Durkheim believed that the main function of religious belief is to promote social stability which is reinforced by the collective conscience. The collective conscience is the shared values and moral beliefs and without them there would be no social order, social control, social solidarity or cooperation. Durkheim says that the attitudes of respect towards the sacred is the same attitudes applied to social duties and obligations, therefore people are worshipping society and recognising the importance of the social group. Religion strengthens the unity of the group and promotes social stability by bringing them together at religious rituals. When being together in religious rituals, social groups are able to express their faith and their common beliefs and values.
Assess the functionalist view that religion benefits both society as a whole and its individual members (18 marks) Functionalists believe that religion is beneficial for both society as a whole and it’s individual members, this is because it unifies society and creates consensus, which in turn gives each individual member a source of support when they need it. However some theorists disagree with the functionalist ideology. Firstly, functionalist claim religion benefits society in a number of ways, it creates a sense of social solidarity, meaning a shared sense of identity, history, norms and values (a collective conscience). This is supported by item A, ‘religions contribution to value consensus and social integration’. Functionalist explain that if all of a societies members are part of the same religion then they all share the same belief system, resulting in consensus between all of its members.
A living, dynamic religion integrated with the belief and believers is the ability to incorporate a religions beliefs into a more modern context to suit the current believers without sacrificing the principle values. The rituals and ceremonies are the exercise of religious practice and gatherings in celebration of faith or ceremonial sacraments, They usually involve symbolism, action or movement including re-enactment of significant past events and ethical words. In Judaism, circumcision, Bar Mitzvah and the Sabbath, are all exhibits of rituals and ceremonies. The rituals and beliefs interact to create a living, dynamic religion by enabling a believer to externally express their faith in an appropriate manner to deepen the meaning and understanding of their religion. Sacred texts and writings are a doctrine in which the believers of a religion choose to live by.
However superstitious the Montagnais seemed, they had an intractable notion of right and wrong. The normative values, which derived from the Montagnais’ religion, shaped their social life. These social virtues consisted of peacefulness, patience, hospitality and generosity. It is due to these that despite the lack of a centralized government the Montagnais were able to function as a community and live amicably. The two most important Montagnais values are (1) communication and (2) their relationship with the spirit world.
Evidence that criticises the marxist perspective states that there are many instances where religious leaders or movements have challenged the established order and help promote change. The general marxist approach is similar to the functionalist. They both tend to believe that religions have the same interests and ideologies. By being opposites on the political spectrum Marxists and Functionalists both agree that the purpose of religion is to benefit the ruling class. Marx and Durkheim share the assumption that religion was a product of society and that it is a conservative force.
Gaita uses personification in “his materials…seemed to be in friendship with him” to reinforce the bond that exists between Romulus and his work, therefore highlighting the significance of such connection on the evolvement of his “character”. To Romulus, work has a spiritual dimension and the local community immensely appreciates the standard of the work he produces. The need to belong is paramount, and an example of this is Romulus being willing to work in a reception centre and take on menial tasks in order to be a part of the community. Romulus succeeds in conforming to the views and expectations of the society he resides in, which therefore grants him the acceptance and membership of this unit. Through his apparent work ethics and desire to attain respect, Romulus is a pure example of this notion.
Counselors advocate change at all levels to improve the quality of life for individuals or groups, while eliminating obstacles that make it difficult to receive proper services. Christian counselors promote the same quality as secular counselors but incorporate the messages of Jesus Christ. Three specific areas competence, conflict of Interest and termination are valuable in the counseling profession. Understanding these areas in the code of ethics of counseling is an important responsibility in order to be a professional and suitable counselor. Can Your Code of Ethics Be Wrong?
Along with the theories I will explore the major institutions of organised religion and education with the eventual aim of providing a clear answer to the essay question. Functionalism is a consensus theory and Functionalists believe society works as a collective consciousness. Put simply this means that functionalist thinking focuses on the theory that members of society work together with each other because it is in the individual’s best interests or that the individual is predominantly self-serving but know that in order for society to flourish they must work with others. Functionalism is also based upon the belief that every aspect of society no matter how small has a function or purpose to serve in and that in turn will keep society running efficiently and also because all members of society hold a shared consensus of norms and values. a good analogy would to be compare functionalism to motor vehicle, the engine, the petrol, the gear’s must work together in order to create fluid motion, if one were not to function efficiently the vehicle just would not operate correctly.
The ego is the part of the mind which is shaped by what Freud called ‘external influences’ such as life experiences like traumas and education. Freud argued that religion provides away to satisfy people desire for example that the world will be in order and that life will be meaningful. The answers that religion provides are appealing and that if we life a good life we will be awarded for it after death Freud used the word obsessional neurosis Freud used this to indicate that religious people use this faith in god because it answers their desires, such as life after
Tolerance is what allows us to live in harmony in a country with people of different religions, who support other political tendencies, which have a different sexual condition, etc. In addition to the quote, "live and let live”, the tolerance that should be promoted is one that is active and leads to solidarity. The active tolerance should be seen as the interest in understanding others, and help them pursue their life projects without receiving anything in return. In order to live in a better world, our mission is to help promote tolerance in ourselves, in our families, in schools, in the workplace, and in the