Religion can be both a conservative force and an initiator of social change.'To what extent do sociological arguments and evidence support this view of religion? Sociological arguments such as Marxists think religion inhibits social change

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Christine Haralambous                 Sociology Essay

‘Religion can be both a conservative force and an initiator of social change.’

To what extent do sociological arguments and evidence support this view of religion?

Sociological arguments such as Marxists think religion inhibits social change and is kept as a conservative force. However, Functionalists think religion is an initiator of social change.

Marx said religion inhibits social change and helps to oppress workers. Karl Marx said that in a capitalist society there was conflict between the ruling class and the working class because the ruling class exploit the working class to get the most profit out of them. Marx says the working class are in a state of false consciousness. This is where religion comes in. Marx is very critical of religion. He says it keeps the working class in a state of false consciousness. Marx said ‘Religion is the opium of the people’ meaning it dulls the pain of oppression like opium. It doesn’t take away the pain though.

Marx says that religion justifies social inequality. People have heaven to look forward to if they’re good, so they don’t break the rules and don’t challenge the capitalist system. Religion consoles people with the promise of life after death and so they put up with their suffering on Earth more easily. Religion often tells people that their position is decided by God. This encourages false consciousness by blaming God instead of blaming capitalism. If God is all powerful he could do something about the suffering if he wanted to. He doesn’t do anything – so this must be how society is meant to be.

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So Marxism says that religion passes on beliefs that oppress the working class. Religion is a conservative force which prevents revolution. The rich stay rich and the poor keep on working. It’s a neat social control.

There’s evidence that religion is a conservative and oppressive force. Hymns like ‘All Things Bright and Beautiful’ contain really clear ideologies like ‘’the rich man in his castle, the poor man at his gate, God made them high and lowly and ordered their estate.’’

But in some cases, there was evidence to suggest that religion can encourage social change. Engels thought ...

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