Is religion a conservative force?
- Created by: Thomas Cebula
- Created on: 02-05-11 09:09
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- Durkheim (1912):
- Religion is important function for society.
- Religion binds people together. (Social Cement)
- First person to study totemism.
- Profane: Everything in our ordinary lives.
- Sacred: Evoke strong emotions of awe and respect.
- " Primitive man comes to view society as something sacred because he is utterly dependent on it".(God=society)
- Religion provides a set of moral values which ensures social stability.
- Regular collective worship+ Shared ritual= Crucial for society survival.
- Reinforces social solidarity
- People are repeatedly re-affirming their support for the shared values and beliefs.
- When these values are made 'Sacred', we are more likely to abide them.
- Religion= Secondary Socialisation.
- Shared ritualised experiences= awareness the as individuals, they are insignificant and dependent but together we are strong.
- Parsons: Religion plays a more important role in society than ever before. He argued that while religious institutions no-longer have a direct influence over education and politics, their indirect is still relatively strong and we still respect the sacred values and religion is now used as a form of spiritual and moral support and guidance.
- Criticisms:
- Durkheim only studies the Native Americans and Aboriginals (Small-Scale society). He seems to forget about the study of mass religions…
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