Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
Beliefs
Introduction - Coggle Diagram
Beliefs
Introduction
Definitions
-
-
Functional Definition
"Focuses on the sociological and psychological functions that religion provides to society and an individual"
Inclusive - Includes a wide range of beliefs and functions
- Brings people together - community
- Durkheim - Religion contributes to integration
- Yinger - Identifies functions i.e. - Religion answers 'ultimate' questions
-
-
Functionalism
-
-
-
-
-
Evaluation
- Neglects the negative effects of religion (oppression on women)
- It is a source of conflict
Marxism
Religion as an Ideology
Religion is an ideological weapon justifying the suffering of the poor - makes the proletariats believe they suffer to be rewarded in afterlife (Part of the ISA - Althusser)
Christianity - Easier to get a camel through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to enter the gates to heaven - Maintains False Class Consciousness
-
-
-
Evaluation Point
- Some Marxists (Althusser) Reject the concept of alienation as unscientific and being based on 'true self' - making it an inadequate basis for a theory on religion
- Marx ignores the functions of religion
Feminism
Key Ideas:
- Most religions are seen as patriarchal
- Religious ideology plays a part of maintaining male dominance in modern life
Religious Organisation
-
-
-
Women participate more than men yet it is still male dominated (Orthodox, Judaism - Forbid women from becoming a priest)
Places of Worship
In some religions, women and men are segregated & women have restricted rights around preaching
Aldridge - Women's sexual pleasure is disapproved in religions - should only have sex for reproduction
Holm women's menstruation = polluting
- In Hindu and Islam women are banned entering sacred places or touching sacred property
(Devaluation of women)
Sacred Texts
- Written/Interpreting by men - male Gods / Prophets
Reflects anti-women stereotypes
- Eve came from Adams rib - Adam made in Gods image
- Eve = evil temptress led Adam to eat apple in garden
-
Aldridge - Qur'an = Women - legally inferior, lack of equal rights - must submit to husband
Religious Laws & Customs
- Women have fewer rights than men (access to decision making)
- Islam : Women can't marry more than 1 husband, Men can be polygamous
Woodhead - Catholic church - opposes women's equality - bans on contraception, priesthood, abortion
Walby & De Bouvoir - Teaching contains ideologies the emphasis women's role as mothers - Christianity - Virgin Mary = Submissive
Barrett & Pryce - Rastafarianism (Afro Caribbean men) - women - housewives - Rasta men think this protects women from violence as they are at home - defence of mothers gives men power
Holm & Bowker - Many religious fundamentalist movements (Born Again - New Right), Islamic fundamentalist (Shia Law) - All reinforce patriarchy = reverses women independence
Iran / Saudi Arabia - women face punishments for violating gender roles (no makeup)
- Dress codes - veiling the women
- Aldridge - Hijab - Burqas = Islam = patriarchal power - keep women invisible to society
Evaluations
Armstrong
- Early religion places women at the centre (Earth Mother Goddesses - rise of monotheistic all powerful male - God which established patriarchy with religion)
Brusco
- Women use religion to gain status / respect at home. Belonging to a Pentecostal group - can be empowering - reinforce = men should respect women
El Saadawi
- Patriarchal influence of society has re-shaped religion - men's interpretation of religious belief that favour patriarchy rather than religion itslef
Woodhead
- 'Religious forms of feminism' - Ways in which women use religion to gain greater freedom & respect. Some young British Muslims women choose to wear hijabs as means of liberation - gain education and employment without being condemned as immodest
Muslim Veil - Ahmed
- Pride, avoids male gaze, identity, communication, independence