“Religio Can Be Both A Conservative Force And An Initiator Of Social Change”. To What Extent Do Sociological Arguments Support This View?
“Religion can be both a conservative force and an initiator of social change”. To what extent do sociological arguments support this view?
There has been much sociological debate surrounding the role of religion in society. Some claim that religion acts as a conservative force which inhibits change in society, whereas others argue that religion is a major contributor to social change. However, some sociologists have taken the middle ground and have suggested that religion can act as both a conservative force and an initiator of change.
The view that religion acts as a conservative force in society stems from the theories of Functionalism and Marxism, as both generally dismiss the idea that religion can cause changes in society. However, their views do differ substantially. Functionalists argue that religion acts as a force of social integration by reinforcing the norms and values of society. Durkheim believed that religion has a number of functions that serve the purpose of maintaining social stability and harmony. For example, functionalists believe that collective worship is particularly important for the integration of society as it enables members to express their shared values and strengthens group unity. It can be said that religion acts as a “social glue” that promotes value consensus and social solidarity. For example, in Durkheim’s study of a traditional Aboriginal society, totems are the focal point by which people can expresses collective respect for the values in that particular society. This again is a form of social solidarity and the integration of individuals into society.
In contrast to the Functionalist view, Marxists argue that religion is only ever a conservative force that seeks to enforce the dominance of one class over another. They believe that religion is part of the ideological superstructure of any society which helps to maintain the existing social inequalities. These class inequalities are based on ownership of the means of...
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