functionalists

Question 1

View

Answer 1

creates and maintains value consensus, social order and solidarity

Question 2

Durkheim

Answer 2

Religion acts as a constraining force, through religious worship, the collective conscience is imprinted on the individual: they literally ‘feel’ the weight of the community on them

-religion reinforces a sense of belonging and shared identity to society

Question 3

Malinowski

Answer 3

Religion helps individuals to deal with the psychological stresses which occur in times of social change, such as births, marriages and deaths. religion can ‘make sense’ of death for example

Question 4

Parsons

Answer 4

• religion maintains social order
• promotes value cosensus: many legal systems are based on religious morals for exmaple

Question 5

Critics

Answer 5

• religion promotes social change
• secularisation means religion performs less functions