The role of religion in society.

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Unit 4 - Religion

The role of religion in society is definately a dynamic one. The relationship between both religion and society is always changing. Religion effects different societies in different ways and different forms, causing the forms of society to change according to a change in religion. Religion can be a driving force in society, but as a reactionary rather than in a radical way.

Functionalism

Functionalists believe that religion maintains social solidarity and value consensus amongst a society's population and this helps maintain the well-being of society. In his Elementory Forms Of Religious Life, Durkheim argues that social life could only exist if values were shared and society integrated into a coherent whole. Religion helps value consensus as it undergoes unifying beliefs and practices which help people involved, attatch meaning to the world around them. The sacred and profane is Durkheim's distinction between people and society.The sacred are symbols for society to worship. When they say they are worshipping a "God", they are actually worshipping society. The relationship between God and Humans (Power and Dependance) in most religions reflects that of Society and Humans. It is not God that makes us behave in a certain way, or punishes us, it is society.

Collective conscience and collective worship towards the sacred promotes social solidarity and value consensus. The sacred will be looked upon in times of everyday activity and therefore will help guide the individual accordingly, to the value consensus of the society. By worshipping together, a sense of commitment and belonging are united into a group with shared values - thus social solidarity is reinforced, deviant behavior and social change are therefore restricted

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When religion maintains social solidarity, it is acting as a conservative force. When religion fails to perform this action, new religions form.

Durkheim claimed Nationalism and Communism were the new religions of the industrial society. They took over from Christianity but performed the same functions.

Functionalists do not say that Religion doesn't change. its form certainly does. Parsons believed that religion was in differentiation, but what does not change is the function of religion in society and therefore supports the status quo. The culture of a particular political movement is parralelled with the collectivity of religious ...

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