Functionalist Theory of Religion

Functionalist Theory of Religion

1. Malinowski: Psychological Functions

   • Two types of way that religion reinforces social solidarity
     • the outcome is important but out of control- he done a study on Trobriand Islands with the contrast of fishing in the lagoon and ocean
       • Lagoon- this is safe and certain, there is no ritual required
       • Ocean- rituals needed and is uncertain.
         • the ritual gives them a sense of confidence and eases the tension.
     • life crises such as puberty, chid birth and death
       • death- funerals reinforces the feeling of solidarity, it makes them more aware and appreciative of religion
   • Agrees with Durkhime that it promotes solidarity but also helps to deal with stress

2. Parson: Value and Meaning

   • Like Malinowski- religion helps to deal with stress and has come up with 2 other positive functions of religion
     • 1. Creates a central values
     • 2. Primary source of meaning
   • society's norms are legitimised through sacred meanings
   • religion provides a sense of meaning to the world and answers the ultimate questions e.g. what happens after death

3. Bellah: Civil Religion

   • Civil religion intergrates its members better than individual religion. American civil religion involves: loyalty to nation state + Believe in God= a true American
   • to express their beliefs they would sing national anthems 'one nation under God'
     • However their God is different from religious God, rather an 'American God' this is sacred as it binds the Americans together through their shared beliefs

4. Alternative Functions

   • Religion is not the only source that provides it's members with collectivism, other social groups may perform similar functions
     • shared norms and values and maintaining social cohesion
   • Bellah- other belief systems could perform the same functions as religion.
     • Nazi has a shared beliefs of Jews but was not seen to be a religion