Beliefs in society

• Sacred vs profane


  Durkheim's argument that in all societies, people divide the world about them into things which are sacred (holy) and those that are profane (not holy)
• Malinowski - life crisis


  states that a life crisis is a big event which causes disruptions and he believes that religion helps calm this down
• Malinowski - 2 psychological functions of religion


  - life crisis (religion helps us e.g. with divorce, funerals etc. )

  -when an outcome is uncertain, we turn to religion for comfort
• Robert Bellah


  Civil religion - no matter what religion you follow, the fact that you are religious means you are part of society. He believes that the faith in Americanism helps to unite the American people
• Secular society


  Durkheim believes that society has turned away from religion
• Parsons - Ultimate questions


  Parsons believes that religion helps us answer eternal questions ( otherwise unanswerable questions) and creates social harmony
• Parsons - justice


  He believes that religion leads to an idea of justice in the afterlife - you will get what you deserve
• Durkheim - collective consciousness


  The basic set of shared values, beliefs, traditions and normals which makes social life possible.
• Durkheim - main functions of religion

  -Value consensus (we all have the same values)

  -collective consciousness (all think In the same way)
• Durkheim - cult of man


  His prediction that religion will no longer be needed as we will be too busy / concerned with ourselves as individuals
• Criticism of functionalist views on religion

  Society turning to religion to answer ultimate questions is declining as science takes religions place
• Marx and Engels


  Religion is a part of ideology, a systemised pattern of beliefs which obscures and distorts the true nature of reality in ways which benefit the ruling class
• False class consciousness


  A term for (often w/c) believing lies and accepting things as they are
• An example of civil religion in the USA is...

  "God bless America" at the end of presidential speeches
• Parsons - an example of an ultimate question


  "Why do villains prosper?"
• Marx - Religion as an illusion

  "Religion promises happiness, but the happiness it promises is an illusion"
• Marxists and functionalists agree that religion...


  has psychological advantages
• Marxists may suggest that religion is compensation...


  ...and comfort for the working class
• Marx's prediction


  He predicted a socialist revolution where the proletariat could overrule the bourgeoise and then everyone could be equal
• Neo Marxist - Views on religion

  Religion could help the oppressed. Religion could be used to unite people and bring about change. (E.g. MLK)
• Antonio Gramsci - Socialist revolution


  He said that if there is to be a socialist revolution, it would require 'proletarian action' and must be guided by theoretical ideas (working class intellectuals)
• Hegemony


  The term used to describe the control churches have over their members
• Liberation Theology


  The theory that religion can free the oppressed and can bring about change
• Otto Maduro and Gramsci agree that...

  ...the poor need 'proletarian intellectuals' to guide them through a revolution
• Otto Maduro


  He is a Neo-Marxist that believes religion can free people. He suggests that people will listen to, for example; archbishops, because they have enough power to cause change.
• Examples that support the liberation theology are...

  Archbishop Romero (who wanted to help the poor gain power) and Camilo Torres (who stated "revolution is necessary to feed the hungry...")
• Weber


  He suggested that Calvinists invented capitalism (through reinvesting in farms to impress God). He used this as proof that religion can cause social change.
• Calvinists


  A religious group; ideas included not over indulging - e.g. oversleeping or over eating
• Salvation anxiety


  For example, Calvinists were anxious because they believe their fate is set in stone and there is nothing they can do about it. (They believe God knows who is going to heaven and hell from the moment they are born and it doesn't change).
• Criticism of Weber - Eisenstadt


  He criticises Weber's theory and states that the first great upsurges of capitalism in Catholic Europe before the Protestants (and it was more developed there too).
• Criticism of Weber - Tawney


  He criticises Weber's theory with the view that society had already changed radically in the capitalist direction before the advent of Calvinism. (New technology had been invented and introduced)
• Criticism of Weber - Writers on Hinduism and Islam

  Writers on Hinduism and Islam suggest that Weber misunderstood hose religions and failed to recognise that many elements in them which could have been (and still could be) supportive of rationally economic action.
• Modern examples of how religion can being about social change are...


  - Martin Luther King (Jr) 1960s

  - Iranian revolution 1970s
• Steve Bruce


  He discusses religion as an ideological resource - religion provides beliefs and practices that protestors could draw on for motivation and support
• Bruce - Ways that religious organisations are equipped to support protests and social change


  - taking the moral high ground

  - channelling dissent

  - acting as an honest broker

  - mobilising public opinion
• Why were The New Christian Right unsuccessful in bringing about social change?

  - campaigners find it difficult to cooperate with other religious groups (even though it's about the same issue)

  - lacks widespread support and has met with strong opposition from groups who stand for freedom of choice.
• Repressive state apparatus


  The term used to describe any institution that reinforces inequality through ideologies (e.g. Religion)
• The church - Characteristics

  Large membership, inclusive, trained/professional clergy, acceptance of wider society, monopoly of the truth
• Monopoly of the truth


  The idea of a 'one truth' that a group believes and no one else knows it
• The sect - characteristics

  Small, exclusive membership, Total commitment, some opposition to wider society, no professional clergy and a charismatic leader