Is it true what functionalist theories may say about religion?

A:

Functionalism is a theoretical approach that explains the existence of social institutions such as religion in terms of the needs that the institutions would meet. Emile Durkheim argued that religion provides social cohesion and social control to maintain society in social solidarity. Critics of the functionalist approach point out that religion can be dysfunctional and work against these very objectives. For example, religion may incite violence by fundamentalists.

There would no doubt be some truth in functionalist theories of religion, especially in the very long term. If the institution of religion had not met a social need, and continued to do so, religion might never have developed or might have become seen as an anachronism of no further benefit to society or individuals. Nevertheless, functionalist theory has its critics and is, at best, only part of the answer.