Sandesh Jain: Sociology I answer copy

Durkheim in his work 'Elementary forms of religious life' described it as unified system of belief and practices, relative to sacred i.e. to say things set apart and forbidden. Beliefs and practices unite into single community called church.

Religion as source of consensus

1. Durkheim argued that religion promote solidarity and interdependence
2. socialize people into accepted norms and values
3. Parsons argued that religion perform function of personality stabilization that helps to build consensus.
4. Durkheim further added, religion is nothing but a collective consensus of society. while worshipping religion, society worship itself.

Religion as source of conflict

1. Jean Holms argued that all world religions legitimize exploitative notions of patriarchy.
2. Marx argued religion as manifestation of alienation, which act as painkiller and mask the disease of inequality to legitimise the conflict.
3. Althusser view religion as ideological state apparatus in hand of have class to exploit have nots.
4. Gramsci argued that religion asserts hegemony of have class.
5. Religion as cause of backwardness.