Sociology – Paper 4 – Religion: Religion and social order | e-Consult
Paper 4 – Religion: Religion and social order (1 questions)
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- Mobilisation of collective identity: Religious groups often provide a shared sense of purpose that can unite disparate individuals. For example, the Civil Rights Movement in the United States was heavily influenced by African‑American churches, which offered organisational structures, moral authority, and a platform for leaders like Martin Luther King Jr.
- Challenge to existing power structures: New religious movements can question or directly confront established political and social orders. The rise of the Solidarity trade union in Poland was closely linked to the Catholic Church, which offered moral support and a protected space for dissent against the communist regime.
- Provision of social services: Faith‑based NGOs frequently fill gaps in welfare provision, thereby reshaping social policy. In many developing countries, Islamic charities deliver education and health services, influencing state approaches to social welfare.
- Promotion of social reforms: Religious doctrines can be interpreted to support progressive change. The feminist reinterpretation of Christianity in the 1970s helped advance gender equality debates within many Western churches.
Overall, religious movements act as catalysts for change by creating collective identities, challenging authority, delivering services, and reframing moral debates.