Religion and Social change

Question 1

What are the two broad groups of sociologists studying religion?

Answer 1

Those who see religion as a conservative force and those who see it as a force for social change.

Question 2

How is religion viewed as a conservative force?

Answer 2

It is seen as traditional, defending customs and moral views, and it functions to preserve the status quo.

Question 3

What are traditional conservative beliefs in most religions?

Answer 3

Many religions oppose changes allowing more freedom in personal and sexual matters, such as divorce and abortion.

Question 4

What family values do most religions uphold?

Answer 4

They often favor a traditional patriarchal domestic division of labor, such as the belief that the man should be the head of the family.

Question 5

How do non-Christian religions reflect traditional conservative values?

Answer 5

For example, Hinduism endorses male domestic authority and arranged marriage.

Question 6

What role does religion play in maintaining social stability?

Answer 6

Functionalists see it as a conservative force that promotes social solidarity and reduces the likelihood of societal collapse.

Question 7

How do Marxists and feminists view religion’s role in society?

Answer 7

They see it as an ideology that supports the existing social structure and acts as a means of social control.

Question 8

What is Marx’s view on religion and capitalism?

Answer 8

He sees religion as a conservative ideology that legitimizes exploitation and prevents social change.

Question 9

What does Weber argue about Calvinism?

Answer 9

He argues that Calvinism helped bring about modern capitalism through its religious beliefs.

Question 10

What is the ‘spirit of capitalism’ according to Weber?

Answer 10

It refers to the systematic, rational pursuit of profit for its own sake, which aligns with Calvinist beliefs.

Question 11

What is predestination in Calvinist beliefs?

Answer 11

It is the belief that God has predetermined who will be saved and that individuals cannot change this.

Question 12

What does asceticism refer to in Calvinism?

Answer 12

It refers to abstinence and self-discipline, such as monks leading an ascetic existence.

Question 13

What is divine transcendence in Calvinist beliefs?

Answer 13

It is the belief that God is so far above the world that no human can know His will, leading to a sense of ‘salvation panic’.

Question 14

What is the difference between other-worldly and this-worldly asceticism?

Answer 14

Calvinism introduces this-worldly asceticism, emphasizing work as a calling to glorify God, unlike the other-worldly focus of previous beliefs.

Question 15

What psychological function did wealth serve for Calvinists?

Answer 15

Wealth was seen as a sign of God’s favor, helping them cope with their salvation panic.

Question 16

How did Calvinists accumulate wealth?

Answer 16

They worked long hours, led an ascetic lifestyle, and reinvested their profits, embodying the spirit of modern capitalism.

Question 17

What does Weber argue about the causes of modern capitalism?

Answer 17

He argues that Calvinist beliefs were one of the causes, but material factors were also necessary.

Question 18

What does Weber say about Hinduism and Confucianism in relation to capitalism?

Answer 18

He notes that both had higher economic development than Europe but lacked a belief system like Calvinism to spur capitalism.

Question 19

What criticisms do Marxists have of Weber’s view?

Answer 19

They argue that he overestimates the role of ideas and underestimates economic factors in the development of capitalism.

Question 20

How does Steve Bruce describe the American civil rights movement?

Answer 20

He describes it as a religiously motivated social change aimed at ending racial segregation.

Question 21

What sparked the civil rights movement in 1955?

Answer 21

Rosa Parks refused to sit at the back of a bus in Montgomery, Alabama.

Question 22

What role did the black clergy play in the civil rights movement?

Answer 22

They provided support, moral legitimacy, and meeting places for activists.

Question 23

How did the black clergy appeal to whites during the civil rights movement?

Answer 23

They shamed whites into changing laws by appealing to shared Christian values of equality.

Question 24

What are some ways religious organizations can support social change?

Answer 24

• Mobilising public opinion: Black churches in the South successfully campaigned for support across the whole of America
• Taking the moral high ground: Black clergy pointed out the hypocrisy of white clergy who preached ‘love thy neighbour’ but supported racial segregation

Question 25

What is the aim of the New Christian Right?

Answer 25

To take America 'back to God' by opposing liberalization and promoting traditional values.

Question 26

What challenges does the New Christian Right face?

Answer 26

Difficulty cooperating with other religious groups and strong opposition from those supporting freedom of choice.

Question 27

How does Bruce describe the success of the New Christian Right?

Answer 27

He describes it as a failed movement that has not achieved its aim of imposing Protestant fundamentalist morality.

Question 28

What is Marxists' view on the dual character of religion?

Answer 28

They recognize that religion can be both a force for stability and a force for change.

Question 29

What does Engels argue about religion?

Answer 29

He argues that while religion disguises inequality, it can also inspire social change.

Question 30

What is Bloch's view on religion?

Answer 30

He sees it as having a dual character, capable of inhibiting change but also inspiring protest and rebellion.

Question 31

What is Bloch's view of religion?

Answer 31

Bloch sees religion as having a dual character, recognizing both its positive and negative influence on social change.

Question 32

How does Bloch describe the principle of hope?

Answer 32

For Bloch, religion is an expression of 'the principle of hope' - our dreams of a better life that contain images of utopia.

Question 33

# Bloch What are the potential effects of images of utopia?

Answer 33

Images of utopia can deceive people with promises of rewards in heaven, but they may also help people see what needs to be changed in this world.

Question 34

What is liberation theology?

Answer 34

Liberation theology is a movement that emerged within the Catholic Church in Latin America at the end of the 1960s, with a strong commitment to the poor and opposition to military dictatorships.

Question 35

What factors led to the emergence of liberation theology?

Answer 35

Factors include deepening rural poverty, human rights abuses following military take-overs, and the growing commitment among Catholic priests to support the poor.

Question 36

How does liberation theology differ from traditional Catholicism?

Answer 36

Unlike traditional Catholicism, which supported the status quo, liberation theology set out to change society by helping the poor establish support groups.

Question 37

What was the Church's attitude towards liberation theology in the 1980s?

Answer 37

During the 1980s, Pope John Paul II condemned liberation theology, instructing priests to focus on pastoral activities rather than political struggle.

Question 38

What impact did liberation theology have despite losing influence?

Answer 38

Liberation theology played an important part in resisting state terror and bringing about democracy, and it continues to defend democracy and human rights.

Question 39

What are millenarian movements?

Answer 39

Millenarian movements are religious movements that express a desire to bring about a better world, often expecting a total transformation by supernatural means.

Question 40

What does the term 'millennium' refer to in Christian theology?

Answer 40

In Christian theology, it refers to the idea that Christ will return to rule for a thousand years before the Day of Judgement.

Question 41

Why do millenarian movements appeal to the poor?

Answer 41

They promise immediate improvement and often arise in colonial situations where traditional structures have been disrupted.

Question 42

What is Gramsci's concept of hegemony?

Answer 42

Gramsci uses hegemony to describe how the ruling class uses ideas like religion to maintain control and gain popular consent.

Question 43

Can hegemony be challenged according to Gramsci?

Answer 43

Yes, hegemony is never guaranteed, and the working class can develop a counter-hegemony that challenges the ruling class.

Question 44

What role can clergy play in the context of hegemony?

Answer 44

Some clergy may act as organic intellectuals, helping workers understand their situation and supporting working-class organizations.