Final answer:
Emile Durkheim, the noted Structural Functionalist theorist, argued that religion serves as a source of solidarity and identification within a society, contributing to social cohesion and order. The correct answer is b) Emile Durkheim.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question is which Structural Functionalist theorist argued that religion acts as a source of solidarity and identification for individuals within a society. The correct answer is b) Emile Durkheim. Durkheim is often credited as the first sociologist to analyze religion's role in society, proposing that it fosters social cohesion, consistency in behavior, and meaning for individuals during challenging times. He believed that the collective mindset of society was the source of religion and morality, essential for maintaining social order and stability.
Recognizing the social origin of religion, Structural Functionalist theorists, Emile Durkheim, argue that religion acted as a source of solidarity and identification for the individuals within a society. Durkheim believed that religion was a force for cohesion that helped bind the members of society to the group. He saw religion as a unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things, that unite people into one single moral community called a Church.