Zusammenfassung der Ressource
Phil HL - Emile Durkheim -
Functionalist Theory
- For
- atheist churches:
benefits of religion are
recognised
- therefore it is not needed.
- Against
- what about
disharmony
caused by religion
(Northern Ireland)
- sociologists argue society can do without religion
- Durkheim based views on small tribal societies
- not representative of all societies
- what is sacred
and what is
profane differs per
person
- What is it?
- religion
maintains social
cohesion &
harmony
- The world is divided into:
- The sacred
- God
- objects
- ordinary objects
create powerful
feelings
- respects
- awe
- scriptures
- The profane
- mundane every day things
- Totems: representative symbols,
- Represent the collective conscience
- shared values, beliefs, norms
- Totemism: basic aboriginal religions
- societies are divided into
clans, each with a totem
- Totem represents society
- worshiping a symbol is easier
than worshiping the society
- Social cohesion
- an orderly society
maintained by people
following norms (the
collective conscience)
- religion
- offers shared mentality & morality
- a common identity
to unite under
- although collective ideas
may change, the need for
religion doesnt
- is embedded in
the individual
- offers a sense
of purpose
- explanations
& comfort
- Religion maintains social cohesion and harmony