Religion May Serve to Maintain an Existing Social Order, a Standard

Essay

Religion may serve to maintain an existing social order, a standard argument being, "while you might suffer in this life, you will be rewarded in the next one." This logic prevailed throughout much of the early history of the Catholic Church in the New World. How does religion work to maintain the existing social order today? Describe the roles and functions of religion in our society today using evidence from the text, along with your own experiences.