Question 5(-7(a) · 535 words written
Q-7(a)
Opening
Fundamentalism is defined as the "process of interpreting the religious texts with their literal meanings and applying it to all aspects of human's social life".
Religion is a body of belief and practices related to a sacred thing, which acts as uniting and integrative force in modern societies (Durkheim).
Body
CONFLICT due to RELIGIOUS FUNDAMENTALISM
- It focuses on "infallibility of scriptures" and applies outrightly to people's life without any reasoning. eg: Islamic fundamentalism in Afganistan taking toll on women rights to study and equality.
- It stands against equality of religion. It focus on respect and acceptance of one's own religion and promotes antagonism to other religion. e.g: Taliban destroying Bamiyan Buddhas statues.
- It persuades people emotionally by appealing to their conscience. Promises of returning glory of religion lost due to modernisation. Ideas of heaven and hells are used to psychologically appeal people. e.g: Mahadi Sect had huge followers.
- It stands against rationality, and does not tolerate any critical views promoting status quo. e.g: Attacks on Salman Rushdie for Satanic verses, Taslima Nasrin on religious blasphemy.
- It tries to take control of education to propogate religious ideology.
- Giddens state Modernisation and (high modernity) as the reason for fundamentalism. Other reasons are Rootlessness due to increasing urbanisation, spiritual void in people, stress, anxiety and meaninglessness.
- TN Madan calls fundamentalism as collective movement by charismatic personalities. eg:- Bhindranwale in Sikh fundamentalism, culminating to operation Blue star.
- Fundamentalism tries to purge impurities that have come in religion such as Bhindranwale's call for fallen Sikh (cut hair, shaved beards).
- It takes route of violence sometimes to propogate it's ideology. eg: Ayotollah khoemini's supporters in IRAN.
However fundamentalism does not always is violent. It can be reformative also. e.g: "Back to Vedas" By Arya samajists, when fundamentalism takes rationality in hand with spirituality, it can lead to positive changes as well.
RK Merton was neo functionalist. He modified the existing structural-functionalism by adding his concepts of latent, manifest functions, Middle Range theories (MRT) and deviance.
MERTONS' ROLE →
- highlighted the shortcomings of existing approach such as Broad theories with little usefulness (practical).
- Made structural functional more descriptive, analytical, by modifying it in neo-functionalism.
- expanded scope to study meaning by actors both intended and unintended.
Merton's critique to Structural functionalism
- He introduced the concept of
MANIFEST FUNCTION and LATENT FUNCTION
- intended by actor
- subjective disposition
- actor is aware of it
- Unintended
- not perceived by actor
- is established objectively by investigator.
Further MERTON'S paradigm contains
- He rejected earlier postulates of conventional SF
a) Postulate of functional UNITY :- Merton says that a social item may be dysfunctional in one context and functional in other. eg: slavery function in feudal society, Not in modern society.
b) Postulate of functional indispensability Merton says that alternative institutions exist for performing functions. eg: creches for child care, School for education, Police for SOCIAL CONTROL.
c) Postulate of functional UNIVERSALISM Merton says that it is not that every item is always functional only because it exists. e.g: 'caste' though exist, but is not functional. without caste India would be much better social setup.
- Merton provides Middle Range theory.
Close
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