... this that religion is just worshipping society, as this was what they were doing. The criticisms of Durkheim are that his research on the aborigines isn't really applicable to modern societies, which he did not consider controversial or dysfunctional religions, who go against wider society's norms and values. Another criticism is that his definition is too broad, as things such as football, are religions according to this definition. Malwinowksi is another functionalist, who described religion as 'offering people ways in which they can manage their tensions and reduce their anxieties during times of social disruption and crisis'. He conducted his research on the Trobiland Islanders, where before fishing in the sea, religious ceremonies were conducted. Malwinowski disagreed that religion is the worship of society, but his research is similar to Durhkheim's, as it cannot be applied to western society. Parsons was another functionalist sociologist, but he described religion as a cultural ...

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