Functionalists

Durkheim- The Collective Conscience

The sacred symbols represent society's collective conscience or consciousness- the shared norms, values and beliefs that make cooperation between individuals possible. Without these society would disintegrate. - Regular shared religious rituals reinforce the collective conscience and maintain social integration. - Rituals also remind individuals about the power of society- without which they themselves are nothing, and to which they owe everything. -Religion also performs an important function for the individual. By making feel part of something greater than ourselves, it strengthens us to face life's problems.

Durkheim

All religious institutions play a central part in creating and maintaining the value consensus. The key feature of all religions is a fundamental distinction between the SACRED and the PROFANE. SACRED- Things that are set apart and forbidden (inspire feelings of awe) PROFANE- Things that have no special significance (ordinary things) Rituals, A religion is more than just a set of beliefs, it has sacred rituals or practices and these rituals are collective- performed by social groups. - Sacred things create powerful feelings in believers - When people worship sacred symbols they are in fact worshipping society itself. - The essence of all religion could be found by studying it's simplest form, in the simplest type of society.

Durkheim- Cognitive Functions of Religion

Also sees religion as being the source of our cognitive capacities- our ability to reason and think conceptually. - In order to think at all, we need categories such as time and space. - Religion provides the concepts and categories we need for understanding the world and communicating with others. Durkheim and Mass argue that religion provides basic categories such as time, space and causation- with ideas about a creator bringing the world into being at the beginning of time. For Durkheim, religion is the origin of human thought, reason and science.

Malinowski

Argues that religion promotes solidarity by performing psychological functions for individuals, helping them to deal with emotional stress and strain that if they were not dealt with they were threaten the stability of society. There are two situations where it performs this role: - WHERE THE OUTCOME IS IMPORTANT BUT UNCONTROLLABLE AND UNCERTAIN- In his study of the Trobriand Islanders he contrasts lagoon and ocean fishing. Lagoon fishing is safe but ocean fishing is dangerous and uncertain, so it is always accompanied by a 'canoe magic' rituals to ensure a safe expedition. This gives people a sense of control, which eases tension, gives them confidence to undertake hazardous tasks and reinforces group solidarity. AT TIMES OF LIFE CRISES- Events such as birth, puberty, marriage and especially death are potentially disruptive changes. He argues that death is the main reason for the existence of religious belief.

Bellah- Civil Religion

Argues that religion unifies society, especially a multi-faith society like America. What unifies American society is an overarching CIVIL RELIGION- a belief system that attaches sacred qualities to society itself. Civil religion is a faith in the 'American way of life'. - Civil religion integrates society in a way that individual religions cannot. American civil religion involves loyalty to the nation-state and belief in God, both of which are equated with being a true American. It is expressed in various rituals, symbols and beliefs (the pledge of allegiance to the American Flag. -It sacralises the American way of life and binds together America from many different ethnic and religious backgrounds.

Parsons

Identifies two other essential functions of religion in modern society: - IT CREATES AND LEGITIMATES SOCIETY'S BASIC NORMS AND VALUES- By sacralising them (making them sacred). This promotes value consensus and social stability. -IT PROVIDES A SOURCE OF MEANING, ANSWERING "ULIMATE" QUESTIONS- About life (why do good people suffer). These may undermine our commitment to society's values. By answering such questions, religion helps people to adjust to adverse events and maintains stability.