Topic 1- Theories of religion
Sociologists What do they say? Evaluation
Aldridge . Shows how for its followers, Scientology is a religion,
whereas several governments have denied its legal status
as a religion and sought to ban it
. This shows that definitions of religion can be contested
and are influenced by who has power to define the situation
Durkheim . The sacred and the profane- when people worship sacred . Worsley- there is no sharp division
symbols, they worship society itself between the sacred and the
. Totenism- when clan members worship their totemic profane
animal, they worship society . Different clans share the same
. In his view, the sacred symbols represent society's totem
collective consciousness- shared norms, values and beliefs . Mestrovic- Durkheim’s ideas can’t
and cooperation between individuals be applied to contemporary
because increasing diversity has
Functionalist fragmented the collective
conscience, so there is no longer a
single shared value system for
religion to reinforce
Malinowski . Religion performs psychological function and it helps them
cope with emotional stress that would undermine social
solidarity
. E.x funeral rituals reinforces a feeling of solidarity
Parsons . Religion helps individuals to cope with uncontrollable
outcomes
. He identifies 2 essential functions that religion performs in
modern society
1. It creates and legitimates society’s central values
2. It is the primary source of meaning
Bellah . What unifies American society is civil religion
. It involves loyalty to the nation-state and a belief in God
. It is expressed in various rituals and symbols E.x pledge
allegiance to the flag
Marx . Sees religion as an ideology . Ignores positive functions of
. It is used as an ideological weapon used by the ruling religion, such as psychological
Marxist class to legitimate the suffering of the poor as something adjustment to misfortune
inevitable and good-given
,Lenin . Religion as a ‘’ spiritual gin’’- an intoxicant doled out to the
masses by the ruling class to confuse them and keep them
in their place
. Keeps them from attempting to overthrow the ruling class
Marx . Sees religion as the product of alienation
. Alienation involves becoming separated from something
that one has produced
. It masks the underlying problem of exploitation that
creates the need for it
. Distracts attention from the true source of their suffering-
capitalism
Karen . Sees exclusion of women from priesthood as evidence of
Armstorng women’s marginalisation
. However, early religions often placed women at the
Feminist centre, so women haven’t always been subordinate to men
. The rise of monotheistic religions has led to women being
subordinated in some religions
Jean Holm . Menstruation may be seen as taboo in many religions
. Menstruation and childbirth seen as ‘’polluting’’
. Men occupying more central role, whilst women are
seated behind screens
Nawal El . Religion isn’t the direct source of women’s subordination
Saadawi . Instead, it is the result of patriarchal form of society
coming into existence in the last few thousands of years
Linda . Argue that traditional religion may be patriarchal, but not
Woodhead all religions are
. There are religion forms of feminism, which women use
religion to gain greater freedom and respect
E.x Muslim women wear hijab since for them it is a symbol
of liberation and allows them to enter the public sphere
without being condemned as immodest
They also wear it in order to gain parental approval to enter
further education and employment
Topic 2- Religion and Social change
, Sociologists What do they say? Evaluation
Marx . He sees religion as a conservative ideology that prevents social
change by legitimising exploitation and inequality
Weber . Study of the Protestant ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism . Marx argues that economic
. Religious beliefs of Calvinism helped to bring about major social factors were the driving
change force for change, whereas
. Predestination, Divine transcendence and Asceticism Weber believes that
. Asceticism- refers to self-discipline, avoiding luxurious lifestyle material factors alone aren’t
. Calvinists grew wealthier and reinvested their profit back into their enough to bring about
businesses capitalism
. In Weber’s view this is the spirit of modern capitalism, where the . Kautsky- Weber
objective is the acquisition of more and more money overestimates the role of
. Also states that in ancient India, capitalism failed to form ideas and underestimates
. Both Hinduism and Confucianism lacked the drive to systematically economic factors in bringing
accumulate wealth that is necessary for modern capitalism capitalism
. Tawney- technological
changes, not religious
ideas, caused the birth of
capitalism
Bruce . The American Civil Rights movement as a force for social change
. Churches were able to mobilise public opinion
. The movement brought about change by shaming those in power
to put into practice the principle of equality
. Criticises the New Christian Right
. Its campaigners find it very difficult to cooperate with other religious
groups
. Surveys shows that most Americans are comfortable with legalising
activities they personally believe are immoral such as abortion and
homosexuality
. This creates a problem since the New Christian Right believe that
all people should follow one truth
Engles . Sees religion as having dual character
. Religion can inhibit change by disguising inequality, but it can also
Marxist challenge the status quo
Bloch . Also sees religion as having dual character
. Images of utopia can sometimes deceive people with promises of
rewards, but they may also help people see what needs to be
changed and therefore create a vision of a better world
Casanova . Liberation theology played an important part in resisting state terror
and bringing about democracy
Sociologists What do they say? Evaluation
Aldridge . Shows how for its followers, Scientology is a religion,
whereas several governments have denied its legal status
as a religion and sought to ban it
. This shows that definitions of religion can be contested
and are influenced by who has power to define the situation
Durkheim . The sacred and the profane- when people worship sacred . Worsley- there is no sharp division
symbols, they worship society itself between the sacred and the
. Totenism- when clan members worship their totemic profane
animal, they worship society . Different clans share the same
. In his view, the sacred symbols represent society's totem
collective consciousness- shared norms, values and beliefs . Mestrovic- Durkheim’s ideas can’t
and cooperation between individuals be applied to contemporary
because increasing diversity has
Functionalist fragmented the collective
conscience, so there is no longer a
single shared value system for
religion to reinforce
Malinowski . Religion performs psychological function and it helps them
cope with emotional stress that would undermine social
solidarity
. E.x funeral rituals reinforces a feeling of solidarity
Parsons . Religion helps individuals to cope with uncontrollable
outcomes
. He identifies 2 essential functions that religion performs in
modern society
1. It creates and legitimates society’s central values
2. It is the primary source of meaning
Bellah . What unifies American society is civil religion
. It involves loyalty to the nation-state and a belief in God
. It is expressed in various rituals and symbols E.x pledge
allegiance to the flag
Marx . Sees religion as an ideology . Ignores positive functions of
. It is used as an ideological weapon used by the ruling religion, such as psychological
Marxist class to legitimate the suffering of the poor as something adjustment to misfortune
inevitable and good-given
,Lenin . Religion as a ‘’ spiritual gin’’- an intoxicant doled out to the
masses by the ruling class to confuse them and keep them
in their place
. Keeps them from attempting to overthrow the ruling class
Marx . Sees religion as the product of alienation
. Alienation involves becoming separated from something
that one has produced
. It masks the underlying problem of exploitation that
creates the need for it
. Distracts attention from the true source of their suffering-
capitalism
Karen . Sees exclusion of women from priesthood as evidence of
Armstorng women’s marginalisation
. However, early religions often placed women at the
Feminist centre, so women haven’t always been subordinate to men
. The rise of monotheistic religions has led to women being
subordinated in some religions
Jean Holm . Menstruation may be seen as taboo in many religions
. Menstruation and childbirth seen as ‘’polluting’’
. Men occupying more central role, whilst women are
seated behind screens
Nawal El . Religion isn’t the direct source of women’s subordination
Saadawi . Instead, it is the result of patriarchal form of society
coming into existence in the last few thousands of years
Linda . Argue that traditional religion may be patriarchal, but not
Woodhead all religions are
. There are religion forms of feminism, which women use
religion to gain greater freedom and respect
E.x Muslim women wear hijab since for them it is a symbol
of liberation and allows them to enter the public sphere
without being condemned as immodest
They also wear it in order to gain parental approval to enter
further education and employment
Topic 2- Religion and Social change
, Sociologists What do they say? Evaluation
Marx . He sees religion as a conservative ideology that prevents social
change by legitimising exploitation and inequality
Weber . Study of the Protestant ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism . Marx argues that economic
. Religious beliefs of Calvinism helped to bring about major social factors were the driving
change force for change, whereas
. Predestination, Divine transcendence and Asceticism Weber believes that
. Asceticism- refers to self-discipline, avoiding luxurious lifestyle material factors alone aren’t
. Calvinists grew wealthier and reinvested their profit back into their enough to bring about
businesses capitalism
. In Weber’s view this is the spirit of modern capitalism, where the . Kautsky- Weber
objective is the acquisition of more and more money overestimates the role of
. Also states that in ancient India, capitalism failed to form ideas and underestimates
. Both Hinduism and Confucianism lacked the drive to systematically economic factors in bringing
accumulate wealth that is necessary for modern capitalism capitalism
. Tawney- technological
changes, not religious
ideas, caused the birth of
capitalism
Bruce . The American Civil Rights movement as a force for social change
. Churches were able to mobilise public opinion
. The movement brought about change by shaming those in power
to put into practice the principle of equality
. Criticises the New Christian Right
. Its campaigners find it very difficult to cooperate with other religious
groups
. Surveys shows that most Americans are comfortable with legalising
activities they personally believe are immoral such as abortion and
homosexuality
. This creates a problem since the New Christian Right believe that
all people should follow one truth
Engles . Sees religion as having dual character
. Religion can inhibit change by disguising inequality, but it can also
Marxist challenge the status quo
Bloch . Also sees religion as having dual character
. Images of utopia can sometimes deceive people with promises of
rewards, but they may also help people see what needs to be
changed and therefore create a vision of a better world
Casanova . Liberation theology played an important part in resisting state terror
and bringing about democracy
