OUTLINE AND EXPLAIN TWO FUNCTIONS OF RELIGION (10 MARKS)

OUTLINE AND EXPLAIN TWO FUNCTIONS OF RELIGION (10 MARKS)

One function of religion is that it performs a psychological function for those in society. As Malinowski says, religion performs 2 vital elements in order to provide these psychological functions. One of these, is that religion helps in times of life crises; such times as birth, marriage and death. Funeral rituals help to create social solidarity, reduce distruption and bring people together in times of need. Secondly, he notes that religion can be used in times of unpredictible and uncertain events. His study of the Trobriand Island in the Western Pacific illustrates this as when the islanders…