Question

How would Durkheim, Freud, and Marx analyze the religion of Shinto?

To recap, however:

• Freud: Religion functions as a means of providing comfort and security
• Durkheim: Religion functions to provide group identity and solidarity
• Marx: Religion functions as a mean of control

There is, of course, a bit of an oversimplification, but it gets the basic ideas across. After re-familiarizing yourself with these ideas, you will then need to apply them to the religion of Shinto. To do so, deal with each theorist in three distinct paragraphs so that it is clear to your reader when you are shifting from one scholar to another.

Answer 1

Religion is used as a means of comfort and security. It offers us mental security as well as physical security. There is a unity in the people belonging to the same religion. They think that they are in large group and other religious group can not do any harm to them. On the other hand, the people of one religion try to help the people of the same religion. It is found that they can be united and helped easily. The backward people of one religious group is supported by the people of the same religious group so that they can get comfort.

Religion is a means of group identity. It is can easily detected by his name and identity in what religion he belongs. On the other hand, it creates a group psychology of cooperation. When one belongs to the major religious group, he presents himself as the representative of the powerful group. On the other hand, one can capture power veery easily with the help of religious identity.

According to Marx, religion does not help in eliminating class division and class conflict. On the other hand, with the help of religion the religious leaders can control the others. It appears that most of the ordinary people are forced to obey the order of the religious leaders of the same community. It causes divisions of power in the people. mark believes that with the help of religion the means of exploitation can be done very easily.