THEORIES OF RELIGION

 Need to know three classical approaches and the more modern feminist perspective

MARXIST

  •  Religion part of superstructure, beliefs are ideological and keep working class falsely conscious. Opium of the masses:
    •  Eases pain of capitalism
    •   Distorts so real source of pain hidden, seen as will of God and relief in the next world.
    •  So imposes social order and inhibits social change.

 Evaluation

  • Weber argued it could encourage social change.
  • Functionalists say it integrates society rather than causing class divisions.
  • Some modern Marxists say it's not so powerful ideological control. More the media, education and consumerism maintains false consciousness.
  • Other Marxists say there's no control other than employment itself.

 Functionalist Approaches

  •  Can be explained by examining its functions:
  •  integration, shared beliefs etc reinforce the norms and values, basis for social order. Herberg (1956) described how religions cut across ethnic boundaries and integrated immigrants in to American Society
    •   social control, divine backing for important roles.
  •  Durkheim saw moral order as the basis for society and religion society's worship (not God).


 Evaluation

 Conflict theories, like Marxism and feminism, deny the existence of a society united by consensual values. Religion often causes conflict rather than consensus.  Both Marx and Durkheim believed that religion could reduce conflict by making social inequalities seem less important.

THE WEBERIAN APPROACH

 Clear alternative to Marx. Marx believed religious and all beliefs emerged from economic organization of society, Weber believed these religious beliefs any others could influence the economy. Marx believed religion inhibited social change but Weber argued it could cause it.

 Evaluation

 Marx believed protestant beliefs helped legitimise social class inequalities.

FEMINIST APPROACHES

 Religious beliefs are patriarchal ideology. Supports family life and sexual mortality, women and children need protection from men and their own sexuality. This limits women's movement's outside the family home.  Religion may also legitimize a division of labour based on gender and unequal property and inheritance laws.

 Evalualtion

 C. Butler (1990) interviewed young Muslim females who identified with Britain, and found Islam gave them an identity in the face of racism. Patriarchy was rejected as man-made, Islam was seen as the defender of equality, not oppression.

Extra Information

Remember that there are often similarities as well as differences between Marxist and functionalist approaches. 
 
Falsely conscious means not aware of exploitation. The opposite of class conscious.

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