Transcript The Role of Religion

The Role of
Religion
Sociological Views on the role of religion in society
The Role of Religion
 Sociologists from different perspectives have
disagreed about the ‘main’ role religion plays in a
society.
 Functionalists and Marxists have argued that religion
is a conservative force.
 Weberians and Neo-Marxists have argued that
religion is a force for social change.
Religion is a conservative force
1. FUNCTIONALISM
Conservative Force
 Functionalists believe religion brings stability and order to
a society.
 Therefore, religion is a conservative force.
 Functionalists believe this is a good thing…
 …Although they can be flexible about what can be
considered a ‘religion’, as they use an inclusive definition.
Durkheim
 The functionalist view of religion is
mainly inspired by Durkheim’s work on the subject.
On your whiteboards, identify at least three things you
already know about Durkheim…
(…On of them might be about how he defined
religion!)
Durkheim & Totems
Durkheim identified the most
basic form of religion
which he called
totemism. The totem is
a good example of a
clearly sacred item;
something given special
significance.
Functionalism
Totemism: A totem symbolically represents the values
of the group/community who worship it.
In worshipping the totem, people are basically
worshipping their own group, or society.
‘Religion’ therefore bonds the group and keeps them
stable and united.
The Functions of Religion
 Because functionalists have an inclusive definition of religion,
they are interested in the functions of religion (what is does for
people).
 They believe that all of these functions contribute to the stability
and protection of society.
 These ideas were all first observed in Durkheim’s work on
totemism.
In pairs: Identify three positive and three negative functions of religion.
The Functions of Religion
1. Social Integration
 Worshipping together unites people.
 Religion brings people together through shared
norms and values…
 …Which makes it easier for people to recognise and
restrict deviant behaviour.
Think: How have parts
of UK society been
united by religious
ceremonies in recent
years?
The Functions of Religion
2. Socialisation
(Parsons, 1965)
 Religion provides moral codes that form the values of
a society. These values
are then passed down to
the next generation.
The Functions of Religion
3. Prevents Anomie
(Durkheim, 1912)
 Anomie means a state of normlessness: When society
can’t function because people don’t know how to
behave.
 Religion stops this happening, by showing us that we
are part of something bigger and
greater than the individual.
The Functions of Religion
4. Helps us come to terms with life-changing events
(Malinowski, 1954)
 Big events in our lives (births, deaths, marriage etc)
can cause stress and anxiety.
 Religion gives these events meaning, helping people
come to terms with change and offering support.
Other reasons we need religion
(O’Dea; 1966)
Religion helps us cope with…
1. Contingency (a life full of uncertainties)
2. Powerlessness (the lack of control we have over our
lives)
3. Scarcity (things are distributed unequally in our
society).
Civil Religions
 Bellah (1970) agreed with Durkheim that religion
attaches sacred qualities to aspects of society.
 In modern societies, we use particular rituals and
ceremonies to show our loyalty to that society.
Society itself can therefore become a ‘religion’ (using
inclusive definitions). Bellah called this a civil religion.
 The USA is probably the best example…
Civil Religions
 The USA hosts a multitude of religions, but also an
overarching ‘civil religion’: A faith in Americanism.
 So, for Bellah, America is itself a kind of religion.
Discussion: Pairs
Could the UK be said to have a ‘civil religion’?
What ‘sacred’ events, places and people
might lead Bellah to think of ‘Britishness’
as a religion?
Min: 5 examples per pair.
Functionalism: Evaluation Points
 Functionalists believe religion maintains social
order…how can this be true, when religion causes so
much conflict in societies?
Functionalism: Evaluation Points
 In societies that have many diverse religious groups,
can religion really create social cohesion?
 Why do people only turn to religious solutions in
some situations rather than others? (Hamilton; 1995)
“The rich man in his castle
The poor man at the gate
God made them high and lowly
And ordered their estate.”
- All Things Bright & Beautiful
2. Marxism
“Religion is the opium of the
people”
 Marxists also believe that religion is a conservative
force…
 They believe that, in capitalist societies, religion is
used to keep the unequal capitalist system in place.
 The famous Karl Marx quote explains how this
happens…
Religion is the opium of the people
because…
1. It legitimates social inequality
The existing hierarchy is God-given and therefore
unchangeable e.g. kings in the feudal period had a
divine right to rule (also see the hymn lyrics!).
Religion is the opium of the people
because…
2. It disguises the true nature of exploitation.
Explains inequality in supernatural terms. Being poor
might be the result of sin, while rich people might
have been chosen by God.
Religion is the opium of the people
because…
3. It keeps the working class in their place.
Suffering and poverty should be welcomed; those
who do not question their place in society get
rewarded in the afterlife. People cannot change
society anyway – only God can.
Marx on Religion
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvtJja2ihYQ
Interpretations of Marx’s other words vary;
it seems he did not believe religion was
always negative – he could see that the
poorest people in society needed it because
their world and working conditions were so
bleak…but he believed it would not be
necessary in a communist society.
Which of these
evaluation points
supports the
Marxist view?
The Neo-Marxists
 Neo-Marxists apply Marxist principles and ideas to
modern societies…
 …On the subject of religion, many Neo-Marxists
disagree with the key Marxist view and argue that
religion is actually a force for social change.
Maduro (1982)
 Religion can be revolutionary.
 In Central & South America, some Catholic
priests have been active in resistance
movements.
 Liberation Theology describes when religious
movements merge with Marxism e.g. as a
response to poverty, inequality and illtreatment.
The Protestant Ethic & The Spirit of Capitalism
3. Weberianism
(Max Weber)
Weberianism
 Religion helps us make sense of the world,
through answering the ‘big’ questions.
 It is about individual pursuit of meaning.
 Weberians agree with Marxists that religion is
often used conservatively, as a way for groups
to legitimise themselves, but that it can also
promote social change and revolution.
Discuss
What are the answers to these questions?
 Where do we go when we die?
 What is the meaning of life?
 Why is there so much evil in the world?
 Why are some people poor and others rich?
 What is the right way to live my life?
Theodicies
 The answers to these questions are called theodicies.
 A theodicy is an answer to a ‘big’ question – and
Weberians suggest religion provides many of these
for us.
 Some theodicies can inspire social change. For
example, the belief in fate held by Calvinists…
Calvinism & Capitalism
(Weber; 1958)
 Weber found that in countries where capitalism
flourished (or had to potential to do so), Calvinism was
present.
 Calvinists suffered salvation anxiety (worried about
whether they were going to Heaven or Hell).
 The resulting values of Calvinism (hard-work, living
simply, saving money/resources) enabled the spirit of
capitalism to flourish (although the economic
conditions of the country also had to be right).
Charismatic Leaders
Charismatic leaders are people who are particularly able to create
social change. Weberian sociologists point out that a lot of these types
of individuals emerge from religion (e.g. they begin sects). Therefore,
religion is crucial in encouraging social change in societies…
Weberianism: Evaluation Points
 Marxists point out that capitalism predates Calvinism.
 Many countries with large Calvinist populations were
very slow to industrialise (e.g. Scotland, Sweden)…
 …Although Weber admitted that Calvinist beliefs
alone were not enough to encourage social change.
 Charismatic leaders can be precarious (Aldridge,
2000) and even dangerous.
Problems with Classical Theories
 Functionalism, Marxism and Weberianism are
examples of ‘classical’ sociological theories.
 Critics (e.g. Beckford, 2004) argue that their views on
religion are outdated and do not address the key
religious conflicts of our times…
What are the big religious ‘debates’ of the early 21st
Century?
Problems with Classical Theories
Pro-Life vs. Pro-Choice, the use
of embryonic materials for
medical research etc.
Conflict over controversial
new movements and their
methods e.g. accusations of
brainwashing by Scientology
Conflict between legal
requirements and
religious ones e.g. the
wearing of particular
garments for particular
occasions…
An alternative to classical theories…
Postmodernism
Learning Objectives
 Explain what is meant by a spiritual shopper
 Suggest why spiritual shopping may be common in
the contemporary UK
 Identify at least two evaluation points of the
postmodernist view
Postmodernism
Bauman (1992)
 There is no absolute truth and religious texts
and leaders do not have authority over us.
 You can ‘pick and mix’ between different
beliefs/practices, creating hybrids. Religion is
like a spiritual supermarket and we are all
spiritual shoppers.
Study the articles on the worksheet and answer the questions
provided (10mins)
Postmodernism
 We go to religious leaders to answer questions on
morality, just like we go to doctors for questions on
health…(Bauman; 1992)
 People choose what to believe in, the same way they
choose other aspects of their lifestyle (e.g. where to
live). We have a choice of gods. This is due to
globalisation, information technology and
consumerism (Lyon; 2000)
Postmodernism
 The postmodernism view of religion emphasises choice
and individualism.
 They believe that old religious traditions are disappearing
and are increasingly insignificant.
 The growth of religious pluralism, NRMs and NAMs
supports these views, as it suggests we are more diverse
and individual in our religious tastes, that we demand
choice – and that we reject tradition.
Postmodernism: Evaluation Points
 Some argue traditions are not disappearing, they are
just being repackaged…
 …Others point out that the amount of people
involved in NAMs and NRMs is still relatively small…
 …and our choices are limited by what is ‘in stock’ in
the spiritual supermarket.