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Definitions: Marxism: Feminism:
Substantive (exclusive)- focus on the content of Marx: Armstrong- Death of the goddess:
religion, this includes the belief in the Looks at how religion is an illusion easing the pain produced Women have not always been subservient to men→ women used to be
supernatural and what cannot be scientifically by exploitation + oppression. central.
explained. Clear line between religion and non- Creates a distortion of reality → fulfils functions for ruling Great mother goodness was pictured as a naked pregnant woman and
religion class by defending the status quo which maintains social represents fertility and life.
Functional (inclusive)- focus on social/ control and inhibit social change. Earth produced plants and nourished them like the way women feed their
psychological explanations of religion, such as its Opium of the people: children from their body.
role in social integration. No clear line between Religion acts as a drug to dull the pain caused by capitalism Only around 4000 years ago was a rise if all powerful male gods.
religion and non-religion and ruling class → this is a mask to the pain not a treatment. Holm- Gender inequalities:
Constructionist- focus on interpretivism + how Promises paradise of eternal bliss in after life- such as Strained glass ceiling- men are places in positions of power even though
individuals define religion, this includes the idea heaven, giving something to look forward to. women participate more. E.g. women cannot become priests.
of religion being socially constructed. Turns suffering into a virtue- such as poverty its seen to get Places of worship- sexes are often segregated women are often placed
reward → compensation in afterlife. further away or less central.
Functionalism:
Supernatural intervention to solve earth problems- E.g. the There are also many taboos around pregnancy/ menstruation preventing
Durkheim:
way Jehovah’s witness live of gods wishes and not medical women from participating. E.g. women cannot touch the Koran when
Look at what contributions and maintenance
intervention such as receiving blood. menstruating as its seen as impure.
does religion do for society/ social system.
Legitimises the power of the ruling class: Scared texts- large focus on male gods and often display traditional
The view religion as a positive- providing norms,
Religion justifies current social order → inequalities are stereotypes. E.g. Eve was to blame in the garden on Eden.
value, and morals.
presented as God given (wealth) and cannot be questioned → most roles were played by men- the apostles were all men. The holy
Religion is a conservative force- provides social
without questioning God. mother was seen as a virgin, but Mary Magdalene was seen as a prostitute.
order, control, harmony, and value consensus →
Marx’s suggests religion should be abolished and then the Religious laws and customs- women are given fewer rights (divorce/ dress
religion inhibits (stops) social change.
illusion will disappear. code)
Religion is atheistic- invented by man to being
Ao3 (overall)- religion isn’t always conservative and doesn’t → patriarchy is shown though in Islam men can have multiple wives, but
society together.
legitimise power. women cannot have multiple husbands, religion can also hold control over
Durkheim:
Religion isn’t the only toll the ruling class use → more so a women’s body regarding abortion + contraception.
Sacred and profane:
their social networks. De Beauvoir- Explanations for inequality:
Society divides the world in sacred and profane-
Ignores pluralism + secularisation. She suggests ‘there must be a religion for women same as for the common
anything can be scared it does not have to be
Doesn’t account for the individual use of religion. people (w/c) for the same reason’ → because women are also oppressed in
forbidden (gods) scared objects create feelings of
society.
awe, fear + wonder. Neo Marxism
‘Men enjoy the great advantage of having a God endorse the code he
Sacred objects can be seen as symbols that offer Engles- Religions dual character:
writes.’
representation → to Durkheim this they Religion inhibits social change- this is done though
Religion gives women false hope that they will be compensated in heaven,
represent society. disgusting inequalities.
yet women are vital to religion as they do lots of work for the organisation
Therefore, worshipping religion= worshipping Religion can also cause social change- though challenging
and introduce children to their beliefs.
society the status quo.
El Saddawi: (Egyptian feminist)- Religion is a tool of patriarchy:
Totemism: Gramsci- Hegemony and organic intellectuals:
Arab girls are often sexual aggression victims→ also an influence for
He studied an Australian religion where each clan The superstructure is independent → beliefs are no less
female circumcision.
has a totem (plant/ animal symbol) this real or less important than the economic forces.
Women are not directly oppressed by religion yet the patriarchal system
distinguishes clans →the totem was representing Hegemony- ideological domination
and how men distort religion creates oppression. E.g. the Quran says both
a group (society). → this cannot sway be guaranteed and the w/c can develop
sexes are not permitted to do adultery, yet men could have serval wives, so
→ society is worshipped without even knowing it. alternative visons (counter hegemony)
the rule rarely applied to them.
Reinforcing collective conscience: Organic intellectuals- those who see though the suffering
Cohen + Kennedy- Women + fundamentalism:
Religious routines act as social glue → develops and become leaders to educate and organise the w/c.
Fundamentalism has attempted to reverse the trend of women’s
moral ties, shared indemnities, commitment and Bloch- The principle of hope:
liberation.
belonging. Argues religion can inhibit but also cause social change →
E.g. women wanting to control their own fertility though abortion caused
Bellah (development of Durkheim): civil religion, though hope + dreaming of a better life that contains
violence → fundamentalist pro-life groups use terrorist tactic to treat/
performing acts of a religion without link to utopia.
close clinics.
supernatural. E.g. national anthem/ Americanism. Maduro:
The desire to restore fundamentalist religious values is associated with the
Support if individuals’ adaptations: Social liberation can only occur when significant change
fear of women’s liberation and undermined tradition/ male control.
Religion provides individuals with strength, occurs within the churches.
Ao3- not all women oppose traditional roles some orthodox women are
confidence, serenity, enthusiasm and help with Aspirations of the oppressed may ne voiced by clergy
attracted to the home life and the status it provides.
existence. (intellectual)
Reliogous feminism
Ao3- more applicable to small scale societies/ Examples to support neo- Marxism:
Resistance to religious oppression:
single religion → doesn’t explain conflict between Martin Luther king- I have a dream speech →used religion
Modern followers of pagan wicca worship a goddess of moon + woodland.
religion + is an outdated theory. to create social change.
Alternative perspective of veiling:
Malinowski Liberation theology- community conscious of the poor led
Many Muslims see veiling as advantages for women which reduce
Emotional stress: by priests and nuns (in jeans)
oppression. They can go out in public while being modest.
Religion reinforces norms and values → Pentecostalism- pushes individuals to move themselves out
Brusco- Influence within traditional religions:
promoting social solidarity. of poverty though own efforts with support of church and
women can use religion to gain status within private life/ family E.g.
Focuses on psychological function- religion pastor (in suits)
belonging to a Pentecostal group in Columbia can be empowering. → men
allows members to deal with emotional stress to Millenarian movements- religion creates desire for social
are tight to respect women within religion.
maintaining social solidarity. change by presenting a vison of a better world.
outcome is important but is uncontrollable and no impact on social change
religion as a conservative force
uncertain- religion gives an illusion of control. post-modernist- religion is too individualistic to impact
inhibiting social change
→lagoon fishing- is safe no rituals are performed. society.
Marxist and feminist believe religion stops change in society promoting
→ ocean fishing- dangerous rituals are performed changes in society cause changes in religion:
current values (patriarchy/ capitalism)
(canoe magic) parsons
regressive social change:
At times of crisis- religion helps minimise social as society developed religion lost some of its functions
fundamentalism- trying to restore traditional values.
disorder by using rituals E.g. funerals (structural differentiation)
examples
Parsons: Marx:
Iranian revolution- Islamic fundamentalism
Socialisation and sacralisation of social values: the change in the economic base led to change in the
religion causing social change:
Religion socialises us into core values→ these are superstructure.
weber-spirt of capitalism.
reinforced though making them sacred secularisation:
Calvinist teachings caused a rise in capitalism.
(sacralisation) E.g. 11 commandments. industrialisation caused changes in importance of religion.
predestination- god already decides whether you will go to heaven or hell
Religion as a resource of meaning: globalisation:
but there would be signs of wealth or success to reassure gods Favor.
Religion helps us makes sense of our decline in meta-narratives and an increase in mire rational
asceticism-self decline and abstinence- refraining from luxury.
experiences- provides us with many explanations thinking caused changes.
working the glorify God- worship though work.
E.g. suffering. religion + social change: McGuire:
growth in wealth showed gods support → this provided foundations for
→ evil will earn its deserts on afterlife. nature+ extent of religious beliefs- what religion emphasise
capitalism to grow.
Ao3(overall)- ignores conflict and dysfunction. dictates whether it causes social change.
→ weber is not claiming Calvinism is the sole cause but is an influence of it.
Doesn’t account for societies with multiple culture of the society- if religion is central in society, they
Ao3- Kautsky - weber overestimates influence and economic factors are
religions. will use religion to legitimise change.
more important.
Ignores secularisation + social change + social location- the greater the importance of religion the
tawney- technology caused birth of capitalism.
individualisation. bigger part it will play in social change.
places that had Calvinism didn’t have capitalism.
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