religion as a conservative force

what are the two ways Religion can be seen as a conservative force?

Religion can be seen as a conservative force in two senses:

1.  in the sense of being 'traditional', defending traditional customs, institutions, moral views, roles etc. In other words, it upholds traditional beliefs about how society should be organised.

2. It is conservative because it functions to conserve or preserve things as they are. It stabilises society and maintains the status quo.

Religion's beliefs

• Most religions have traditional conservative beliefs about m____ i____ and many of them oppose changes that would allow what?

• For example, the Catholic Church forbids what 3 things ?

• It opposes g___ m____ and condemns h____ b____

Religion's beliefs

• Most religions have traditional conservative beliefs about moral issues and many of them oppose changes that would allow individuals more freedom in personal and sexual matters. 

• For example, the Catholic Church forbids divorce, abortion and artificial contraception.

• It opposes gay marriage and condemns homosexual behaviour.

Religion's beliefs

• Similarly, most religions uphold 'f____ v___' and often favour what?

• For example, the belief that the man should be the head of the family was embedded where?

• The b___ v___ to 'l___, h___ and o___', but the groom is only r___ to 'l___ and h__.

Religion's beliefs

• Similarly, most religions uphold 'family values' and often favour a traditional patriarchal domestic division of labour.

• For example, the belief that the man should be the head of the family was embedded in the traditional marriage ceremony of the Church of England dating from 1602.

• The bride vows to 'love, honour and obey', but the groom is only required to 'love and honour.

Religion's beliefs

• Traditional conservative values also predominate what?

• For example, H___ endorses m____ d____ a___ and the practice of a____ m____.

Religion's beliefs

• Traditional conservative values also predominate in non-Christian religions.

• For example, Hinduism endorses male domestic authority and the practice of arranged marriage.

Religion's functions

• Religion is also a conservative force in that it functions to c____ or p__4 things as they are and maintain the s____ q___.

• This view of religion is held by who?

• Although each of these perspectives sees the role of religion differently, all of them argue that it contributes to s____ s____.

Religion's functions

• Religion is also a conservative force in that it functions to conserve or preserve things as they are and maintain the status quo.

• This view of religion is held by functionalists, Marxists and feminists. Although each of these perspectives sees the role of religion differently, all of them argue that it contributes to social stability.

Religion's functions : Religion and consensus→Functionalists

• why do Functionalists see religion as a conservative force ?

• For example, it promotes s____ s___ by creating c____, thus reducing the likelihood of what?

• It also helps individuals to deal with s____ that would otherwise d____ the life of society.

• ✗- By contrast, Marxists and feminists see religion as an i____that supports the existing s____ s____ and acts as a means of s___ c____, creating s___the interests of the p___.

• This helps to maintain the status quo how?

Religion's functions : Religion and consensus→Functionalists

• Functionalists see religion as a conservative force because it functions to maintain social stability and prevent society from disintegrating.

• For example, it promotes social solidarity by creating value consensus, thus reducing the likelihood of society collapsing through individuals pursuing their own selfish interests at the expense of others.

• It also helps individuals to deal with stresses that would otherwise disrupt the life of society.

• ✗- By contrast, Marxists and feminists see religion as an ideology that supports the existing social structure and acts as a means of social control, creating stability in the interests of the powerful.

• This helps to maintain the status quo by preventing the less powerful from changing things.

Religion's functions : Religion and capitalism →Marxists

• Marx sees religion as a c____i___- that prevents s____ c____.

• By legitimating or disguising e_____ and i_____, it creates a f_____c____ in the working class and prevents r____, thereby maintaining the s____of c____s_

Religion's functions : Religion and capitalism →Marxists

• Marx sees religion as a conservative ideology that prevents social change.

• By legitimating or disguising exploitation and inequality, it creates a false consciousness in the working class and prevents revolution, thereby maintaining the stability of capitalist society

Religion's functions : Religion and patriarchy →feminists

• Feminists see religion as a conservative force -why?

Religion's functions : Religion and patriarchy →feminists

• Feminists see religion as a conservative force because it acts as an ideology that legitimates patriarchal power and maintains women’s subordination in the family and wider society