Fuctionalist Theories of Religion
- Created by: Anjalee
- Created on: 13-12-12 15:35
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- Functionalist Theories of Religion
- Durkheim on Religion
- The Sacred and the Profane
- The distinction between the sacred and profane. Symbols are created by society; people worship society.
- Totemism
- Arunta Tribe: clan system. Totemic rituals reinforce solidarity and sense of belonging.
- Cognitive Functions of Religion
- Religion is the origin of concepts and categories that we need, to understand, reason and communicate.
- The Collective Conscience
- Sacred symbols represent the collective conscience.
- Criticisms
- -Shows how both society and the individual are benefited -Only applied to Arunta Tribe -Our society is much more complex -Outdated -Society has many different religions and symbols
- The Sacred and the Profane
- Psychological Functions
- Malinowski: -Where the outcome is important but uncertain. Studied Trobriand Islanders. -At times of a life crisis. Death is the main reason for the existence of religion
- Parsons: Values and Meaning
- Religion helps individuals cope with unforeseen events. Society's central values are legitimated and religion is the primary source of meaning.
- Civil Religion
- Bellah wanted to know what unified people in countries with multiple faiths. When studying the USA, civil religion sacralises the American way of life through social solidarity.
- Evaluation
- -Emphasises positive contributions of religion -Ignores that even one religion can be divisive -Ignores conflict between one religion -Little consideration to societies with multiple faiths.
- Durkheim on Religion
- -Shows how both society and the individual are benefited -Only applied to Arunta Tribe -Our society is much more complex -Outdated -Society has many different religions and symbols
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