functionalist theories

• What is totemism?

  Durkheim found all societies divide the world into sacred and profane, religious beliefs are based on what is sacred.

  He studied australian aboriginal religion and clan - totemism.

  Every aboriginal clan had totem symbol to make them different from others and a symbol representative for group
• What is sacred?

  Things people see has special and held on higher level to everyday things

  EG. Quran, cross
• What is profane?

  Everyday things that are not religious eg. pen,chair
• What is Durkheim - religion maintains social solidarity

  Social solidarity binds people together as a group.

  Religion promotes social solidarity through collective worship and religious practices
• What are examples of social solidarity in religion

  EG.Bring people together in places of worship

  In pandemic, online streaming of religious service maintain social solidarity
• What is an evaluation of religion maintaining social solidarity

  Doesnt always promote social integration may lead to divisions and community tensions in multicultural society often emphasises differences than similarities eg.sunni shia
• What is Durkheim religion creates collective conscience

  Collective conscience is shared sets of beliefs and values in which people abide by.

  Religion creates collective conscience by religious followers sharing the same beliefs,therefore everyone in the group thinks the same.
• What is examples of religion creating collective conscience

  Teaching and agreements on the 10 commandments in Christianity.
• Evaluation of religion creating collective conscience

  Religion doesn't always create collective conscience and stability - it can also challenge current beliefs eg.Martin Luther King used christian beliefs as a part of the civil rights movement to end racial segregation in the USA.

  Religious extremist groups like ISIS oppose the mainstream beliefs of their community, leading to instability.
• What is parsons religion gives 'meaning to meaningless things'

  Religion provides answers to the big questions of life.

  Providing answers helps maintain stability so society runs smoothly with religion providing clarity and stopping anomie.
• What is an example of parsons religion gives 'meaning to meaningless things'

  Provide answers to questions like why is there suffering?

  EG. Manchester arena attack - many turned to religion for comfort.eg. light candles,memorials/prayers for victims.Religion helped those in Manchester to continue their lives after the attack.
• What is an analysis of religion gives 'meaning to meaningless things'

  Similarly,Berger claims religion provides a ‘universe of meaning’, helps people make sense of the world and gives explanations to big questions of life for clarity to continue with your everyday life's mirror parsons view of meaning to life.
• What is Malinowaski pyschological functions and help with emotional stress

  Helps people cope with emotional stress to reinforce social solidarity.
• What is an example of religion performs pyschological functions and help with emotional stress

  Ocean fishing was a dangerous activity with many dying,being uncertain how many fish they would catch.Before going to sea,Islander performed a religious ritual to protect the fishermen and bring back a lot of fish.This ritual was a psychological function giving the Islanders a sense of control over the uncontrollable event of ocean fishing, reducing stress and maintaining social solidarity
• What is an evaluation of religion performs pyschological function and helps with emotional stress

  Rationalists argue scientific explanations have replaced religious ones, and people in a modern secularised society are more likely to find comfort in science rather than religion due to its objective nature.