2) Religion and Social Change

• Conservative Force - meaning


  it wants thing to remain the same.
• Two main reasons religion can be seen as a conservative force:


  One - Upholds traditional beliefs about how society should be organised defending traditional customs, institutions, moral views, roles etc. Two - stabilises society and maintains the status quo. Functions to conserve or preserve things as they are.
• Christianity - traditional values


  no co-habitation before marriage, the man should be head of the family (bride vows), no sex before marriage (sacred thing), forbid divorce and same sex marriage.
• Catholic - traditional values


  forbid abortion (seen as murder) and divorce.
• Hinduism - traditional values


  the male role in finding a match and endorse male domestic authority and the practice of arranged marriage.
• Religion acts as a conservative force as 


  it serves to keep things the way they are and religion contributes to social stability. View is held by functionalists, marxists and feminists.
• Religion and Consensus - Functionalists

  • creates social solidarity and shared norms. Prevents change and limiting peoples selfish desires and individualism.
• Religion and Consensus - Functionalists

  • creates social solidarity and shared norms. Prevents change and limiting peoples selfish desires and individualism.
  • maintains social solidarity ie. traditional roles/morals.
  • creates value consensus, reducing the likelihood of society collapsing.
  • helps individuals deal with stress that would otherwise disrupt the life of society
• Religion and Capitalism - Marxists

  • religion is a ruling class ideology teaches ideas and benefits the ruling class.
  • religions conserves capitalism creates false consciousness and prevents revolution.
  • maintaining social control and the stability of capitalist society.
• Religion and Patriarchy - Feminists

  • religion conserves patriarchy deforces traditional gender roles teaches women its a mens world
  • Church of England opposed the legislation of same sex marriage (2013)
  • maintains women's subordination in the family and wider society.
  • through sacred texts, religious organisations, rules and customs.