Question

Functionalists argue that religion serves the function of social control and support for the government. religion helps maintain social control by conferring __________ on the norms and laws of a society.

Answer 1

By conferring the supernatural legitimacy on the norms and laws you strengthen the social control as now the laws and norms are in connection to some force that is larger than man. Also according to Emile Dukrheim the religion is the thing that promotes social solidarity while other thinkers also propose that religion contributes to the social cohesion.