Phenomenological
Approaches
RELIGION
Social Action
 Remember Social Action Theory? Phenomenolgy is
another ‘branch’ of social action theory.
 Phenomenology states that reality is produced by social
actors (humans/us) subjectively interpreting and giving
meaning to the world.
 Religion is a major device used by humans to give
meaning to the social world. We look to religion for
answers
Berger&Luckmann
 Wrote and researched ‘The Social
Construction of Reality’. In this they
state that religion is part of one’s
‘universe of meaning’ (belief system)
to explain the world.
Plausibility Structure
 Any universe of meaning needs
constant legitimation, a ‘plausibility
structure’ (tangible proof) to give
credibility to that universe of
meaning. This means that as people
we need to find constant proof that
what we believe is correct.
The universe of meaning is a
‘social construction’ (as is
religion). We make our own
worlds in our little minds.
 One person’s faith is another person’s
doubt or cynicism.
 Religion is only meaningful so long
as individuals give meaning to it.
 Religion contributes to the
consciousness of the individual.
Berger Again…
 Berger states that in the modern world,
there is a plurality of belief systems and
diversity of religions (especially in a
multicultural society). Hence individuals
are faced with a number of competing
belief systems and ways of living
 Hence it is difficult to maintain that
any religion has a monopoly on the
truth.
 This View is similar to the
postmodernist way of looking at the
world & religion.
Berger
 Berger talked of the notion of ‘nomos’,
meaning ‘meaningfulness’.
 Religion gives us ‘nomos’ or ‘meaning’
 How is this different to Anomie?
Nomos, Anomie,
Alienation
 ‘anomie’ (normlessness or
meaninglessness).
 How is the idea of ‘alienation’
different to ‘nomos’
Malcolm Hamilton
 MH says that religion is a shield against
the terror that ensues when the world is
without order and meaning. He says that:
“Religion has been one of the most effective
bulwarks against anomie throughout human
history”
Problem 1) Secularisation
 Firstly, What is
SECULARISATION?
 Now tell me how secularisation can
be used to criticise what both Berger
and Malcom Hamilton are saying?
Another Problem
2) It takes rather a Functionalist stance
in seeing religion providing only positive
functions promoting stability/order. It
therefore ignores conflict
A Positive Evaluation:
 As a positive evaluation, the theory
can explain the motives of individual
extremist religious groups (e.g.
Hamas, Hizbollah)
 HOW EXPLAIN!?