Psychology of Religion: Functions and Values

Religion helps people cope with emotional stress by providing rituals and practices that offer a sense of control and comfort in situations where the outcome is important but uncontrollable, such as dangerous ocean fishing.

Parsons believes religion helps people cope with unforeseen events and uncontrollable outcomes, and it also creates and legitimates society's central values.

According to Bellah, civil religion is a belief system that attaches sacred qualities to society, such as 'the American way of life', which helps unify society, especially in multifaith contexts.

<p>Protestantism sacralizes the core American value of individualism, thereby legitimating it within society.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Functional alternatives to religion are non-religious beliefs that perform similar functions, such as reinforcing shared values or maintaining social cohesion.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Sacred symbols represent society's collective conscience which maintains social integration and brings people together.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Worsley found that many tribes share totems.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Mestrovic argues that increasing diversity has fragmented the collective conscience.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Malinowski argued that religion promotes social solidarity due to its psychological functions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>These terms might refer to specific psychological functions that promote social solidarity.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Religion misleads the poor into believing their suffering is virtuous and will be rewarded in the afterlife, legitimizing the suffering of the proletariat.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Lenin describes religion as 'spiritual gin,' implying that it helps people cope with and obscure reality by creating a 'mystical fog.'</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Religion suggests that the roles of the ruling class are 'divinely ordained,' thus legitimizing their position.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Religion dulls the pain of alienation by offering consolation in the promise of an afterlife, without providing real-world solutions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Marxism ignores the positive functions of religion, such as providing psychological adjustment to misfortune.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Psychological adjustment to misfortune</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>They see certain forms of religion as assisting the development of class consciousness.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Because he believes the idea that humans have an idea of their 'true self' is unscientific.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Religious organizations are male-dominated, places of worship segregate the sexes, women's participation may be restricted, taboos concerning periods, pregnancy, and childbirth, sacred texts feature male figures, religious laws and customs grant women fewer rights.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Armstrong argued that earlier religions placed women at the centre, whereas the development of monotheistic religions established a single patriarchal figure of god.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Woodhead acknowledged that while there is a lot of oppression in many religions, it is not universally true for all religions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Muslim women see wearing the hijab as a symbol of liberation that allows them to enter public spheres without being condemned as immodest.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Women use religious activities such as church-related groups and Bible studies to share their experiences and gain status and respect within the private sphere of their home.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Liberal Protestant organizations are often committed to gender equality within their religion and allow women to play leading roles.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Westerners often see the hijab as a form of modern-day oppression, while Muslim women view it as a symbol of liberation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Many tribes share totems not sacred to individual clans.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Increasing diversity has fragmented the collective conscience.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>By its psychological functions helping people cope with emotional stress.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>When the outcome is important but uncontrollable, and during life crises.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Religion helps people cope with unforeseen events and uncontrollable outcomes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Religion unifies society, especially in multifaith societies like the U.S.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A civil religion is a belief system that attaches sacred qualities to society and unifies people, exemplified by 'the American way of life'.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Functional alternatives are non-religious beliefs that perform similar functions as organized religion, such as reinforcing shared values or maintaining social cohesion.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Neglects the negative aspects of religion, such as religion being a source for oppression.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It ignores religion as a source for conflict and division, especially in societies with more than one religion.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The distinction between the sacred and profane.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Because they represent something greater than themselves, which is society.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Worship of society.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>To understand the subject in great detail.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Arunta tribe.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The clan's origins.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A feeling of solidarity.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>They are really worshipping society.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The veneration of society itself.</p> Signup and view all the answers