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Beliefs in Society, SECULARISATION - Coggle Diagram
Beliefs in Society
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THEORIES OF RELIGION
FUNCTIONALISM.
Religion acts as a conservative force by reinforcing norms and prompting social solidarity
DURKHEIM.
Emile Durkheim studied totemism among Australian Aboriginal clans in which the sacred totem represented different clans. Religious symbols are simultaneously symbols of God and society and so it is believed people worship society. Religion acts as a conservative force through ceremonies as it allows individuals to have a sense of belonging.
MALINOWSKI.
Believed the main function of religion was to help individuals and society with emotional stress. This is because it can help people to 'make sense' of death and things beyond their control.
TALCOTT PARSONS.
Believed the main function of religion was maintaining the social order. He also believed that it helps people in times of social change and to deal with unpredictable events like death.
CRITICISMS.
Religion does not always promote harmony, it can promote conflict. The functionalist view ignores the role religion can play in promoting social change. for example; Civil rights movement in the 1950s.
COLLECTIVE CONSCIOUSNESS.
This is where people share the same norms, values, beliefs and knowledge. An example of this would be rituals (having a parade for a celebration of a holiday).
CIVIL RELIGION.
Bellah introduced the concept of civil religion in the 1960s. He argued that it was the main type of religion at the time. He defines it as; any belief system which didn’t rely on a conception of a God but still inspired a passionate mass response with members displaying a high degree of commitment to that belief system. An example of this could be Nazism.
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SOCIAL CHANGE
WEBER
Weber carried out a study in 1905 of The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism. He argues that the religious beliefs of Calvinism (a form of Protestantism) helped to bring about major social change. They brought about the emergence of modern capitalism in modern Europe during the 16th and 17th centuries. Weber argues that modern capitalism is unique as it is based on systematic, efficient and rational pursuit of profit for its own sake rather than luxury consumption which capitalism had a sense of in the past. Weber calls this the spirit of capitalism and the spirit has 'elective affinity'
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CONSERVATIVE FORCE
Religion can be seen as a conservative force in two senses. Firstly, because it is seen as being traditional and it defends/upholds traditional beliefs about society should be organised. Secondly, because it functions to preserve/conserve things as they are which allows it to stabilise society and maintain the status quo.
SOCIAL PROTEST
CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT
The black civil rights movement was a struggle to end racial segregation in the 1950s and 1960s. Even though slavery had been abolished in 1865 blacks were still denied legal and political rights in many states. It began in 1955 when Rosa Parks refused to give up her bus seat for a white person. The movement was led by Dr Martin Luther King. Their church provided a place for meeting and kept them safe from white violence. Bruce argues that religion in this context is an ideological resource as it provided beliefs and practices that protestors can draw on or motivation. Religion helped to bring change.
TAKING THE MORAL HIGH GROUND
Black clergy pointed out the hypocrisy of white clergy for preaching 'love thy neighbour'
CHANNELLING DISSENT
Religion provides channels to express political dissent. Eg, Martin Luther King's funeral was a rallying point for the civil rights cause.
ACTING AS HONEST BROKER
Churches can provide a context for negotiating change because they are often respected on both sides.
MOBILISING PUBLIC OPINION
Black churches in the South successfully campaigned for support across the whole of America.
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