1. Bellah (1970) Civil religion
In a multi-faith country like the U.S.A or the UK, what is it that binds people together?

2. Bellah (1970) Civic religion
Coronation:
civil religion has replaced religion. He found that in the USA the civil religion is Americanism. It is very similar to religion – images, coins, sculptures, cemeteries and phrases which promote social solidarity. Americanism unites faiths. The American flag was deemed sacred when Congress outlawed its ‘desecration’…

3. Bellah (1970) Civic religion
Other examples…

4. Erm, I said this in 1915. Get your own ideas Bellah.
Civil religion
A belief system that attached sacred qualities to society itself. This could be an identity or way of life.
Erm, I said this in Get your own ideas Bellah.
Think of rituals within the U.S.A. or UK that show loyalty to a nation.
Do you agree that civic religion causes peace and harmony between different religions?

5. Functional alternatives
The history of Communism, originally inspired by noble ideals,
clearly illustrates what happens when people attempt to change external
reality – create a new earth – without any prior change in their inner reality,
their state of consciousness. They make plans without taking into account
the blueprint for dysfunction that every human being carries within: the ego.
Eckhart Tolle
Functional alternatives
Non-religious belief and practices that perform functions similar to those of religion.

6. Most – Will examine different functionalist views on religion
Could you answer the following questions?
What 2 psychological functions does religion perform according to Malinowski?
What other 2 functions does Parsons say that religion fulfils?
What is civil religion according to Bellah?

7. Criticisms
Functional alternatives could be criticised in the same way as functional definitions of religion. It ignores what is distinctive about many religions: the belief in the super-natural.

8. Evaluation
Functionalism emphasises social nature of religion & positive functions, but neglects negative aspects, such as oppression of women
Ignores religion as a source of division & conflict, especially in complex modern society with religious pluralism (e.g. Northern Ireland)
Idea of civil religion may overcome this, but is it really religion?

9. Essay question
Compare and evaluate different functionalist perspectives on religion (33 marks)
Make a plan using the essay map
Intro = answer question in 2 sentences
P.E.E. In each paragraph and link back to question
Conclusion

10. - Some - Will evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of Functionalist theory of religion  
Peer assess each other’s essays using the mark scheme.
Job done!