Marx argued that the ruling class used religion as a tool to keep the less powerful proletariat pacified. According to Marx, one of the main ‘functions’ of religion is to prevent people making demands for social change by dulling pain of oppression, as follows: 1. They fail to consider hostility between religious groups within the same society. Beliefs are held by a follower. We use cookies to give you the best experience possible. In authority. Prayer is common before a possibly hazardous experience. A criticism of the functionalist view is that it ignores dysfunctional views of life. According to Marx, in a capitalist society, religion plays a critical role in maintaining an unequal society, in which certain groups of people have more resources and power than other groups of people. Marxism was founded by Karl Marx. Freud focused on how religion affected ones mind, and related it to his theory or the ego and the id, or the conscious and unconscious mind. Marx’s theory of religion needs to be seen in the context of his general view of society, capitalism dominates the working class. The Marxist perspective, persist that religion operate as a drug to dull the pain of exploitation, because religion is a distorted view of the world, it can offer no solution to earthly misery. Just give us some more time, By clicking Send Me The Sample you agree on the, Decolonization and independence, Government, APEH Final Exam, Chapter 22-31 & Hub Dates, Ask Writer For In all cases then hope is given through the expressed belief in immortality and fellow mourners serve to comfort and support the bereaved, so they can become functional members of society once again. Many of the teachings of various religions appear to contradict the values of capitalism. Scholars Both functionalists and Marxists share the common view that religion serves to legitimise the morals and laws within society. 48 Vitosha Boulevard, ground floor, 1000, Sofia, Bulgaria Bulgarian reg. Social Facts Durkheim defined social facts as things external to, and coercive of, the actor. Both functionalists and Marxists share the common view that religion serves to legitimise the morals and laws within society. These rituals reduce anxiety and increase confidence, strengthening unity in shared situations. Compare and contrast Marxist and Functionalist accounts of religion. In work. Help. Followers are ultimately not worshipping their religion, their worshipping society and everything it stands for. Neo Marxism does accept the idea (like functionalism) that religion can sometimes be useful to society in bringing about change for the better. This means that the two theories look at society as a whole rather than looking at it from the individual point of view. Sacred – Objects and behaviors that are considered part of the spiritual or religious world. Social control to enforce religious-based morals and norms to help maintain conformity and control in society. Religion goes as far as to introduce ceremonies for dealing with various life crisis. FUNCTIONALIST and MARXIST VIEWS OF RELIGION Emile Durkheim 1858 - 1917 Durkheim’s standard definition of religion based on a study of totemism amongst Australian aborigines “[Religion is a] unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things, that is to say, things set apart and forbidden – beliefs and practices which unite into one single moral community called a … Karl Marx's religious views have been the subject of much interpretation.In the Critique of Hegel's Philosophy of Right, Marx famously stated: . Marx and Durkheim jointly cover the nucleus of the sociological thought on various issues. Following this, Durkheim also identifies religion as ‘a fundamental distinction between sacred and profane’ (Durkheim, 1995 cited in Turner, 2010, p55). Worship society; believe in society. Functionalists such as Durkheim and Parsons see religion as being a positive and perhaps essential part of the harmonious workings of society but have been criticised for ignoring the dysfunctional, disruptive, and divisive aspects of religion. Retrieved from http://studymoose.com/functionalist-and-marxist-perspective-on-religion-essay, Copying content is not allowed on this website, Ask a professional writer to help you with your text, Give us your email and we'll send you the essay you need, Please indicate where to send you the sample. Humanity needs to feel as though there is meaning in all significant things; meaning to death and suffering, and justification of existence in itself. Religion has allows supported class systems and promoted inequality. In gender. Functionalists argue that religion is a conservative force and that this is a positive function for society and for individuals. By ensuring these needs are met, religion reinforces collective values and promotes solidarity. Marx himself rejects any idea of supernatural aspect of religion. "It would seem that religion threatens social integration as readily as it contributes to it" (Stark & Glock). (See rich man quote page 1). Functionalist And Marxist Perspective On Religion. Functionalism is not over concerned about the 'why' religion is allowed to assume this falsified symbolism, but instead recognises it's use in keeping harmony and faith in society. For instance: Princess Diana - a national symbol of charity and possibly the last real 'princess' of the British Nation in the people's hearts. The way in which Marxists and Functionalists compare education is important within society. These are created from collective forces and do not emanate from the individual (Hadden,. Because Marx was committed to criticizing the prevailing organization of society during his time, he took a particular stance towards religion. Marx was calling for the proletariat to discard religion and its deceit about other worldly events, only then would this class of people be able to rise up against the ruling class and gain control of the means of production and only then would they achieve real rewards. Both perspectives of Marx … Murdock- George Peter Murdock (1949) wanted to know if the family was not just cultural but universal (he claimed that it was universal). Finally, Religion is looked to answer the "ultimate questions" and give meaning to our existence. These functions are: 1. PhDessay is an educational resource where over 1,000,000 free essays are collected. Religion guides behaviour and helps in the formulation of decision through this. (Namely: Social integration, shared values, social solidarity, and social harmony). Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. The former believes that there is a positive relationship between society and the individual. In Marx’s view religion operates as an ideological weapon used by the ruling class to justify the suffering of the poor as something inevitable and God-given. 2. number: 206095338. (309), 4.8 Traditional Marxism is totally opposed to the oppressive role of religion and would be surprised to see that radical forces have emerged with some minority religious groups. Hire a subject expert to help you with Compare and contrast Marxist and Functionalist accounts of religion. Fredrich Engels also contributed to development the works. It studies the frameworks of society and how society shaped our behaviour. Functionalists view the family and its contribution to society as positive, whereas Marxits see it as a negative institution. Save time and let our verified experts help you. In Marx’s own words: ‘Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the sentiment of a heartless world and the soul of soulless conditions. Profane – Everything else in the world that do not have a religious function or hold religious meaning. Retrieved from https://phdessay.com/compare-contrast-marxist-functionalist-accounts-religion/, Compare and contrast Marxist and Functionalist accounts of religion. https://phdessay.com/compare-contrast-marxist-functionalist-accounts-religion/, The Role Of Intellectuals In The Rise Of Marxism History Essay, Murdock and Talcott Parsons Views on Family. Durkheim (1912) also pointed out that religion serves a strong integrative function, providing an avenue for people of diverse backgrounds to come together. For instance, a man who is profiting through the doing of evil will be punished in the after life for his wrongful gain in life. From this, Durkheim believes "Understand what sacred things represent and you understand the values of a society". 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