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Evaluate arguments for and against the claim that religion is essentially a conservative force in society.
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Sociology - Religion Essay Evaluate arguments for and against the claim that religion is essentially a conservative force in society. A conservative force can be defined as a tradition that stops change from taking place and keeps things stable. For religion to be described as a conservative force would mean that it does just that. There are arguments both for and against this statement and they will be explored in this essay. Functionalists believe that religion acts as a conservative force in society. They feel that religion creates consensus and harmony. From a functionalist perspective religion creates order and order is necessary in a well-run society. They believe that religion supports traditional values and that problems such as anomie will not arise if religion is prevalent. A classic functionalist view on religion is that of Durkheim. Durkheim feels that religion links people together and provides social solidarity. He argues that religion is about...
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