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Functionalism and religion - Coggle Diagram
Functionalism and religion
Conservative force
Maintains society's values
Preserving the traditional views of society's expectation
Religion - conservative force
Traditional - upholds society's moral values and views
Preservation - stabilises society by keeping things the way they are, preventing anomie
Functionalists believe in the preservation aspect of religion, emphasising the contribution that religion makes to the wellbeing of society in the form of social stability and value consensus
Religion promoting value consensus / social stability
Most religions have traditional conservative belief about moral issues
For example, the Catholic Church forbids divorce, abortion, and artificial contraception, gay marriage
Many of them oppose change that would allow individuals more freedom in personal and sexual matters
Religion does this in many ways
Family values - often favour patriarchal domestic division of labour ('women must submit to their husbands')
Laws - teaches right and wrong ('thou shalt not kill' )
Promotes hard work and meritocracy ('fruits of labour')
Prevents challenge to authority ('submit to the governing authorities')
AO2
'The abortion of a foetus should suffer the same punishments as true murdered and assassins who have actually and really committed murder' - Pope Sixtus V
'The hard earned money by her husband should be preserved and looked after by the wife...always developing the house in a positive way and maintaining a peaceful environment are her responsibilities' - Atharvaveda (Hindu holy text)
These reflect conservative beliefs about moral issues - many oppose changes that would allow people more freedom (eg. gay marriage, abortion, divorce)
Functions of religion in modern society
Socialisation
Religion creates a value consensus by making sacred
By making certain things sacred, moral codes are created which are used to lay parameters for children in socialisation
Parsons - religion creates formal and informal socialisation
Examples
10 Commandments led to the rule of law - formal
'Thou shalt not kill'
Socialisation of children through parents - informal
''Honour thy mother and father'
Holidays based on Christianity, RS lessons, prayers in school - infomal
Durkheim
Explored the socialisation element of religion
Related religion to wider social structure, arguing the totem is a reflection of the group itself (sacred object with divine qualities, but not worshipped)
Totemism is the most basic form of religion
All religions have their origins in totemism
Society (Australian aboriginals) comes together and were unified around the totem
The fact that sacred things evoke such powerful feelings in believers indicate to Durkheim that this is because they are symbols representing something of greater power
This is society itself, since society is the only thing so powerful that it can demand such feelings
Sacred symbols perform the function of uniting members into a moral community
Analysis / evaluation (AO3)
Ignores conflict caused by religion as it doesn't always unify society (eg. ISIS)
Only looked at Australian Aboriginals - small scale and not generalisable
Religious pluralism - society is too complex and we do not share the same beliefs
Atheist societies aren't unstable even though they do not share the same totems
Social integration and solidarity
Religion fosters collective worship which is important for functionalists as it enables members of society to express their shared values and strengthens group unity
Collective worship allows unity from value consensus
Belonging to a community
Commitment to something greater than yourself
Creates a collective consciousness - same goals within community
Prevents anomie and a normless society through shared values and commitments and teachings from religion
Acts as a comfort and prevents joining in anomie
Civil religion
Religion can remind us of our religion to the nation in which we live, and through religion we attract sacred qualities to the society itself
Nation and religion are interconnected
Examples
'In God we trust'
Pledge of Allegiance
Louisiana - 10 commandments poster had to be in every classroom that is state funded
Analysis / evaluation (AO3)
This unites a nation
Framed through the nation state
Each nation is able to build a value consensus based on the teachings of religion
Countries like America have an emphasis on civil religion to create a unified belief system between members
As society becomes more fragmented and individualised, both the belief in the nation state and religion is declining and people are seeking belonging in consumerism and self improvement
Preventing anomie
During times of anomie, religion acts a comfort, preventing joining in anomie
Methodism in industrial society - grow as a response to industrial revolution
Analysis (AO3)
ISIS prevents anomie as is helps young, poor males with little opportunities for success, money, and belonging
ISIS encourages anomie as it attacks civilians based on religious lines and creates fissures within the Muslim community
Helping with life changing events
Relieves the stress caused by life crises such as birth, puberty, marriage, and death
Religions have developed 'rites of passage' to help deal with these life events
Ritu kala samskara - Hindu celebration for first period
Provides clarity over confusing and stigmatised event
Helping girls deal with what could be a scary prospect
Malinowski
Identified more specific psychological functions than Durkheim
Doesn't see religion as ritual / fostering social cohesion, but to deal with social stresses
Performs this role at times of uncertainty when the outcome is uncontrollable and uncertain
At times of crisis, for example funerals reinforce feelings of solidarity and comfort
Analysis and evaluation (AO3)
Pew Research Center revealed a quarter of US citizens are not affiliated with any religion
Proportion increases when those under 30, meaning young parents are not instilling religious values into their children
Multi religious countries - not all based on the same belief system, not all socialised the same, no civil religion, so no social solidarity from religion
Dysfunction from religious - religion can cause anomie (ISIS, Palestine and Israel, Northern Ireland troubles)
2021 census - less than half the UK is Christian (46.2%)