Religion and Social Change Flashcards
(15 cards)
In what two senses can religion be seen as a conservative force?
-Defends traditional customs and beliefs
-Maintains the status quo/ keep things as they are
What conservative beliefs do religions hold?
-Hold conservative beliefs about moral issues
-Oppose changes that would allow more freedom e.g catholic church forbids divorce, abortion and contraception
-Most religions uphold family values e.g man should be head of the house
How do the different perspectives argue religion acts as a conservative force?
-It helps to maintain status quo
-Marxist argue it prevents social change by ensuring working class do not rebel against capitalism
-Feminists see it legitimises patriarchal power and maintains womens subordination
-Functionalists argues it maintains social stability and ensures social integration
According to Weber, how can religion be a force for social change?
-Argues that religion led to the development of modern capitalism (making profit for profit sake not consumption)
4 calvinist beliefs:
-predestination; God determines who is saved and nothing can change this
- divine transcendence; God is far above this world, no one can claim to know his will> salvation panic -asceticism; abstinence ,self-discipline
-the idea of a vocation; to serve God and reduce salvation panic e.g hard work
-This worldly asceticism meant they accumulated wealth>reinvested it to get more profit> modern capitalism
-Prospering was seen as a sign of God’s favour/salvation> psychological function
According to Weber, why did modern capitalism not develop in Ancient India (Hinduism) and Ancient China (Confucianism)
-Other factors e.g materials and economic factors needed for development
Hinduism- has materials and was ascetic in lifestyle but were otherworldly (spiritual world)
Confucianism- Had materials and was this worldly but didnt have ascetic lifestyle
-Both factors needed to be a cause of capitalism
How can Webers view be criticised?
Kautsky- Overstates the role of ideas in leading to capitalism rather than acknowledging economic factors capitalism actually preceded calvinism
According to Bruce, how was religion used as a force for social change in the civill Rights movement
-American Civil Rights movement aimed to end racial segregation e.g segregation in schools
-Bruce argues the black clergy led by MLK were the backbone of the movement, giving support and and shaming white people by using biblical scripture to highlight hypocrisy
Religious organisations can contribute to social change by;
-Taking moral high ground; pointing out hypocrisy
-Chanelling dissent; MLK murder acted as a rallying point
-Acting as an honest broker; Churches respected by both sides in conflict
-Mobilising public opinion; campaining for support
According to Bruce how was religion can be unsuccesful as a force for social change in terms of the New Christian Right
-The protestant fundamentalist movement has gained popularity since the 1960
-Has traditional beliefs about the family and gender roles e.g strongly oppose abortion, campaign for the teaching of ‘creationism’
-Use the media e.g televangelism to recruit new members
-Unsuccessful as it didn’t appeal to the majority of american society who held liberal/democratic values so didnt mind divorce/abortion
-Need to connect with mainstream beliefs to be succesful
What do marxists recognise about religious ideas?
-They can be a force of social change as religion has a dual character
-Religious ideas can have relative autonomy from the economic base and challenge the status quo
-e.g members of the church supporting rebellions
How does Bloch see religion?
Argues that religion has a dual character and can act as a ‘principle of hope’ (our images of a better life/utopia)
-These images can sometimes decieve people but can sometimes show what needs to be changed in this world
-When these ideas are paired with effective leadership> social change
How can Liberation theology be used to show how religion can be used as a force of social change?
Catholic church were previously very conservative and accepted poverty in rural areas
-Lt then emerged in response to the growth of poverty as well as human rights abuses following military takeovers
-They showed commitment to the poor and opposition to military dictatorships
-Priests helped fight oppression, lead literacy programmes, educating the poor about their situation, raising awareness etc
-However, in the 1980’s the churches attitude to Lt changed, likening it to marxism
-Still played a role in resisting dictatorship and bringing about democracy
What is meant by the pentecostal challenge?
Recently, Lt has been competing with pentecostal churches
-Both provide options for the poor but pentecostalism is more conservative, focusing on individual self-improvement whereas LT proposed more radical change
What are millenarian movements and how can they show religion as a force of social change?
-A religious group that appear mainly to the poor and promise immediate improvement and arise in colonial situations
-Worsley argue they expect this transformation via supernatural means, creating heaven on earth
-Cargo cults argued that the cargo being delivered was meant for them and was being unjustly taken by the ‘whites’> this lead to widespread unrest
-These movements later developed into secular political movements that overthrew colonial rule in 1950/60
What is Gramsci’s view of religion and social change
-Religion has a dual character
-The ruling class control society through the use of ideas (hegemony-ideological domination)
-However in some circumstances religion can be used to challenge the ruling classes control by helping us to see through the ruling class hegemony
-Some clergy may act as organic intellectuals to help workers see their situation
How does Billings study support Gramscis idea?
Two communtiies- coal miners and textile workers both were working class evangelical protestants
-The coal miners were much more millitant, fighting for better recognition whilst textile workers accepted status quo
-Billings argues this is due to the leadership of organic intellecutals (lay preachers) who guided them towards trade unions who were also miners, textile workers lacked this
-Coal miners had organisation as they used independet churches as meeting spaces where they kept morale high through sermons. Textile workers lacked organisation so no place to build morale
-Billings study shows religion can either be used to defend status quo or justify struggle to challenge it depending on the presence of organic intellectuals
