Analyse and evaluate the relationship between religion and social change

However Karl Marx argues against Weber and instead says that religion is a conservative ideology that prevents social change. Weber says that religion disguises inequality and creates a false sense consciousness for the working class. Religion also maintains the status quo and the interests of the ruling class rather than for everyone. This is very much the opinion of every Marxist due to the fact that Marxists believe that religion is beneficial to the ruling class and no-one else. Marxists argue the fact that religion can just be used to dull the pain of oppression and is the “opium of the people.” However when it comes to social change Marxists do not believe religion is a cause because they see it as maintaining the status quo.

In addition however sociologists such as Parsons who is a functionalist argue that religion helps people to make sense of their lives but Parsons does believe that as society has developed religion has lost some of its functions. Parsons says that churches no longer perform as many functions and instead have lost functions they used to have. Parsons also says that the evolution of society involves a process called structural differentiation which means parts of the social system have become more specialised therefore meaning that religion play fewer functions in society. However Parsons does says that religious belief still gives meaning and significance to life.

Postmodernists such as Bauman believe that in society today we search for universal truths – which are theories that are true. Bauman says that we now have unlimited choice as to what we believe and how to behave. Bauman is suggesting that social change has an impact on religiosity, and that as society changes so are the beliefs we have.

To conclude, it is probably the case that religion and social change do impact on each other. However, we must bear in mind the idea suggested by Marx who argues that religion is a conservative ideology preventing social change which suggests that evidence on this debate is far from conclusive.