Religion and Beliefs: Functionalism

"Functionalist believe that the function of religion is the contribution it makes to full filling the functional prerequisites   such as social order and social solidarity."

• This means religion promotes norms and values into society.
• It does this by teaching right and wrong e.g. The 10 Commandments, so we have shared norms and values.

The Sacred and Profane

• SACRED: Inspires a feeling of awe and wonder and carry significance.
• PROFANE: Items of no special significance.

Role of rituals e.g. praying is to bring people together in a collective conciousness to worship the same norms and values reinforce solidarity and group belonging. Durkheim called this study Toteism.

COGNITIVE FUNCTIONS OF RELIGION:

• Origin of human thought. as it provides us with categories and concepts such as causation which help to make sense of the world.

EVALUATION OF DURKHEIM:

• Not relevant in today's society (multicultural or secular Britain.)
• Only relevant in primitive religions.
• WORSELY: Inaccuracy about the sacred & profane as some religions share totems.

• Studied small scale non-religious societies (clans.)
• Looked at religions Psychological functions- help cope with stress e.g. people go to Church as the funeral ritual help people cope with death, the same as heaven.

TROBRIAND ISLANDERS:

• Lagoon Fishing is safe, no ritual is performed.
• Ocean Fishing is risky, rituals are performed.

• Religion gives use value consensus- beliefs, attitudes and values as well as norms.
• Religion gives us meaning to life, answers ultimate questions e.g. God created the world in 7 days to help explain how we came about.
• Religions helps disruption in life, giving us social order and social stability e.g. funeral helps us to deal with death.

STRENGTHS: 

• Do identify roles religion play in society e.g. shared norms and values.
• Gives a sense of meaning to life.

WEAKNESSES:

•  Criticise for seeing world through 'rose tinted glasses' e.g. Don't see oppression or war that religion causes.
• Feminists argue that it causes patriarchal oppression. 
• It's not relevant in secular society.
• Not relevant to society with more than one religion.
• Sacred texts e.g. The Bible are not as relevant in Society today.