Beliefs in Society

Unit 3 – A2 Sociology

Introduction It can be argued that religion and society share a

cause-and-effect relationship. Sometimes changes in society effect religion. Some see religion as a method of prevention for

change in society taking place as it aims to retain traditional and conservative values.

Other times, religion causes a change in society and society has to adopt a new moral code/order.

Inhibiting changeFunctionalism: Religion contributes to the well-being, stability and

value consensus of society. DURKHEIM - social life can only exist if values are

shared and society is integrated into a coherent whole. The relationship between humans and God is reflective

of the relationship between humans and society. It is not God who punishes us, but rather society.

Collective worship reinforces social solidarity, restrains deviant behaviour and restricts social change.

Marxism: Karl Marx believed that religion is a tool of

class exploitation and oppression. Rewards such as the afterlife ease the pain of

believing that the world is a result of God’s will and is unchangeable.

Social relationships seem inevitable and God-given.

Religion involves the distortion of 'reality', it is ideological.

Criticisms of functionalism It is claimed that Durkheim's analysis is

not applicable to societies that are typified by cultural diversity.

The idea that religion is the worship of society has been criticised - as an argument it is difficult to substantiate other than through some notion of false consciousness since people clearly believe they are worshipping God.

Criticisms of Marxism Marx’s approach takes a documentary

nature, but looking at the nature of faith and the way in which the religion of the poor concentrates on the afterlife.

Also there are some traditional Marxists who adopt the view that religion can bring about social change, a position also adopted by some neo-Marxists.