The Role of Religion

Sociological Views on the role of religion in society

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.

The Role of Religion

1. FUNCTIONALISMReligion is a 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.

Conservative Force

The functionalist view of religion ismainly 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

Durkheim identified the mostbasic form of religionwhich he calledtotemism. The totem isa good example of aclearly sacred item;something given specialsignificance.

Durkheim & Totems

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.

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.

The Functions of Religion

Think: How have parts of UK society been united by religious ceremonies in recent years?

2. Socialisation(Parsons, 1965) Religion provides moral codes that form the

values ofa 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.

The Functions of Religion

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).

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.

Civil Religions

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.

Discussion: Pairs

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)

Functionalism: Evaluation Points

2. Marxism

“The rich man in his castleThe poor man at the gate

God made them high and lowlyAnd ordered their estate.”

- All Things Bright & Beautiful

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”

Religion is the opium of the people because…

1. It legitimates social inequalityThe 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.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvtJja2ihYQ

Marx on Religion

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.

The majority of

Church of England

bishops are from

wealthy, public-

school

backgrounds.Religion has not disappeared from Communist societies

Religion has

become less

powerful and

influential in many

capitalist societies

Many religions originated

from within the working

classes

In the US, Christian

Fundamentalists usually

support right-wing,

conservative governments

and belief wealth is God-

given

The Catholic church is

incredibly wealthy and

gives relatively little to the

poor…(Hook, 1990)

The spread of the British Empire

involved invading countries and

forcing their indigenous populations

to adopt Christianity – thus making

them easier to rule.

Which of these evaluation

points supports the Marxist view?

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.

The Neo-Marxists

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 ill-treatment.

“If Jesus Christ

were on Earth

today, he would

be a Marxist

revolutionary”

3. Weberianism (Max Weber)

The Protestant Ethic & The Spirit of Capitalism

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.

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?

Discuss

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…

Theodicies

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…

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.

Weberianism: Evaluation Points

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

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…

PostmodernismAn alternative to classical theories…

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

Learning Objectives

PostmodernismBauman (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)

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

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.

Postmodernism: Evaluation Points