"The main function of religion is to provide people with a code of behaviour which regulates personal and social life

The first 200 words of this essay...

"The main function of religion is to provide people with a code of behaviour which regulates personal and social life."

Assess the extent to which sociological arguments and evidence support this view.

Many sociologists believe that the main function of religion is to provide people with a code of conduct, which regulates personal and social life.

There are two main theories to what role religion plays within society. One of these theories is the Marxist theory. Marxism sees society as superstructure. They believe that society isn't peaceful and is based on conflict and exploitation. Religion makes this society justify inequality and maintains ruling class domination.

Karl Marx believed religion is a form of social "opium" which dulls oppressive pain and provides hope to the working class people who are being exploited.

In Marx's view religion is used by the ruling class to control the working class. This is done in many ways. One way is to make the working class believe that supernatural powers control events that happen on Earth, this makes social change seem impossible and therefore stops the system being challenged. Religion also causes people to forget why there is unhappiness in