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35 Cards in this Set
- Front
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Reductionism |
This is where you attempt to explain something ( like religion ) in terms of psychological, natural or sociological origins |
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Genetic Fallacy |
The assumption that because something's origin can be traced, that thing is only apparent and not real For example, Emile Durkheim committed a Genetic Fallacy in that, because the origins of religion can be traced back to human social tendencies, he concluded that its reality is false. |
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Criticisms of Durkheim: 1 fallacy |
HIs theory of the origin of religion, does not prove that it is merely a satisfaction of human need. He has committed a genetic fallacy. |
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Criticisms of Durkheim: 2 personal nature of religion |
His theory fails to take into account the individual and personal nature of Religion. |
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Criticisms of Durkheim: 3 ethical independent from religion |
His theory leaves out of account mankind's capacity to see ethical demands as something more than conventional adherence to social rules Durkheim saw ethical awareness as merely a function of social needs Kant's categorical imperative had social implications, but was not fully explicable in social terms. The idea of fulfilling ones duty as a personal, not social, obligation is important
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Durkheim: Future of religion 1 self fulfilling society |
He thought that one day we wont need religion as we will be self sufficient in fulfilling our social needs. One day we must maintain our social cohesion and identity though the use of our own resources |
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Durkheim: Future of religion 2 science and religious truths |
Religious truths (speculative function of religion) will also disappear Eventually science will explain everything |
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Durkheim: basic explanation of religions role in society human social unity |
Religion is the product of the need for social unity Religion is the result of a mistaken understanding of something purely Human |
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Durkheim: Origins of religion 1 totem pole |
Social Unity can be seen in the earliest times: There are symbols in religion, such as the Totem pole, which functioned to bring people together by providing a common focus for respect and adoration However this is all a form of displacement as the objectified symbol is merely a substitute for something within the group itself |
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Durkheim: Origins of religion 2 (God) |
What people attribute to God should really be attributed to their own powers as members of society |
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Durkheim fallacy |
Emile Durkheim commits a Genetic Fallacy in that, because the origin of religion can be traced to human social tendencies, he concluded that its reality was false |
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Durkheim: Origin of religion 3 (tribes) |
People seem to form themselves into clans or tribal groups They do this by means of some unifying symbol that came to be regarded as sacred |
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Durkheim: Origins of religion 4 (interdependence) |
He concluded that religion was a displacement of a natural sense that people are interdependent on each other people knew that society is an essential part of the human condition This was mistakenly turned into religion as the basis of a primitive but effective way of brining about social interdependence |
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Durkheim: Origins of religion 5 transcendent power |
By paying attention to some transcendent power or sacred being, that functioned as a centralising focus, this would enhance the unity of the group |
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Durkheim: Origin of religion unconscious human need |
It is the unconscious awareness for the human need for the transcendent power that is the origin of religion |
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Durkheim: Origin of religion, Morals and religious ideals |
Morals and Religious ideals are essentially unifying forces within the group They originate from human beings themselves, not God |
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Durkheim: Totemism and religion's role today 1 decline in religion so what are the totems? |
To create and reinforce group solidarity , human beings use communal rituals Where religion has largely declined, we can see totemic and sacred objects in today's society: . Flags . Anthems . National ceremonies |
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Durkheim: Totemism and religion's role today 2 what we use to create social interdependence vs what we used to use |
It is clear that today human beings have a natural inborn drive to reinforce their social interdependence Whereas in the past, they used Religion to achieve this |
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Durkheim: Totemism and religion's role today 3
( Moral values) |
There is great similarity between society's need for unifying codes of law, moral values and a sense of common purpose and Religion's ethical laws, regulations and code of unifying beliefs |
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Durkheim Origin of religion: collective solidarity |
Religion was the earliest and most primitive way of brining about the collective solidarity that mankind needed |
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Durkheim quote 1 superimposed |
"Religion is superimposed on what is natural" |
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Durkheim quote 2 society at work |
"Religious life is really the forces of society at work" |
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Durkheim quote 3 the idea of society |
"The idea of society, is the soul of Religion" |
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Durkheim quote 4 religious forces |
"Religious forces are Human forces" |
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Karl Marx: Origin of religion enslavement |
Religion is the outcome of social conditions such as poverty and enslavement |
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Karl Marx: Origins of religion
(Material Poverty) |
Conditions of material poverty created other-worldly wishes and desires |
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Karl Marx: Origins of religion
(problems of other worldly wishes) |
These other worldly wishes turn people away from the problems of the here and now Religion encourages and offers to fulfil these wishes and desires However, these are illusory wishes. And so, they distract people from the real task of removing the conditions that created them Marx though that they needed to be exposed and destroyed |
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Karl Marx: demise of religion
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Once the social conditions of poverty - and the class division that perpetuate it - are removed, religion will no longer be needed and will wither away |
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Karl Marx Quote opium
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"Religion is the opium of the people" - because it offers a false comfort as an obstacle to the social liberation of the masses |
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Karl Marx: History 1pie in the sky |
In Marx's time (1843) in Britain and Germany, religion had become too institutionalised. The church appeared to do little to challenge the political causes of the social injustice that he saw around him. The church seemed more concerned with the 'pie in the sky' spiritual benefits of the next life, than with helping to overcome the desperate material conditions of its adherents in this life. |
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Karl Marx: History 2 all in all
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all in all, religion was a displacement of human energy both caused by economic conditions and, in turn, causing those conditions to continues |
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Criticisms of Marx 1 root of all religious faith? |
Marx is wrong in saying that material despair is the only root of religious faith |
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Criticisms of Marx 2 Mahatma gandhi
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Marx ignores the capacity of religion to inspire the social ideals of equality and justice this has been shown by Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther Kind, religion standing up for the oppressed also Liberation theology which looked at gospels for its inspiration |
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Criticisms of Marx 3
(worldly concerns) |
Religion is in fact concerned with the world, through emphasis on moral living and concern for thy neighbour. such emphasis was evident in the lives of the saints, martyrs and above all the prophets |
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Criticisms of Marx 4 rich people are religious |
religion can thrive in conditions of material prosperity (a lot of rich religious people), suggesting that the values it stands for cannot be replaced by material substitues |
