Functionalist theories of Religion

• Functionalists argue religion is a conservative force which promotes social harmony and reinforces value consensus
• Durkheim says religion socialises members into a collective conscience, and sets certain values apart and encourages collective worship
• The Sacred according to Durkheim is objects/places/animals etc which are considered apart and forbidden
• The Profane according to Durkheim is non-sacred items but normal and mundane
• Totemism was developed by Durkheim by studying aborginal australians which connects and represents social connections
• Liberation Theology was founded by Christian priests and focussed on reducing poverty - which supports collective worship
• New Christian Right creates hate which challenges the belief that religion brings society together
• Following the murder of James Bulger the Catholic Church created a book of condolences showing religion can bring society together
• The Israel - Palestine war shows religion can divide people
• Durkheim relied of second hand accounts about aboriginal australians
• Durkheims theories may only be applicable to small scale societies so is not generalisable
• There is many conflicts today in religion
• Malinowksi said religion provided a psychological function
• Malinowski found religion provided comfort when an answer is uncertain or in a time of crisis
• Malinowskis research may be outdated as it is a pre-industrial society
• Malinowski was an outsider in his study so he may have misintepreted his data
• Parsons says religion can help individuals cope with unforeseen events and uncontrollable outcomes
• Parsons says religion can promote value consensus and answer the ’ultimate question’
• Functionalists fail to account for conflicts that can occur among religions