Functionalism and Religion

Based on this set of note cards http://getrevising.co.uk/revision-cards/religion_and_functionalism

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  • Created by: Amy
  • Created on: 19-05-13 17:11
What do functionalists believe religion does?
performs functions for the well-being of society and the individual
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Do functionalists believe that religion a conservative or radical force?
conservative
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What is the difference between sacred and profane objects?
sacred objects invoke feelings of awe and respect, profane objects are ordinary
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What was the Aboriginal society Durkheim studied split into?
clans
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What did each clan worship?
totems
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What did Durkheim argue these totems represented?
the collective conciousness
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What is the collective conciousness?
the basic norms and values of society
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So, my worshipping the totems, what are people worshipping?
Their God and their society
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What is the collective conciousness reinforced by?
religious practices of shared worship
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What does this also create? (two things)
Social solidarity and social stability
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What is social solidarity?
uniting society together
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What is social stability?
because society shares the same norms and values meaning society can operate efficiently
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What would postmodernists say about Durkheim's study?
not applicable to today’s society because of the increasing patterns of religious diversity
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Why is Durkheim studying only Aboriginals a problem?
based on a small-scale, pre-industrial society with one religion, meaning it may be difficult to apply his theory to contemporary, industrialised societies
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What does Durkheim's study ignore?
ways in which religion may contribute to conflict and social divides
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What does Malinowski believe religion does?
helps people deal with situations that cause stress and anxiety
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What example does Malinowski give?
the fishermen of the trobriand islands; they prayed when they went to fish in the dangerous open waters but not in the lagoon
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What does Malinowski argue that religion helps people with?
life crises
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What are examples of life crises?
birth, marriage, death
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How does religion help deal with life crises?
through ceremonies such as weddings, baptisms and funerals
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What does this create?
social solidarity and stability
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What did Parsons argue religion preserves?
the sense that life has meaning
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Why might people lose the belief that life has meaning?
if bad people prosper whereas good people suffer
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How does religion prevent this?
by saying suffering is a test of faith which will be rewarded. Those who live a bad life will eventually be punished in the afterlife.
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What does Parsons argue that religion does to the core values of society?
creates and legitimises values in society by sacralising them
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What did Parsons find in Protestantism in America?
they sacralised the core values of American society, such as meritocracy, individualism and self-discipline
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What does this reinforce and maintain?
It reinforces the value consensus and maintains social stability
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What is a criticism of Parsons?
Parsons assumes that one religion dominates society and can bind it together, so ignoring religious pluralism.
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How would feminists and Marxists criticise Parsons?
he ignores how religion benefits powerful groups in society who use it as a method of oppression
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What is a civil religion?
Where organisations that are not religious replace the functions of religion i.e. reinforcing the collective conciousness
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What is an example of a civil religion, argued by Bellah?
Americanism
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Since America is made up of many religions and ethnicities, what can it not do?
unify the whole country
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What are two sacred objects of American civil religion?
Lincoln Memorial and the flag
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What do these sacred objects represent?
The collective conciousness
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What is a criticism of civil religion?
hard to see it is actually a religion because lacks a clear belief in the supernatural and any clear sense of worship.
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What is a positive aspect of functionalism?
It draws attention to how religion can benefit society and the individual
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What does functionalism ignore?
How religion can create conflict and oppress people
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Why might these functionalist studies not reflect most societies today?
they are based on small-scale, pre-industrial societies with one religion
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Do functionalists believe that religion a conservative or radical force?

Back

conservative

Card 3

Front

What is the difference between sacred and profane objects?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

What was the Aboriginal society Durkheim studied split into?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

What did each clan worship?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
View more cards

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