Essay planning ( PEEL structure) 33 Marker

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  • Created by: Rachel
  • Created on: 04-10-15 18:19

Assess the claim that religion is a conservative force whcih maintains the status quo. (33 Marks)

Functionalists argue that religion is a conservative force which maintains value concensus, the agreement of core values and norms within society. They further develop this claim by stating that religious rituals such as masses bring society together thus creating social solidarity through shared religous experiences. Durkheim studied Australian Aboriginals who worshiped totums, each representitive to individual tribes. He concluded that through worshiping the totum as a society they were also worshiping society without knowling so. This subsiquently created collective conciousness, the shared norms, values and knowlage which make social life and cooperation possible. Furthermore, Functionalists argue that religion performs Psychological functions such as maintaining

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