APPLYING MATERIAL FROM ITEM A, ANALYSE TWO ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT OF THE IDEA THAT RELIGION IS A CONSERVATIVE SOCIAL FORCE

APPLYING MATERIAL FROM ITEM A, ANALYSE TWO ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT OF THE IDEA THAT RELIGION IS A CONSERVATIVE SOCIAL FORCE (10 MARKS)

ITEM A: 

RELIGIONS TYPICALLY HOLD STRONG BELIEFS AND VALUES ABOUT ISSUES SUCH AS FAMILY LIFE, GENDER ROLES AND RELATIONSHIPS, SEXUALITY AND HOW SOCIETY SHOULD BE ORGANISED. THROUGH ITS RITUALS, RELIGION CAN MAKE INDIVIDUALS FEEL PART OF SOMETHING GREATER THAN THEMSELVES AND BIND THEM TOGETHER, CURBING THEIR SELFISHNESS AND ENABLING THEM TO COOPERATE TO ACHIEVE SHARED GOALS. HOWEVER RELIGION HAS OFTEN BEEN CLOSELY ALLIED TO PRIVELEDGED GROUPS IN SOCIETY AND HAS BEEN ACCUSED OF UPHOLDING THEIR INTERESTS.

As Item A states, religions hold stron beliefs and values about issues like family life and gender roles. This can be seen that religion holds traditional beliefs about how society should be 'organised'. An example of one church that supports the idea that religion is a conservative social force is the Catholic Church. This church forbids divorce, abortion, artificial contraception, gay marriage and any homosexual activity. This shows…