the functionalists view of society can be compared to a clock. they see the clock as society and the institutions such as family and education as the parts of the clock. the theorists believe that all parts of the clock are required as each part plays a different role in ensuring the overall functioning of the clock. religion is seen as an important institution that is valuable to society in the view of functionalism.
like the functionalist approach to society religion has multiple functions that all fulfil different purposes if any of the functions do not work it will affect religion similar to the functionalists theory on society. for example durkheim believed that religion had three major functions that society required.
