Briefly Examine the Differences Between Marxist and Functionalist Views on Religion

Functionalists believe that society is working like the human body and in order for the human body or society to function all its organs must be working, instead of organs functionalist believe that societies institutions must be working properly for society to operate and when one section of society fails then all of society will fail and society requires value consensus (a set of shared norms and values by which society's members live) and social solidarity. Marxists believe that the bourgeoisie ( the ruling class) control the proletariat ( the working class) through capitalism and the institutions within our capitalist society. Functionalism is a consensus view this means that society has the same belief and Marxism believes in a conflict view this means that different sections of society are put against each other and have opposing views.

For functionalists, religious institutions play a central part in creating and maintaining value consensus, order and solidarity. One of the first functionalists to develop this idea was Emile Durkheim, for Durkheim the key feature of religion was not a belief in gods, spirits or the supernatural, but a fundamental distinction between the sacred (things set apart and forbidden, that inspire feeling of awe) and the profane (things that have no significance). Durkheim's distinction between the sacred and profane, is, in effect, the distinction between people and society. For Durkheim the sacred are symbols for society, thus in worshiping God, humans are really worshiping society. The relationship between god and humans (power and dependence) outlined in most religions is a reflection of the relationship between humans and society. It is not God that makes us behave, and punishes our misdemeanors, but society.

Thus religion reinforces the collective conscience, it strengthens values and beliefs and promotes social solidarity since the attitude of respect to the sacred is extended to the individual's social duties. Collective...