Functionalist Theory of Religion

Description

Sociology revision for beliefs in society, topic 2
leeya_chowdhury
Mind Map by leeya_chowdhury, updated more than 1 year ago
leeya_chowdhury
Created by leeya_chowdhury over 10 years ago
174
5

Resource summary

Functionalist Theory of Religion
  1. Malinowski: Psychological Functions
    1. Two types of way that religion reinforces social solidarity
      1. the outcome is important but out of control- he done a study on Trobriand Islands with the contrast of fishing in the lagoon and ocean
        1. Lagoon- this is safe and certain, there is no ritual required
          1. Ocean- rituals needed and is uncertain.
            1. the ritual gives them a sense of confidence and eases the tension.
          2. life crises such as puberty, chid birth and death
            1. death- funerals reinforces the feeling of solidarity, it makes them more aware and appreciative of religion
          3. Agrees with Durkhime that it promotes solidarity but also helps to deal with stress
          4. Parson: Value and Meaning
            1. Like Malinowski- religion helps to deal with stress and has come up with 2 other positive functions of religion
              1. 1. Creates a central values
                1. 2. Primary source of meaning
                2. society's norms are legitimised through sacred meanings
                  1. religion provides a sense of meaning to the world and answers the ultimate questions e.g. what happens after death
                  2. Bellah: Civil Religion
                    1. Civil religion intergrates its members better than individual religion. American civil religion involves: loyalty to nation state + Believe in God= a true American
                      1. to express their beliefs they would sing national anthems 'one nation under God'
                        1. However their God is different from religious God, rather an 'American God' this is sacred as it binds the Americans together through their shared beliefs
                      2. Alternative Functions
                        1. Religion is not the only source that provides it's members with collectivism, other social groups may perform similar functions
                          1. shared norms and values and maintaining social cohesion
                          2. Bellah- other belief systems could perform the same functions as religion.
                            1. Nazi has a shared beliefs of Jews but was not seen to be a religion
                          Show full summary Hide full summary

                          Similar

                          Theories of Religion
                          Heloise Tudor
                          A-Level Biology: Cell Division
                          cian.buckley+1
                          A-Level Physics: Course Overview
                          cian.buckley+1
                          A-Level History: Nazi Germany
                          cian.buckley+1
                          A2 Level Biology: Transcription & Translation
                          Ollie O'Keeffe
                          English Language
                          livbennett
                          OCR AS Biology - Enzymes
                          Chris Osmundse
                          AS-Level Chemistry: Unit 1:The Atom
                          Daena Targaryen
                          OCR AS Biology - Lipids
                          Chris Osmundse
                          Gender Theorists
                          Hazel Meades
                          A-Level Economics: Supply and Demand
                          cian.buckley+1