assess that religion benefits both society and its members

Using material from Item A and elsewhere, assess the functionalist view that religion benefits both society as a whole and its individual members (18marks)
The key concern of functionalist writing on religion is the contribution that religion makes to the wellbeing of society, its contribution to social stability and, value-consensus.
In his Elementary Forms of Religious Life, Durkheim argues that the function of religious ritual is to maintain social solidarity by affirming the moral superiority of society over its individual members. Durkheim believed that social life could only exist if values were shared and society integrated into a coherent whole. Religion is an important aspect of this process, not only providing a set of unifying practices and beliefs, but also by providing a way in which people can interpret and give meaning to the world. 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 worshipping God, humans are really worshipping 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 misdemeanours, 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 worship is regarded as particularly important for the integration of society since it enables members to express their shared values and strengthens group unity. By worshipping together, people have a sense of commitment and belonging and individuals are united into a group with shared values - thus social solidarity is reinforced, deviant behaviour is restrained and social change restricted.
Malinowski agrees with Durkheim that religion promotes social solidarity. Malinowski’s study of the Trobriand Islanders found that religion assisted the individual in everyday life with the psychological functions religion can give. Malinowski also saw the difference between lagoon fishing and fishing at sea. To help the Islanders cope and grow in confidence when out at sea the Islanders performed a ritual before departure, with this religion gave the islanders comfort when they were facing risk and were unsure of the outcome. Malinowski also determined another use that religion had for the islanders; this was to help in times of life crisis including events such as birth, puberty, marriage and especially death. Malinowski went as far as to argue that death is the main reason for the existence for religious belief.
Like Malinowski; Parsons sees religion in helping individuals to cope with unseen events and uncontrollable outcomes. He also identified that religion creates and legitimates society’s central values which makes it the primary source of meaning for the individual. Another benefit to the individual which Parsons identified was that of religion being able to answer the ‘ultimate questions’ such as ‘why do the good die young?’ As for society, Parsons believes that religion provides a consensus which is needed for order and stability.
Although he does also see religion as helping society as well by showing that religion creates and legitimates society’s central values and it is the primary source of meaning. It creates and legitimises society’s basic norms and values by making them sacred. An example of this is in the USA where Protestantism has sacralised the core American values and individualism, meritocracy and self-discipline. This serves to promote values consensus and therefore social stability. In parsons view religion is seen to answer the “ultimate” questions about the human condition. By doing this, religion enables people to adjust to adverse events or circumstances and helps maintain stability in society.

This benefits society’s members as through maintaining social solidarity it unities a certain group of people for example, within Durkheim’s study of the aborigines and their preaching to their totems this will unite them and make the tribes closer. With society creating ‘God’s Law’ even the society’s which have cultural diversity will have the majority of its followers abiding by the laws as they are seen as being sacred for multiple religions (such as crossing over for the 10 commandments, the 5 pillars of Islam, the Qur’an, etc.).