Functionalist view on religion

Functionalists believe that religion:

• Promotes social harmony and solidarity
• Maintains/reinforces value concensus 
• Helps maintain tradition
• Establishes the basic rules of social life 

Functionalists:

• Analyse religion in meeting needs of society in order to survive
• Believe religion is a way of life 

Durkheim studied the practise of Totemism (worshipping a scared object) among a tribe of Aborigines in America. According to Durkheim it represents religion in its most basic form.

• The totem is created by society and is a symbol of the group
• Really they are worshipping society 
• Ceremonies help bond people together by sharing beliefs 
• Gives a shared sense of identity, commitment and belonging 

This creates a collective conscience, promoting social cohesion 

However..
- There are many different faiths in contemporary society 
- Religion can tear communities apart 

• Shared norms, values and beliefs that make social life and cooperation possible
• For Durkheim, religious rituals do this and prevent damaging social change

However..
- Religion is in decline
- Less than half the UK say they believe in God 

• Durkheim believed that the supernatural would disappear out of religion
• The sacred qualities are attached to society itself
• Non religious ceremonies perform similar functions

e.g. People devoted to football

However..
- If we remove the sacred, are we talking about religion at all? 

• Religion reinforces social solidarity 
• Fulfills emotional need
• Provides an explanation for the unknown

e.g. Funeral services provide comfort (family and friends, life after death)
       Church attendance soars during war time 

• Religion underpins the core value of any culture
• The set of moral values become ingrained through socialisation
• This effecting believers and non believers

However..
- Religion is less of an agent for social control
- People are more likely to not be deviant due to media/surveillance cameras 

• Religion is a conservative force
• It helps promote social harmony and solidarity 

However..
- This downplays the role religion can have in social change
- It can act as a 'counter hegemony' in showing people alternative ways of organising society  
- Historically religion has torn people apart more than the latter 
- Often, the stronger the religious belief, the stronger sense that other religions are wrong