Value Consensus

To what extent do sociologists agree that the main functions of religion is

To create a value consensus (33 marks)

Each sociologist has a different view on what religions main function is as they have very different outlooks on society, which this would suggest not all sociologists would agree that creating a value consensus is the main function of religion.

The functionalists would strongly agree that religions main function is to create a value consensus amongst society as they believe religion is the process that brings people together. Durkheim explains that the binding of people together is done through the collective conscience as this involves believing religion is a social gathering to create a social solidarity and social order. He believes that without the collective conscience society would disintegrate. Religion provides people with ways of living their life and how to cooperate with others to share the same norms and values. When people are being brought together it helps to keep social cooperation amongst the people of the society. Functionalists believe that the religious rituals act as reason for people to come together through marriages, birth, deaths and puberty. For example, these rituals give people a reason to be ‘religious’ and attended the religious ceremonies.

However, Marxists would argue against this as they think that religion hasn’t got any motives except to benefit the ruling class and capitalism. Marxists believe that religion is in place to prevent capitalism from being overthrown. They believe this because they state that religion creates a false hope for people of poorer and of lower classes as they will be rewarded in the afterlife for their hard work and ability to survive. This false hope would reduce the chances of the ruling class being overthrown as they believe they will have a better afterlife if they comply with the rules of society and capitalism. The rewards they should receive in the afterlife masks the...