Theories of Religion

Created by: MegStevens01
Created on: 28-02-18 13:48

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THEORIES OF RELIGION
- Functionalist
  - They believe that societies most basic need is social solidarity and social order through value consensus- without it, individual selfishness would cause social disintergration
    - Durkheim
      - Sacred and Profane
        Durkheim believes that the key feature of religion is the distinction between these two things
        Religion involves practices and rituals in relation to the sacred, and these are collective
        This is essential for society as it is reaffirming their support for shared values and beliefs
        He believes that the things labelled as sacred are what evoke the powerful feelings in believers as they see it as a symbol of great power
        In this view, the most powerful things that can evoke these feelings is society itself, so when people are worshipping, they are worshipping society itself
        Criticisms of Durkheim
        There is no sharp division between the sacred and profane as some clans share the same totems (Worsley)
        
        Applies better to small-scale societies where there are usually only single religions
        
        His ideas cannot be applied to contemporary society a there is a fragmented collective conscience (Mestrovic)
      - Totemism
        In this view, the most powerful things that can evoke these feelings is society itself, so when people are worshipping, they are worshipping society itself
        Criticisms of Durkheim
        There is no sharp division between the sacred and profane as some clans share the same totems (Worsley)
        
        Applies better to small-scale societies where there are usually only single religions
        
        His ideas cannot be applied to contemporary society a there is a fragmented collective conscience (Mestrovic)
        
        Durkheim also argued that 'higher forces' are mistakenly attributed to totems of Gods when they are really the influence of the collective over the individual
        Because of this, he studied the Arunta Clan and noted that the totem gave each member a sense of awe and belonging
        He believed the feelings of awe was actually a reflection of the power of the group, and so were technically worshipping the clan/society
      - Cognitive Functions
        Durkheim believes that in order to share out thoughts to gain VC, we must use the same categories as others, such as time space etc.
        He says that religion is the origin of these concepts and categories that we need for reasoning and understandingof the world
  - Malinowski
    - Psychological Functions
      - Malinowski agrees with Durkheim that religion promotes solidarity
        However, in his view, he believes religion does this by performing psychological functions for individuals which helps them cope with stress that would otherwise undermine social solidarity
        He identifies two types of situation in which religion performs this role
        Where the outcome is important but uncontrollable and thus uncertain
        To show this he contrasts Lagoon fishing (safe and certain) to ocean fishing (dangerous)
        This gives people a sense of control and confidence reinforcing social solidarity
        
        At times of life crisis
        Helps minimise disruption during times like puberty or death
        E.g. funerals reinforce social solidarity among the survivors while the idea of immortality that many religions hold provides comfort to the bereaved
  - Parsons
    - Theory of Values and Meaning
      - Parsons sees religion as helping individuals to cope with stress and unforeseen events and uncontrollable outcomes (like Malinowski)
        He identifies two other functions that religion performs in modern society
        Creates and legitimises societies central values by sacralising them
        E.g. in the USA, Protestantism has sacralised the core American values of meritocracy and individualism, promoting VC
        
        It is the primary source of meaning
        Gives answers to ultimate life questions, such as why the good suffer, enabling people to adjust to adverse events to maintain stability
        
        Intepretivists
        Berger
        Religion has lost its theodicy but provides a sacred canopy which relieves pressures that could break down social solidarity
  - Bellah
    - Civil Religion
      - Bellah argues that civil religion intergrates society in a way that Americans many churches and denominations cannot
        It is belief system that attaches sacred qualities o society itself, e.g. Americanism unifying America
        It binds together people from many different ethnic and cultural backgrounds
      - A belief in God isn't always a requirement, as long as the beliefs perform the same function
      - Is this really a religion if it is not based off beliefs in the supernatural?
  - Evaluation
    - Ignores religion as a source of division and conflict, especially in complex modern societies where there is more than one religion, e.g. Northern Ireland
    - Emphasizes the positive functions,neglecting negative aspects such as oppression of the poor and women
      - Feminism
        They argue that religious beliefs function as a patriarchal ideology that legitimises femal subordination
        Evidence of patriarchy
        Religious Organisations - mainly male-dominated even though women often participate more
        e.g. Orthodox Judaism forbid women to become priests
        Armstrong sees this as evidence of women's marginalisation
        
        Woodhead - womens exclusion from priesthood shows the churches unease about women
        
        Places of worship - often segregate women and seat them behind screens while men occupy sacred areas
        
        Laws and Customs - may give women fewer rights than men, e.g. how they dress/how many spouses they have
        
        Evaluation
        Religion can actually empower women, e.g. women wearing the hijab is seen as oppressive in Western society when actually it can be liberating for them
        
        Watson - practices that appear oppressive may have other meanings
        
        Religious groups, such as Quakers, are committed to gender equality
        
        Women can actually use some rules in religion to gain more status
    - Marxists point out how religion can be dysfunctional for society
      - Marxism
        There would be no need for religion if society was classless
        Marx
        Believes religion is an institution maintaining the capitalist rule by distorting peoples perception of reality to serve the needs of the capitalist society
        He believes the ruling class controls both economic production, but also the production and distribution of ideas in society
        Religion acts as an 'ideological weapon' for the RC to legitimise the suffering of the poor as something inevitable
        Religion therefore misleads the poor into thinking their suffering is needed to get into the afterlife which then prevents the poor from rebelling to change their situation
        Lenin describes religion as a 'spiritual gin' confusing the WC to keep them in their place and stop them from trying to overthrow the RC
        
        He also views religion as a product of alienation which is more extreme under capitalism
        Bceause of this alienation, the WC turn to religion as a form of consolation
        Religion acts as the 'opium of masses'
        Helping individuals deal with the pain and stress by distorting their beliefs
        e.g. promising afterlife
        
        e.g. justifying social order
        The Hindu Caste System shows this as it allows for no movement between castes (classes)
        
        e.g. giving the hope of supernatural intervention to solve problems on earth
        
        Evaluation
        Engels noted how religion didn't always benefit the ruling class
        
        Ignores the positive functions
        
        Neo-Marxists see the forms of religion as assisting, not hindering class consciousness
        Neo-Marxists
        Builds on Marxism by making is applicable to today's society
        
        Disagrees with Marx that religion is under control of the RC as RC domination is more effective when not involved with religion
        
        Gramsci
        Economic factors alone cannot maintain the dominance of the RC
        To keep a strong hold on society, the RC has to persuade the masses of society that everything is fair for everyone
        Religion can develop to support the WC and guide their challenges of the RC
        
        Church Of England only recruits from upper classes, showing a loss of contact with ordinary people (Leach)
    - Western societies are becoming more secular which means religion may not be so influential over CC that it used to be
- Marxism
  - There would be no need for religion if society was classless
    - Marx
      - Believes religion is an institution maintaining the capitalist rule by distorting peoples perception of reality to serve the needs of the capitalist society
        He believes the ruling class controls both economic production, but also the production and distribution of ideas in society
        Religion acts as an 'ideological weapon' for the RC to legitimise the suffering of the poor as something inevitable
        Religion therefore misleads the poor into thinking their suffering is needed to get into the afterlife which then prevents the poor from rebelling to change their situation
        Lenin describes religion as a 'spiritual gin' confusing the WC to keep them in their place and stop them from trying to overthrow the RC
      - He also views religion as a product of alienation which is more extreme under capitalism
        Bceause of this alienation, the WC turn to religion as a form of consolation
        Religion acts as the 'opium of masses'
        Helping individuals deal with the pain and stress by distorting their beliefs
        e.g. promising afterlife
        
        e.g. justifying social order
        The Hindu Caste System shows this as it allows for no movement between castes (classes)
        
        e.g. giving the hope of supernatural intervention to solve problems on earth
  - Evaluation
    - Engels noted how religion didn't always benefit the ruling class
    - Ignores the positive functions
    - Neo-Marxists see the forms of religion as assisting, not hindering class consciousness
      - Neo-Marxists
        Builds on Marxism by making is applicable to today's society
        
        Disagrees with Marx that religion is under control of the RC as RC domination is more effective when not involved with religion
        
        Gramsci
        Economic factors alone cannot maintain the dominance of the RC
        To keep a strong hold on society, the RC has to persuade the masses of society that everything is fair for everyone
        Religion can develop to support the WC and guide their challenges of the RC
    - Church Of England only recruits from upper classes, showing a loss of contact with ordinary people (Leach)
El Saadawi
- Argues that the direct cause of womens subordinationwas the introduction or patriarchal forms of society, not just religion
  - e.g. men misinterpreting religious beliefs to favour patriarchy
- Feminism
  - They argue that religious beliefs function as a patriarchal ideology that legitimises femal subordination
    - Evidence of patriarchy
      - Religious Organisations - mainly male-dominated even though women often participate more
        e.g. Orthodox Judaism forbid women to become priests
        Armstrong sees this as evidence of women's marginalisation
        
        Woodhead - womens exclusion from priesthood shows the churches unease about women
      - Places of worship - often segregate women and seat them behind screens while men occupy sacred areas
      - Laws and Customs - may give women fewer rights than men, e.g. how they dress/how many spouses they have
  - Evaluation
    - Religion can actually empower women, e.g. women wearing the hijab is seen as oppressive in Western society when actually it can be liberating for them
    - Watson - practices that appear oppressive may have other meanings
    - Religious groups, such as Quakers, are committed to gender equality
    - Women can actually use some rules in religion to gain more status

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