key sociologists and studies

• Functionalism

  • Durkheim- 5 functions of religion, totemism
• Marxism

  • Marx - "opium of the people", 3 functions of religion
  • Engels- a conservative force
• Feminism

  • Simone De Beauvoir- religion exploits women
  • Armstrong- exclusion of women from priesthood
  • Arnos and Parmar- criticism. Fails to understand cultural traditions
  • Watson- criticism. Veiling prevents unwanted attention from men
• Ethnicity

  • Johal- religious identity is increasingly important in multi-cultural societies
  • Bird- Pentecostalism rose due to racism
  • O'Beirne- research shows ethnic groups see religion as important to their identity
• Class

  • Weber- theodicy of deprivilege
  • Bruce- new age cults are middle class
• Secularisation

  • Terry Sanderson- the church of england losing its 'core business'
  • Bruce- 'technological world view' and individualisation
  • Parsons- structural differentiation
  • Berger- pluralism and diversity
  • Abby Day- cultural defence and social solidarity (Against)
  • Helland- religion online and online religion
• Globalisation

  • Helland- religion online and online religion
  • Bird- rise of Pentecostalism due to migration
  • Huntington- civilizational identity