Functionalism and Religion
- Created by: Hollymurray99
- Created on: 29-01-18 22:11
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- Functionalism and Religion
- Durkheim
- Religion is the distinction between the sacred and the profane
- Sacred = Something with a special meaning
- Profane = Something everyday
- Totemism
- Studying society in its simplest form
- Studied a tribe which worshipped a totem that represents society. Therefore, they are worshipping society
- This led to social solidarity and collective conscience as those in it share rituals
- Parsons
- Religion is a source of meaning in society and promotes social solidarity
- Religion tries to answer big questions, therefore, religion makes sense of meaningless and helps to adjust to bad situations
- Helps to promote social solidarity
- Establishing values and social norms which is important for social stability
- Malinowski
- Religion was important for solidarity but developed through psychological needs
- 2 event types
- 1. Life crisis = birth/ death and helps to minimise disruption
- 2. Activities with important outcome e.g. lagoon and sea fishing. Rituals increase self control
- Lagoon fishing = safe, not ritual
- Sea fishing = not safe, ritual
- Advantages
- Put religion into wider social context to see relations with other institutions
- Help re-establish interest in religion analysis
- Durheim - emphasis on importance of establishing origin of society seen as worship of society in rituals
- Negatives
- Ignore negatives of religion as cause of conflict
- Durkheim's ideas can't be scientifically proved
- Small scale, now are mainly religions, hard to see how perform traditional functions
- Durkheim
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