The View that Religion Acts as a Conservative Force on Society

The View that Religion Acts as a Conservative Force on Society

Even though sociologists do not have a true definition of religion

they believe that religion is a belief in the supernatural. Some

sociologists believe that religion acts as a conservative force. A

conservative force is something that prevents change within society

and also maintains the status quo.

Functionalist believes that religion is a conservative force. Durkhiem

believes that everybody shares the same beliefs and values that are

represented by sacred symbols. Durkhiem would argue that religion acts

as a conservative force as it reinforces the collective conscious.

Durkhiem would argue that as people worship in church they are

worshiping a set of values that society shares. Therefore the

collective conscious is reinforced and status quo is maintained.

Durkhiem’s study of the Australian aborigines “totemism” showed that

they had sacred symbol in which they worshiped, this is the totem

pole. He argued that when the aborigines worshiped the totem they were

worshiping society. This reinforced the collective conscious and

unified the group and allowed the status quo to be maintained.

Durkhiem would also agree that religion acts as a conservative force

as it helps social solidarity within society. He would argue that when

people worship in churches it brings people together creating social

solidarity, this reinforces the collective conscious and maintains the

status quo. Durkeim says that religion provides the individual with

the motivation to face up to life and social support based upon a

sense of belonging to each individual. This maintains the status quo

as it...

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...has made a lot more people aware

of alternative solutions than always depending upon god. Therefore

they are less likely to have behaviour governed by god, this leads to

social change. As there is now a large amount of religions that exist

in society people believe that it is better to not have a religion at

all, Berger argues that this leads to anomie as religion no longer

provides the meaning to life.

Nelson a sociologist also believes that religion does not act as

conservative. He argues that religion creates most of the problems

that occur within society, for example the conflict between two

religions in Northern Ireland (protestant and catholic) Nelson

believes that religion is the source of much unrest. Therefore as

religion is the cause of unrest within society it does not help to

maintain the status quo.