Explaining the relationship of religion, science and magic some anthropologists have presented functional theories. Of these the theories of Malinowski and Radcliffe Brown are worth mentioning.
According to Malinowski religion performs many important functions in economic field among tribes. For example, one finds the fishing trade among Trobriand islanders. Most of the magical and religious activities among them are connected with this.
Their scientists are efficient in manufacturing arms, instruments and boats but there are ebbs and tides on the sea and their fear leads to the need of religion to maintain the mental balance.
Thus religion also is an instrument of adjustment. Its purpose is to save men’s minds from so many tensions. It makes for man’s adjustment with supernatural powers which results in mental peace and tranquillity.
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According to Radcliffe Brown the aim of religion is not only to free man from all kinds of fears and tensions but to create a consciousness of depending upon supernatural powers. The existence of the group is much more important than that of the individual and hence he has to make sacrifices for the group.
This sense of duty and sacrifice is created by religion. On the one hand, religions makes the individual dependent upon the society, on the other hand he teaches him to live according to social norms.
Thus religion helps in maintaining social life. As D.N. Majumdar has pointed out, in fact the views of Malinowski and Radcliffe Brown are complementary since both the individual and society are equally important and religion is equally useful for both. According to Durkheim, religious conceptions are the product of collective situations.
Religion gives priority to the moral and physical status of the collectivity over the individual. It includes beliefs and activities. Beliefs are its stable aspects while ritualism is the dynamic aspect. On religious occasions the beliefs are converted into activities.
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In fact, not only religion, but even magic and science are the means of adjustment of man with his environment. The primitive man takes recourse to magic to use supernatural powers and uses religion also for precisely this purpose.
In civilized societies such functions are done by science. In primitive societies many activities connected with agriculture, animal husbandary and fishing require the help of science, religion and even magic.
On which occasion, which of these is used, depends upon the beliefs of the individual. Both magic and science depend upon mechanical activities. But while science is concerned with the natural world, magic is concerned with supernatural.
Similarly, magic and religion are also closely connected. Both create a symbolic environment. Both give importance to rituals. Both are means for the achievement of man’s purpose. But while religion explains things with reference to gods and goddesses, magic explains with reference to supernatural powers.