Malinowski agrees with Durkheim that religion promotes solidarity. However he suggests that it does this by promoting psychological functions for individuals He saw. Religion fulfilling the needs for emotional security and relieves situations of emotional stress which threaten social stability and solidarity. For example after studying the Trobriand island tribe He found out that the only food they get from a wide open sea. Going there is putting their life ate risk. Therefore less chance of success/survival. And the tribe performed religious rituals for the fishermen before fishing. He found out that his increased sense of control for the families of the fishermen, and decreased the feeling of worry.
Furthermore, Parsons believe that Religion provides the core values and a set of moral values Through socialisation. This reinforces social solidarity. The set of moral beliefs and values in religion may become so ingrained through socialisation that it may have an effect on the everyday behavior of believers and non-believers. These Values formally and informally control our social behavior. for example some of the 10 commandments have become part in law (do not steal) and some have become part of moral actions (Respect your father and mother).
However, different religions and religious beliefs and values can tear people and communities apart, and pose threats to social order and stability. It can cause conflicts between people and be dysfunctional rather than uniting.
In contrast to Functionalism, Marxists also argue that religion is a conservative force in religion, but instead of being beneficial for society, they argued that religion is to reproduce, maintain and legitimise class inequality. Religion helps maintain the unequal class structure and as such keeps society’s structure balanced (unevenly). Religion ensures that the working class work, that they do not comparing about it and above all it prevents the working class from rising up against the Ruling class. Marx argues that religion is a form of social control that dulls the pain of oppression for the proletariat whilst preventing them from seeing what needs to be done to stop their exploitation. He calls this ‘the opium of the people’. Marxists believe that religion which eases the pain of oppression and exploitation in 3 main ways. Religion makes Working class believe that suffering in this life is ok because they will be rewarded later. this prevents proletariat from wanted to change. (Compensation). Religion encourages people to accept their position because of the fear of being punished if they didn’t follow instructions can encourage not act to change society. (Social control) and Religion provides a religious reasonable explanation and for inequality. For example, the Hindu religion provides a religious justification for the inequalities of the Indian caste system and an individual’s position in the social hierarchy. Therefore, religion teaches to respect those in power (Agent of legitimation).
However, like Functionalism, Marxism fails to consider secularisation. The ideological power of religion is undermined by the fact that less than 10% of people attend church. Therefore Religion is not a form of social control and does not keep things traditional. Many sociologists argue that there have been many examples of religious movement proving that religion bought about radical social change.
Femonists also argue that religion is a conservative force and it’s a patriarchal institution which functions to oppress females and maintain the power of males in society. For example the priests are predominantly males and in some churches females are separated/ required to sit at the back of the church. This exclusion of females demonstrates the little value they have in society and sustains the high status of males.
Neo-Marxists argue that that religion acts an initiator for social change. They disagree with Marx that ‘religion is under control of ruling class’ as a result of believing in relative autonomy. This is when economic forces alone cannot maintain the dominance of the ruling class and to keep society stronger, ruling class should persuade the Proletariat that everything is good and faith is for everyone. Gramsci argues that this is done by the process of Hegemony, where ruling class use their power for persuasion which leads to a false class consciousness (Making working class believe that everything is beneficial). He argues that if church joined forces with intellectuals it will lead the working class to challenge the status quo and free themselves from oppression. Religion can develop to support and guide challenges to ruling class (Hegemony) simply because the church is not directly under control of ruling class. For Example, Latin America; Priests and religious leaders would spend time with the Poor, convincing them to convert to Christianity, promising them with help, shelter and end of oppression.
Neo-Marxist Maduro argues that Religion can bring about revolution instead of keeping things traditional and the way it is. He argues that the liberation theory has encouraged people to actively change society in latin America. In countries such as Elsavador, Ecuador and Guatemala, the governments are run by military leaders with no freedom of speech and people were forced to work for very little pay. Liberation theology states that the working shouldn’t just rely on the aid/ help from richer countries, but it was essential that the poor themselves to organise and overthrow the oppressive regimes that exploit them. This is an example of religion providing what Gramsci calls a ‘counter-hegemony’ in which ruling class hegemony can be challenged by presenting to oppressed people the vision of an alternative and more just organisation of society. catholic priests living in these countries have tried to stand up for the poor and used their influence using messages from the bible, through their sessions in church.
Weber argues that the religious beliefs of Calvinism helped to bring about major social change. Calvinist was a protestant group who’s beliefs involve an ascetic lifestyle where riches could not be spent on luxuries, fine clothes but instead working hard in order to produce high rewards and earn more money in order to be reinvested in the economy. They believe that by working, they are worshipping god. This ascetic life would demonstrate Gods favour and therefore you ultimate place in heaven. Weber argued that these idea helped initiate western economic development through the industrial revolution and capitalism and therefore create social change. Weber suggests religions and other authority take one of two forms. One form is a charismatic leader in which people obey a religious leader because of their personal qualities e.g. Jesus. Another form is traditional, in which those who exercise a tradition and support the preservation and continuation of existing values and social ties. These authorities give orders and expect to be obeyed. For example, In 1979 the Shah of Iran was deposed by a revolutionary Islamic group led by the Ayatollah Khomeini who opposed the westernisation of Iran. Khomeini was quick to set up a model Islamic state based on ancient Sharia law.
In conclusion, religion can be both a conservative force and an initiator of social change. This essay contained information on functionalists, feminists and Marxists and their argument that religion is a conservative force although they differ from each other. On the other hand, Neo-Marxists and Max Weber saw religion as a force for social change.