Functionalist Theories of Religion

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What are the three ways in which sociologists define religion?
Substantive, functional and social constructionist
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How does Durkheim define religion?
In terms of the contribution it makes to social integration, rather than a specific supernatural belief
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Social constructionists focus on what?
How members of society themselves define religion and how those definitions are constructed and challenged
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According to Durkheim, what is the key feature of religion?
A fundamental distinction between the sacred and the profane
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What does Durkheim say sacred things represent?
Society; therefore, when people worship the sacred, they are worshipping society
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What tribe did Durkheim study?
The Arunta, an Aboriginal Australian tribe
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What do regular shared religious rituals reinforce?
The collective conscience; they maintain social integration and remind people they are part of a singular moral community
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Who argued that religion provides basic categories such as time, space and causation?
Durkheim and Mauss
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What two situations does Malinowski identify in which religion performs its psychological functions?
When the outcome is important but uncontrollable and at times of life crisis
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What did Malinowski study?
Lagoon and ocean fishing among the Trobriand Islanders of the Western Pacific
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What two other essential functions does Parsons identify that religion performs?
Religion creates and legitimises society’s central values and is the primary source of meaning
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What, in Bellah’s opinion, unifies multi-faith societies such as America?
Civil religion
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What are functional alternatives to religion?
Non-religious beliefs and practices that perform functions similar to those of organised religion
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How does Worsley criticised Durkheim?
There is no sharp division between the sacred and the profane
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

How does Durkheim define religion?

Back

In terms of the contribution it makes to social integration, rather than a specific supernatural belief

Card 3

Front

Social constructionists focus on what?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

According to Durkheim, what is the key feature of religion?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

What does Durkheim say sacred things represent?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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