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Theories of Religion (Feminism (Evidence for feminist views - (Roman…
Theories of Religion
Feminism
Similar to Marxist view, religion used as a tool of ideology and repression
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Monotheistic religion - Since the emergence of monotheism women have disappeared from religious worship&ritual.
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El Saadawi argues that all of the world's major monotheistic religions developed at the same time as patriarchy, they have oppressed women through mens misinterpretation of religious belief.
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Evidence against
Badaawi does argue that aspects of the muslim faith are positive for women, e.g they keep their own name when married
Watson argues that yelling is welcomed by women as a way of showing identity and avoiding lecherous men
Wright notes that jewish women are allowed to become rabbis since 1972 and there are C of E women vicars
Post modernism
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Beliefs vary enourmasly, both between different religions and within the same religion, within the same society and between different societies
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Baumen - people have rejected meta narratives, creating a moral vacuum which has been filled by new forms of religion
People choose the bits of belief systems that suit them, described as a DIY cocktail
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There has been a growth in new age movements, which have moved away from sacrifice and worship to 'what can this do for me?'
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Marxism
For marx, religion is the main tool of oppression and ideology in capitalism
Religion maintains capitalism in a number of ways: It is a tool of social control, legitimises the social order and hierarchy, legitimises poverty and hardship, disguises exploitation and class conflict
Legitimising hierarchy - Religion is used to support existing order, there is no point in revolution if it has been created by god
Legitimises poverty - teaches its better to be poor than rich, they are more likely to get rewarded in heaven
Disguises exploitation - The poor feel better about their situation because they are given the hope of salvation in the future in an afterlife of eternal bliss
'The opium of the people' Like a drug religion takes away the pain but does not cure illness, allows people to continue their painful lives with no complaints
Criticisms: believes society is dictated by economics but people act on the basis of other motivations.
There has never been a workers revolution in England.
Marx fails to see that religion can be a positive thing in society
Weber
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The elect
Calvinists believed there was an elect predestined to go to heaven regardless of their own behaviour
However Calvinists did not know if they were part of the elect or not, so they behaved in an exemplary way in order to convince themselves of their place in heaven
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For first time in history money was made as proof of hard work rather than enjoyment, Weber argues this is the basis of 'the spirit of capitalism'
Criticism - Some historians argue that capitalism had developed earlier than Protestantism in Europe, if this was the case then it could not of caused the growth of capitalism
Weber ignored other religions that also have beliefs that supports capitalism, Judaism is openly in the interest of pursuit of profit and jews would lend money for interest
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Mcguire
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If religion has concern for the world, members will try to change it
If religion is important to a society's culture, anyone promoting change will use religion as a reason for doing so
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If the religion has a strong hierarchy with a central authority figure, it is likely to restrain other parts of the institution
Functionalism
Durkheim
Important agent of socialisation, passes on n&vs
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Tribes worship totems as sacred object, worshipping own norms and values 'collective conscience'
Functions: Regulation&integration - worship of n&vs strengthens collective conscience and also reinforces solidarity
Believes scientific thinking will replace religious explanations, and that ritual activities occupy a small part of individual life. But even modern societies need rituals to reaffirm their values. New ceremonies may replace old.
Evaluation: Only studied small number of aboriginal groups so difficult to generalise, for religion to maintain social order & provide integration there must only be one main religion in society, Durkheim always sees religion as a positive institution
Parsons
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Structural differentiation - in modern society, socialisation of shared morals and values is no longer the role of religion but of more specialised institutions: the family, education, legal system and media
Religion maintains its pure functions: To bring comfort in times on stress, to provide rituals to mark important times in a persons life and to explain the unexplainable
Malinowski
studied religious rituals carried out to reduce the dangers to fisherman of trobriand islanders of Papua new Guinea
Rituals that hold society together are: providing comfort in time of crisis and giving the impression of having control over predictable events
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Neo Marxism
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Gramsci
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The institutions pass this on as ruling class ideology, once the masses are dominated and accept ideology as common sense, the ruling class have hegemony over them
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Maduro
As the media becomes the main way for capitalism to control its workers thoughts and actions, religions role changes
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Maduro believes religion isn't always a conservative force in society eg Catholicism in South America: Catholic priests act against ruling class interest and fight for the poor, Oscar Romero
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