Functionalism & Religion DURKHEIM

Great You Tube Clip below that goes through Durkheim’s Perspective on Religion) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZY9dpfo2eB4

The functionalist perspective examines religion in terms of society's needs and how religion meets these so called ‘needs’. From this perspective, society requires a certain degree of social solidarity, value consensus, and harmony and integration between its parts.

1) Can we remember what functional prerequisites are? Describe them. 2) Is religion a functional prerequisite? Make an argument FOR and AGAINST.

Durkheim argued that all societies divide the world into two categories: the sacred and the profane (the non-sacred). Religion is based upon this division.

TOTEMISM Durkehim made an extensive study of the Australian Aborigines to develop his argument. He saw their religion, which he called totemism, as the simplest and most basic form of religion.

Aborigine society is divided into several clans Aborigine society is divided into several clans. A clan is like a large extended family, with its members sharing certain duties and obligations. For example, clans have a rule of exogamy — that is, members are not allowed to marry within the clan. Clan members have a duty to aid and assist each other: they join together to mourn the death of one of their number and to revenge a member who has been wronged by someone from another clan.

Each clan has a totem, usually an animal or a plant Each clan has a totem, usually an animal or a plant. This totem is then represented by drawings made on wood or stone.

The totem is a symbol. It is the emblem of the clan. 'It is its flag; it is the sign by which each clan distinguishes itself from all others‘.

Durkheim argued that if the totem 'is at once the symbol of god and of the society, is that not because the god and the society are only one?' Thus, he suggested, in worshipping god, people are in fact worshipping society. Society is the real object of religious veneration.

So, according to Durkheim, by worshipping GOD, we are actually worshipping SOCIETY.

What do you think of this? What does Durkheim mean?

But why does humanity not simply worship society itself? Why does it invent a sacred symbol like a totem? Because, Durkheim argued, it is easier for a person to 'visualize and direct his feelings of awe toward a symbol than towards so complex a thing as a clan'.

Now take a moment to write this in to your own words. Use what we have discussed in the power point and use the hand outs too.

Durkheim believed that social life was impossible without the shared values and moral beliefs that form the collective conscience. In their absence, there would be no social order, social control, social solidarity or cooperation. In short, there would be no society. Religion reinforces the collective conscience.

Religion strengthens the unity of the group: it promotes social solidarity.

EVALUATION: So the all important question: WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS MAN?

Go to the evaluation part of the hand out Go to the evaluation part of the hand out. Outline as briefly as possible the criticisms levelled at Durkheim.