Religion and Social Change

Question 1

How can religion be seen as a conservative force (2 reasons)

Answer 1

1. Religion is seen as traditional by possessing traditional beliefs of how society should be run that cannot be changed
2. Conserves and preserves society as the way things are, maintaining the status quo

Question 2

Examples of how religion holds conservative beliefs

Answer 2

Catholic church forbids abortions, same-sex marriage and contraception.
Favour patriarchal roles in family, role of bride is to “love, honour and obey” but husband role is only “love and honour”

Question 3

Functionalist view of religion as conservative force

Answer 3

Functions to maintain stability of society preventing society from disintegrating

Question 4

Marxist view of religion as conservative force

Answer 4

Ideology that supports ruling class only, only in interest of ruling class, maintaining status quo

Question 5

Feminist view of religion as conservative force

Answer 5

Daly - Ideology that suppresses women, maintaining status quo. Patriarchy goes unchallenged and cannot be changed.

Question 6

What major social change did Calvinism bring

Answer 6

Constructed modern capitalism, brought about democracy

Question 7

Outline Calvinist Beliefs and explain how they relate to capitalism

Answer 7

1. Predestination - God decides who is to be saved and there is nothing anybody can do to change this
2. Divine Transcendence- God has ultimate knowledge and power over people that no human could possibly claim
3. Asceticism- Self-discipline and denial to devoting their lives to God and not spending any of their luxuries on themselves but to reinvest it to their work.
4. Calling- Constant, methodical work to prove themselves, producing a work ethic

No work could earn salvation = salvation panic because they did not know whether or not they had been chosen to be saved or not.

Question 8

Criticisms of Weber theory

Answer 8

Capitalism created roles in calvinism. In Eastern World, other religions do not encourage capitalism

Question 9

American Civil Rights Movement (sociologist, how it promoted social change)

Answer 9

Bruce.
Black clergy shamed white clergy
MLK used sacred texts to shame white religious followers ie “Love thy neighbour”

This promoted social change and ended racial segregation in America by the end of 90s

Question 10

What is New Christian Right and why were they uncessful

Answer 10

1. Fundamentalist christian group

2. No social change occurred because values of group did not align with values of wider society.

Question 11

What is Relative Autonomy

Answer 11

Partly independent of the economic base of society, religion has a dual character by acting as a force for change and stability

Question 12

Describe how religion has a dual character.

Answer 12

Bloch argues religion has a dual character because it provides people with the principle of hope to promote social change and religion has been used and been successful to promote social change ie MLK movement however it is still a conservative force.

Question 13

What is liberation theology

Answer 13

Movement in El Salvador where the W/C protested against abuse they were receiving from ruling class ie poor living conditions

Was revolutionary beause they had support from organic intellects ie priests who had more power/authority in society

Result: Democratic country

Question 14

Define Hegemony

Answer 14

Gramsci concept to explain the way thats ruling class use religion to maintain control. Ideological domination.

Question 15

Outline 3 ways religion can support or challenge hegemony according to Billings?

Answer 15

Leadership - from organic intellectuals having the ability to gain followers
Organisation - Space to hold meetings, allowing members to destress and organise strikes
Support - Supportive sermons and prayers can hold morales high motivating members to engage and continue to do what they are doing.