Assess the extent to which religion produces social change. Many sociologists such as functionalists and Marxists would argue that religion doesnt affect social change and is a conservative force.

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Using material from item A and elsewhere, assess the extent to which religion produces social change

By Kate Lawson

Many sociologists such as internationalists and neo-Marxists believe that religion is causing social change in society. However other sociologists such as functionalists and Marxists believe that it is a conservative force and religion can’t contribute to changing society.  However functionalists would explain this change as a positive thing where as Marxists would see it as harming society.

Functionalists claim that religion acts as a conservative force by promoting integration and social solidarity. Durkheim says religion does this by a religion worshipping a totem which is sacred as it symbolises the group itself, who by worshipping a totem are in fact worshipping their society. Most religions involve collective worship with rituals which leads to social solidarity being heightened. Durkheim suggest that gods are just the expression of what he calls the collective conscience which are the shared beliefs, values, traditions and norms that make society work.  This collective conscience has remained similar throughout religion as everyone does still hold the same norms and values. By maintaining social solidarity, religion acts as a conservative force so therefore not producing any social change.  Functionalists are not saying that religion does not change, they are saying what remains the same is the function as that is to offer support to the status quo.  Politics has its own rituals such as flag waving and parades; these are often seen as new forms in which social solidarity is maintained. Religion also socializes its members into a value consensus by teaching the norms and values that are accepted by society. Religious codes such as the Ten Commandments have influenced the law and moral disapproval so therefore religion isn’t promoting change as it teaches the same beliefs, norms and values throughout the whole of society.  Religion continues to influence society and prevent it from changing, for example; the fact that many popes were against the use of contraception has restricted the growth of artificial birth control in Roman Catholic countries. Overall functionalists opinion is that instead of religion being a radical change, it is conservative and keeps society remaining the same.

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However people would criticise functionalists views by saying that church attendance is declining in the UK, so it’s difficult to see how religion can be functioning to socialise members, so therefore its promoting change.  Functionalists believe that religion serves positive functions in society; however it can be dysfunctional such as the Protestants and Catholics in Northern Ireland, so therefore can reduce social solidarity between different religious groups and societies.

However, Weber an internationalist argued that religion promotes social change and even though shared religious beliefs might integrate a social group, those same beliefs may have repercussions which in the ...

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