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o The function of religion is the contribution it makes to society and
social solidarity
Radcliffe Brown
(1945)
Religious rituals are an expression of a dependence on a supernatural
power
Horton
(1968)
Rituals may have magical powers for the believers
Giving them control over events
Durkheim
(1912)
o Religious ritual is important to reinforce & express the solidarity
of supporters of a set of beliefs & to distinguish between the sacred
& the profane (worldly)
o No belief in the supernatural can be real because there's such a
diversity in religious belief throughout the world
o Nationalists & Communism were the new religions of supernatural
status in industrial society
o Religion provides the 'social cement' necessary if society was to
survive.
o It creates unity in a social group and also offers individuals a n
identity that's tied into that of the social group
o Eg. Christening, baptism & confirmation in the Church is a way of
the group giving a social identity to the individual
o Part of this identity is the individual knowing their place in the
social group - no longer just an individual - part of a wider social
group - identify with that group/nation & are committed to it
o Group shares the same set of common values that Durkheim saw as
moral bonds through which individuals know what is appropriate
behaviour.
o Myths & religious beliefs are founded on the moral code of that
society. It's vital that this is obeyed, as the society would
disintegrate without a unified moral code. He calls this a 'collective
conscience'. This moral code assumes 'religious', 'sacred'
significance
o The 'collective conscience' enables society to hold 'together'
o Social life is impossible without those shared values & moral
beliefs - without them there'd be no social control, solidarity or