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Assess the claims that religion acts as a conservative force... Some sociologists claim that religion acts as a conservative force. Depending on the perspective and the political stance, this is viewed as either a good or bad thing for individuals and society. Functionalists and Marxists have generally dismissed the possibility that religion can cause changes in society. They claim that religion acts as a conservative force and that it is the changes in society that shape religion, not vice versa. Religion can be seen as a 'conservative force' in two senses. The phrase conservative force is usually used to refer to religion as preventing change and maintaining the status quo. Functionalists have claimed that it acts in this way because it promotes integration and social solidarity. As discovered last year throughout our 'AS' modules, from a functionalist perspective, religion provides shared beliefs, norms and values, and helps individuals to cope with stresses...

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