads to beliefs influencing the behaviour of everyone in society no matter their religious beliefs and most people following a similar moral code. For example rules against killing and stealing become part of our shared sense of right and wrong, when people break these rules they often feel guilty, this guilt acts as a form of social control that upholds social cohesion and control by reinforcing a common identity.