Assess the Functionalist view that religion benefits society as a whole as well as its individual members (18)

Whilst sociologists such as Marxists and Feminists would argue that religion oppresses members of society, functionalists such as Durkheim would argue that religion benefits not just individuals but society as a whole. Durkheim studied Aborigines and how they worshipped totems, he noted how the rituals of tribes brought them together and helped to create shared norms and values, which in turn helped to avoid anomie. Durkheim discovered that in these tribal communities, they followed rules which helped created values. One rule stated that tribe members must marry outside of the tribe; this helped to avoid anomie by preventing incest. It also allowed everyone to grow up in a functioning peaceful society – benefitting the individual. Further, totemism showed how religion can help people have a good level of social integration, which Durkheim suggests can help prevent egoistic suicide and this helps to benefit the individual and other members of society such as their families. However, it can be argued that religion does not benefit the individual as they are still at risk of altruistic suicide due to high levels of social integration, caused from practising their religion. Further, religion is now declining in areas such as the West where there is secularisation. Post modernists argue that there cannot be norms and values anymore as society is too fragmented and everyone has different beliefs and lifestyles – therefore, Durkheim’s theory cannot be possible and religion therefore does not benefit the entire of society but may benefit simply the individual. Functionalist Sociologist Parsons argues that religion is a regulatory force. Parsons looks at funerals in particular and how they help to maintain stability and avoid anomie in a time of potential trauma and crisis. Parsons also looks at how religion creates a set of rules that must be obeyed to get to the afterlife. This helps to create a set of norms and values that people follow to make sure they get to the afterlife to join the rest of their family. Parsons argues that whilst religion helps society as a whole from preventing anomie, it is particularly useful for helping individuals during traumatic times. Parsons argues that funerals help bring families back together and help with closure and this therefore benefits individuals and helps them to re-join normal life once again. However, it can be argued that this theory does not apply to all, as some people have their own non-religious traditions that help with closure. Further, as previously suggested by Postmodernists, society is too fragmented and whilst some may use their religion for closure, not all turn to religion during times of need. Therefore, religion does not benefit the entire of society. Further, Bellah argues that in America there is civil religion and that worshipping God is similar to worshipping America as religion has become part of society and brings everyone together. This displays how religion benefits society as it creates a set of norms and values which everyone shares when they worship. Further, religion can be seen to benefit women as New Age Cults and Churches often help women in need by providing shelter and protection. This displays how religion can benefit individuals in particular. However, it can be argued that religion does not benefit the whole of society, as America for example, is full of conflict. For example, religious protesters bomb abortion clinics, this does not benefit individuals or the whole of society. Feminists argue that religion is very patriarchal and only benefits men, as there are strict rules regarding women and religion is all about worshipping a male God. Further, religion is often against homosexuality, which includes a large percentage of society and therefore religion cannot benefit society as a whole. Additionally, Malinowski studied the Trobriand Islanders and how they used religion to help support members and individuals of society during times of potential crisis. Malinowski looked at how the Islanders belief in Canoe magic helped to avoid anomie by calming down individuals and their families when they were forced to fish beyond the barrier reef. He argued that religion not only helped individuals by giving them courage and bravery, but also benefitted society as without the courage provided by religion, men wouldn’t fish beyond the barrier reef and the community would starve. However, it can be argued that Malinowski studied a monofaith society and therefore this may not be relevant in larger societies today. Further, Marxists would argue that religion only benefits the bourgeoisie, who use religion as an ideological apparatus to oppress the proletariat – often using them for labour, as in the case with the Islanders searching for food for the rest of the community. Marxists argue that religion does not benefit society as a whole, and oppresses the poor, creating a false class consciousness and exploiting the proletariat. To conclude, it is evident that whilst there is argument that religion benefits all of society, evidence suggests that religion simply benefits individual members of society. Postmodernists argue that society is too fragmented to have shared norms and values, and that secularisation in the West means that less people are religious. Therefore, the benefits of religion such as those described by Parsons and Malinowski simply benefit those that are still religious rather than those whom are not. Further, as feminists and Marxists suggest, religion benefits individuals such as men or the bourgeoisie rather than society as a whole.