Theories of Religion
- Created by: Rachellowe
- Created on: 02-04-18 15:58
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- Theories of Beliefs
- Ideologies
- Marxists see ideologies as a way of keeping people in their place.
- I.e. Althusser and the ideological state apparatus.
- Feminists believe ideology is used to oppress women.
- Marxists see ideologies as a way of keeping people in their place.
- Defining religion
- Defining religion as a system of faith is more inclusive.
- the functional definition focuses on the idea of community and integration
- Not all religions are based on a belief in God or a higher power
- Functionalism
- Religion maintains harmony and social cohesion
- Durkheim - sacred religious worship encourages shared values
- Malinowski - religion manages tensions and promotes stability.
- Religion helps to integrate people into a value consensus and allows thems to make sense of their lives.
- Bellah - Civil Religion
- Functionalism ignore the dysfunctional aspects of religion i.e. religious conflicts
- Feminism
- Women's role as a 'caregiver' is seen to be important in traditional religion
- women are excluded from religious power
- Religions historically portray women as the 'temptress'
- Beauvoir - women are seen as 'second class citizens'
- Postmodernist
- Religious belief are changing to reflect society
- People no longer believe in mettanarratives
- Less people are attending church so its influence on society is less direct.
- People now have more choice to create their own individual set of beliefs.
- Marxism
- religion helps to oppress workers and inhibit social change.
- Opium of the masses
- Religion consoles people with the promise of an afterlife.
- Religion tells people that God put them in their position so they blame God for their class and not capitalism.
- Ideologies
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