Role of religion studies

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  • Created by: asusre
  • Created on: 11-05-21 17:17
What study shows a limitation of exclusive/substantive definitions of religion?
Giddens (2013) argues that substantive definitions are too exclusive, as some religions do not reference the supernatural or divine e.g., Buddhism.
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What study argues that inclusive/functional definitions prevent sociologists from measuring changes in religious belief?
Aldridge (2013) argues that inclusive/functional definitions defines all people, even atheists, as religious and prevents sociologists from assessing whether religion is growing, stable or in decline.
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What study argues that inclusive/functional definitions define too many things as a religion?
Scharf (1970) - it is too easy for something to qualify as a religion, including political beliefs, loyalty to a football team or celebrity.
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What study shows that different groups define religions differently?
Aldridge (2013) argues that members of Scientology define it as a religion whereas several governments have denied it legal status as a religion and sought to ban it, which shows that those in power can contest definitions of religion.
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What is the key feature of religion for functionalists?
For Durkheim (1915), the key feature of religion was a distinction between the sacred and the profane found in all religions, and collective rituals or practices performed by social groups.
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Religion reinforces a collective conscience and has a cognitive function. aruta clan, totemism
What are the functions of religion according to Durkheim (1915)?
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Which study argues that totemism is unsound?
Worsley (1956) argues that different clans share the same totems, so they cannot be worshipping their own society, and even if Durkheim is right, totemism does not prove the essence of all other religions.
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Which postmodernist critiques Durkheim?
Mestrovic (2011) argue that Durkheim’s theory cannot be applied to contemporary society, as increasing diversity means that there is no longer a shared value system for religion to reinforce.
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According to Malinowski (1954), what is one positive function of religion?
Religion has psychological functions of helping individuals cope with emotional stress, offering an explanation, solidarity and comfort in order to stop people potentially questioning society, which maintains social stability, Trobriand Islanders
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According to Parsons (1967), what are the positive functions of religion?
Religion legitimates society’s values by sacralising them, which promotes value consensus. Religion provides a source of meaning, answering ultimate questions about the human condition, which maintains social stability.
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According to Bellah (1970), what is one positive function of religion?
Though society is secularising, non-religious social rituals act as a ‘civil religion’ which unifies society by reinforcing the collective conscience.
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According to Marx (1844), what are the functions of religion?
Religion legitimises and justifies class inequality, acts as a compensator, and maintains capitalism.
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How does religion legitimise class inequality according to Althusser (1971)?
Althusser (1971) sees religion as an ideological state apparatus, an institution which spreads ruling class ideology and legitimises class inequality.
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Which neo-Marxist argues that religion can encourage social change?
Engels (1895) argues that religion has a dual character - although it can inhibit change by disguising inequality, it can also challenge the status quo and encourage social change.
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Which Marxist argues that some Marxist concepts are unscientific?
Althusser (1971) rejects alienation as unscientific and based on a romantic idea that human beings have a ‘true self’. This would make the concept an inadequate basis for a theory of religion. Additionally, concepts such as false consciousness are impossi
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Which study showed that religion does not function effectively as an agent of social control?
Abercrombie, Hill and Turner (2015) argue that in pre-capitalist society, while Christianity was a major element of ruling-class ideology, it had only limited impact on the peasantry.
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What is the perspective of Armstrong (1993)?
Armstrong (1993) argues that early religions used to centre around women e.g., earth mother goddesses, fertility cults but the rise of monotheistic religions which believe in one single male god with male prophets made religion more male-dominated. She se
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What is the perspective of Simone de Beauvoir (1949)?
Simone de Beauvoir (1949) argues religion deceives women, in the same way it does the proletariat, into thinking they are equal.
She argues that the female body portrayed as evil/ women as temptresses in religious scripture.
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What is the perspective of Woodhead (2002)?
Woodhead (2002) argues that there are forms of ‘religious feminism’, where religion can be used to gain freedom and respect and build solidarity between women.
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What is the perspective of El Saadwi (1980)?
El Saadwi (1980) argues that religion is not inherently patriarchal, but with the rise of monotheistic religion, men reinterpreted religion in ways that favoured patriarchy and oppressed women.
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What study highlighted that women have freedom of choice in religion?
Badwi (1994) argues that women now have much choice over their interpretation of their religion e.g., Muslim women in Turkey have the freedom to choose whether to wear a headscarf or not.
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What study questioned the view that religion is a form of social control?
Butler (1990) interviewed young British Muslim women and found that veiling was a source of identity amongst women, showing their cultural and religious roots, rather than a symbol of oppression.
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Card 2

Front

What study argues that inclusive/functional definitions prevent sociologists from measuring changes in religious belief?

Back

Aldridge (2013) argues that inclusive/functional definitions defines all people, even atheists, as religious and prevents sociologists from assessing whether religion is growing, stable or in decline.

Card 3

Front

What study argues that inclusive/functional definitions define too many things as a religion?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

What study shows that different groups define religions differently?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

What is the key feature of religion for functionalists?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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