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ASSESS THE SOCIOLOGICAL ARGUMENTS AND EVIDENCE THAT RELIGION IS A CONSERVATIVE FORCE IN SOCIETY BUT MAY BE ASSOCIATED WITH SOCIAL CHANGE IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.
Member rating: No Rating | Words: 1619 | Submitted: Sun Dec 02 2007
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ASSESS THE SOCIOLOGICAL ARGUMENTS AND EVIDENCE THAT RELIGION IS A CONSERVATIVE FORCE IN SOCIETY BUT MAY BE ASSOCIATED WITH SOCIAL CHANGE IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES. A number of sociologists argue that religion is a conservative force in society, that is, it produces stability not change within society and it reinforces the shared needs and values of society. For some sociologists this is a positive effect - the view of the functionalist theorists, for some is a negative one - the view of the Marxist theorists. Emile Durkheim, a functionalist theorist, supports the view that religion is a conservative force in society, reinforcing the existing society of society. Durkheim's standard definition of religion was based on a study of totemism amongst Australian aborigines. He claimed 'Religion is a unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things, that is to say, things set apart and forbidden - beliefs and practices which...
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