Functionalist views on Religion.

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Religion

The Problem of Definition

The study of religion is problematic. There are so many dimensions to religion (belief, practice, experience, knowledge and consequences) that it is impossible to provide a conclusive definition.

Most sociologists do not believe in God.

Functionalist views on Religion

The functionalist analysis of religion is concerned with the contribution religion makes to meeting society’s needs such as social solidarity, value consensus and harmony and integration between its parts.

Durkheim

Durkheim studied Aborigines. He called their religion ‘toteism’. Each clan has a totem, which is seen as sacred. Worshipping the totem is seen as worshipping God. However Durkheim sees it as also worshipping society.

  • Worshipping society Durkheim argued that in worshipping God, people are in fact worshipping society. Society is more important and powerful than the individual, just as God is.
  • Collective conscience: Religion reinforces the shared values and moral; beliefs – what Durkheim called the collective conscience -that hold society together.
  • Collective worship Through acts of collective worship, members of society express, communicate and understand the moral bonds which tie them.

Criticisms

  • Durkheim only studied a small group of Aboriginal tribes. It may be misleading to generalise from this small sample.
  • Is toteism a religion?
  • Most sociologists would not go so far to say that religion is worshipping society.
  • How applicable is this to modern society-ethnic sub cultures etc.

Talcott Parsons

Parsons sees religion as having 3 main functions:

  • Maintains Value Consensus: Religious beliefs provide guidelines for human actions and standards against which behaviour can be evaluated e.g. 10 Commandments. These say how we ought to behave e.g. thou shall not kill etc. and everyone has the same shared values and beliefs
  • Maintains Social Order: Parsons sees religion as a means of adjusting to unforeseen events such as death etc. religion helps people readjust to normal. It helps us to deal with uncertainty.
  • Provides meaning: Religion provides meaning to life and makes sense of our experiences. It justifies suffering in terms of testing faith, punishment or rewarding afterlife. It answers fundamental questions and helps us understand why things happen.

Malinowski

Malinowski sees religion as reinforcing social norms and values and promoting social solidarity.

  • Life Crisis Situations that produce anxiety and tension include crises of life such as birth, death etc. These life crises are surrounded by rituals e.g. Christening, funerals etc.
  • Prediction and Control: Undertaking that cannot be controlled or predicted also produces tension and anxiety. Malinowski noted that such events were surrounded by rituals. Rituals reduce anxiety by providing confidence and a feeling of control. Malinowski argues that religion promotes social solidarity by dealing with situations of emotional stress that threaten the stability of society.

Civil Religion

Civil religion refers to a set of beliefs and practices related to the past, present and future of a nation, which is essentially ‘sacred’. Civil Religion aims to reinforce value consensus though key figures or aspects of a country whose importance is understood by all. This can be conveyed through regular events, ceremonies or rituals e.g. Independence Day, Christmas Day.

Functionalist Summary:

  • Provides a clear set of principles/values to live by
  • Helps to cope with effects of possible life crises such as death through funerals etc.
  • Provides answers to fundamental questions
  • Provides ‘sacred’ events/rituals to reaffirm value consensus.
  • Maintains social order
  • Reduces anxiety about the unknown/uncontrollable – provides meaning
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Criticisms

  • Ignores religion as a force of change e.g. liberation theology
  • Fails to see that some benefit more from religion than others e.g. Rich and Men (This is a Marxist and Feminists criticism)
  • Fails to accept the idea of secularisation.

Marxist Approach to Religion

The Infrastructure (Economic Base) determines the Superstructure. The Superstructure justifies the Infrastructure.

‘Religion is the opium of the people’

  • It makes everything look very good, reality is distorted
  • People tend to look on the bright side of things

‘Man makes religion, religion ...

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