Religion And Social Stability

Question 1

What theorists believe that religion is a conservative force?

Answer 1

Structural theorists:
Consensus views- functionalism and neo-functionalism
Conflict approaches- feminism, Marxism and neo-Marxism

Question 2

Functionalism:

Answer 2

Durkheim said that religion teaches people to moral norms and values needed to stick to the collective conscious, so maintaining social order. He saw the conservative nature of religion in a positive light, encouraging social harmony. It means society is safe from rapid social change, such as revolution, which would bring about anomie, leading to a breakdown in social order.

Question 3

Collective conscience:

Answer 3

A set of values and moral attitudes shared by everyone in society

Question 4

Anomie:

Answer 4

A state of normlessness.
Parsons: religion helps people deal with ‘life crises’, which would otherwise lead to anomie, threatening social order. E.g. Funerals

Question 5

Functionalism 2:

Answer 5

Durkheim was not entirely opposed to social change. He recognised that slow change is necessary to prevent society becoming stagnant and to allow it to progress. E.g. Steady rise in the social status of western women allowed them to play a fuller part in public life.

Question 6

Neo-functionalism:

Answer 6

Bellah: civil religion acts as a conservative force in modern multicultural society. It binds together people of different faiths, reinforcing the collective conscious. Civil religion promotes social solidarity by blending faith and patriotism.
Like Durkheim, Bellah sees this function of religion as necessary and desirable. If these groups were not united by civil religion, conflict between them could result in social order.

Question 7

Evaluation of functionalist views:

Answer 7

Marxists argue that the working class does not benefit from the status quo. This puts them in conflict with the middle class, which means that although religion may be preserving social order, it is not producing social harmony.

Question 8

Civil religion:

Answer 8

A secular religion which unites people in multi-faith societies by instilling a spiritual patriotism.

Question 9

Social solidarity:

Answer 9

The cohesion needed to make society work effectively.

Question 10

Status quo:

Answer 10

The way things are in a society.

Question 11

Feminism:

Answer 11

Religion socialised women to conform to patriarchal norms. Religious texts proclaim male superiority, placing women in a subordinate position. E.g. Koran “men are in charge of women”. Feminists disagree with the functionalist view that in maintaining the status quo, religion benefits society as a whole. They argue women do not benefit, as they’re oppressed in the male dominated world advocated by traditional religions. Men use religious texts to legitimate women’s subordination and preserve sir own social advantage.

Question 12

Feminism evaluation:

Answer 12

The status of women in the Anglian Church has increased, with female ordination now allowed. This suggests that religion does not inevitably oppress women.

Question 13

Marxism:

Answer 13

Religion is a tool employed by the ruling class to prevent mass rebellion that would free the working class from being wage slaves. Marx’s view is opposite to that of functionalists. Radical social change would transform society into a communist utopia. Religion is a device for staving off this revolution. It is used in this way by the elite because they alone benefit from society staying just as it is. Classless communism would mean that economic resources would be shared equally, which clearly threatens the ruling class monopoly on wealth and power.

Question 14

Wage slaves

Answer 14

Marx’s term for the working class, who are forced to sell their labour in order to make a living.

Question 15

Utopia

Answer 15

Perfect place

Question 16

Classless communism:

Answer 16

A society in which there is no hierarchal structure and resources are shared out equally.

Question 17

Marxist evaluation:

Answer 17

Functionalists argue that the working class does benefit from capitalism. Society is meritocratic, so the hard working and able are rewarded with high status and wealth. Success business people in turn provide a range of jobs for those with varying levels of ability. 
This view is criticised by Marxists, who point out that the difference in wealth and income between the middle and working classes continues to increase.

Question 18

Neo-Marxism:

Answer 18

Gramsci- claimed that the ruling class uses religion to maintain hegemonic control over the working class. He argued it’s not inevitable that religion much play such a conservative role in society. Influenced by Engels, who recognised that under certain circumstances, religion could become a focal point for the masses to rail against their oppressors.

Question 19

Neo-Marxism 2:

Answer 19

Gramsci proposed that the church could work alongside working class intellectuals to educate the masses about the reality of their plight. This would mean that they would overcome the false consciousness that prevents them realising they are in fact oppressed. In this way, religion could be used to empower the working class, spurring them on to improve their social situation. This notion of religion acting as a catalyst for social change is echoed by another neo-Marxist, Maduro, placing him on the opposing side of the debate.

Question 20

False consciousness

Answer 20

The illusion instilled into the working class that the capitalist system is fair for everyone in society.

Question 21

Hegemony

Answer 21

The ideological control that the ruling class elite have over the masses. Religious ideas and beliefs are an important part of this control.