Identify and Briefly Explain Some of the Ways in Which Functionalists See Religion as Meeting the Needs of Society.

The functionalist perspective sees religion as promotino social harmony and solidarity through the reinforcement of the value consensus. Religion is seen by functionalists as providing divine backing for important rules and helping to maintain cultural traditions.

Durkheim, when studying the practice of totemism among Australian tribes or aborigines, believed that is represented religion in its most basic form and that people are really worshipping society. By sharing beliefs, people develop moral ties and a shared sense of identity- creating what Durkheim called a collective conscience. This setting of values resulted in some religious moral codes becoming laws. However, whilst this may work in smaller communities, in contemporary societies, where there is more diversity, it may not work the same.

Religion is an important function for the individual- making them feel part of something can strengthen them. Durkheim claims that religion is the source of our ability to reason and think conceptually; it is the origin of human thought, reason and science. Religion made us think/ask the 'big questions' such as, "why are we here?"

Malinowski saw religion as providing security in the face of uncertainty. It is there during traumatic times such as birth and puberty and can provide a source of comfort.

Religion creates and legitimates basic norms and values that may become so deeply ingrained through socialisation that it may have and effect on everyday behaviour of society. For example, the ten commandments have rules about killing that transcend into law today that if broken can create a guilty conscience and this is a powerful socialising and controlling influence over the individual, as Parsons explains.

Shils and Young state that it is difficult to separate religious identities and national identities for example, the funeral of Diana brought society together as a moral collective and reaffirmed Christian values. Therefore, religion can act as act...