Religion as a conseravtive force for change or?

Question 1

What sociologists argue that religion can lead to social change? Eg a revolutionary force

Answer 1

• Weber
• Nelson
• Mcguire

Question 2

What does Weber’s argument have to do with religion being a revolutionary force ?

Answer 2

.

Question 3

How useful is Weber’s contribution to our understanding of religion as a revolutionary force

Answer 3

• It is useful because it accepts religions part in developing capitalism which is a huge economic change

Question 4

What is Nelsons argument that religion acts as a revolutionary force for change ?

Answer 4

• Nelson argues that religion promotes social change and revolution because it can encourage a resistance . eg the Iran revolution and the Archbishops tu tu. contrary to conflict views on religion , religion goes far beyond people accepting there place in society

Question 5

What is the Neo marxists perspective on religion being a force for change?

Answer 5

Maduro - criticises traditional marxism suggesting that traditional ,max ideas are too economically deterministic they argues that it only serves a purpose of fulfilling capitalism where as neo marxists like maduro acknowledge that religious institutions can be a voice for the oppressed that enables the marginalised to have an outlet and shape there consciousness and provide a revolution for example martin luther king , the burmese monks in response to capitalist ideologies like the rise in gas prices and desmond tu tu

• Religion offers a liberation theology - a religious justification for the oppressed

Question 6

Which theorist criticises marxs ideas ?

Answer 6

• Mudro- neo marxists

Question 7

What is Mcguires ideas on religion leading to social change ?

Answer 7

• Mcguire suggests that religion can lead to social change but only in the right circumstances she suggests that there are four key factors that may affect/ influence whether or not religion can lead to social change.
  1. The beliefs and practices of religion - some religions are critical of society and have strong moral codes which can lead to social change eg Christianity however religions such as buddhists are focused on the spiritual and therefore do no seek to make social change
  2. The culture of society - In societies where religion is at its center and its culture religion can be used for social change eg in latin america where religion is the foundation of culture it can be used against corruption and as a escape from the dangers of the outside world. however societies that do not have a strong religious foundation/ culture such as britain there cannot be justifications for social change
  3. The organisations relationship to society- Some religious organisations are much more central; to the cultural , political and economic life of a society which are more likely to promote and produce social change , eg churches bring/ re unite people together where as cults and yoga are much less influential to society
  4. The presence of a centralised authority in times where religion has lead to social change there has been a charismatic leader which has lead to this revolution eg MLK and desmund tu tu

Question 8

What is the liberation theology and who speaks about it >

Answer 8

• MAUDRO - liberation theology is a religious justification for the liberation of the oppressed

Question 9

Is mcguires theory useful >

Answer 9

• it is useful because it looks at the ider factors that can either influence or plays a role in creating or prohibiting social change
• It is not useful because it does not clearly reflect/ provide and explanation for creating a revolution but on the other hand promoting stability, its a conflicting theory

Question 10

Can religion promote a revolution for change back to traditional beliefs

Answer 10

yes - in some cases religion can promote social change in order to return back to traditional values for example
Religious fundamentalism

Question 11

What is Religious fundamentalism

Answer 11

Religious fundamentalism is the idea of suing literal interpretations of religion to return back to tradition
- Religious fundamentalists desire a return to traditional values and beliefs they oppose liberal values and the idea if westernisation such as pro choice , abortion , same sex couples , sex , sex before marriage etc

• some fundamentalists can express there desire to revert back to traditional time politically for example the christian rights influence on politics in America eg texas abortion law was influenced by the Christian right . however others peacefully isolate themselves from wider society such as the amish
• Extremist fundamentalism- this is a more extreme group that is violet and offensive in there expression of views including terrorists attacks or confrontational protests eg isis and al qaeda who are fighting a holy war against the west and the westboro baptist church that openly opposes the growth of liberal values

Question 12

What is the impact of social change on beliefs , practices and organisations

Answer 12

• The impact of social change etc has lead to changes in society and globally has played a role in shaping peoples beliefs.
• Wilson argues that modern day society has been subjected to rapid social change which has lead to uncertainty and anomie due to the increased in shared values which has lead to people turning to religious organisations such as cults and sects because they are strict and provide a defined lifestyle in a world full of uncertainty
• Social change has also lead to religious principles being watered down to fit social norms today in order to fit into a secular society example the pope marrying 20 cohabiting couples this shows a shift in Christian values
• Social change according to bruce has lead to the increase in religious fundamentalism eg the christian right has emerged due to the spread of liberal values however in wider society religious fundamentalism was the response to changes being made from an outside world eg the rise of islamic fundamentalism in the Iranian revolution which was a response to westoxification
• postmodernity and globalisation- postmodernists would argue that we have seen a shift from modernity to postmodernity and globalisation which has lead to the increase in religious diversity and a spiritual marketplace

Question 13

What are some concepts on social change ?

Answer 13

-

Question 14

What does it mean by religion acts as a conservative force and source of stability ?

Answer 14

• This takes on two meanings that suggest that religion
• maintains social stability and maintains the status quo ( keeps society the same) or that religion maintains conservative , traditional beliefs and values

Question 15

Who argues that religion is a conservative force ?

Answer 15

Durkehim and Parsons

Question 16

What is the Funct argument that religion acts as a conservative force ?

Answer 16

• Functionalists takes a positive perspective on religion suggesting that it maintains traditions and stability in society eg
• Durkheim argues that religion is used to maintain social solidarity through collective worship which reinforces a value consensus. Therefore reinforcing stability because it suggests the idea of collective worship this ensures everyone stays the same
• Parsons- he argues that religion is used as mechanism of adjustment in times of uncertainty which enables stability to be maintained because religion provides certainty in times of chose and uncertainty for example an unexpected death ., birth etc

Question 17

How does the new right reinforce religion being a conservative force ?

Answer 17

• Because the new right and the christian right are concerned with the moral breakdown of society and use religion as a force for maintaining traditional values they promote those traditional values that were once the social norm for example making abortions illegal ( example texas and the christian west baptist church influencing this) , Views on marriage - this is seen as a stable relationship

Question 18

What are marxists ideas on religion acting as a conservative force?

Answer 18

They are agree that religion does maintain stability but at the expense of class equality, they argue that religion maintains stability and the status quo by legitimising capitalism thus legitimising the class divisions that come with it

marx suggests that religion acts as an instrument of of oppression - through the transmissions of ruling class ideology and making the working class do jobs that do not benefit them but create profit for the ruling class

• Marx also suggests that religion cushions the affects of religion - this is known as an opium of the people which numbs the proletariat from there oppression and exploitation eg Hindu cast system

Question 19

Why is the Hindu Cast system significant to marxs beliefs of religion reinforcing capitalism /?

Answer 19

-Because it forced the working class to give there money away

Question 19

Why is the Hindu Cast system significant to marxs beliefs of religion reinforcing capitalism /?

Answer 19

-Because it forced the working class to give there money away

Question 20

What is the fem argument that religion acts as a conservative force and maintains traditions ?

Answer 20

Radical fems suggest that religion maintains traditions thus maintaining patriarchy , according to EL SAADWI islam is an example of how religion has been used to justify the oppression of women and reinforce patriarchal ideology example female mutilation. this has been reinforced through the veil and the menstrual cycle which has been described as polluting

Question 21

Which theorist argues that religion acts as a conservative force which reinforces patriarchy ?

Answer 21

El saadawi- female mutilation

Question 22

Which theorist argues that religion acts as a conservative force which reinforces capitalism ?

Answer 22

MARX - cushions the affect of oppression

Question 23

What religion / theory is concerned with the moral breakdown of conservative values ?

Answer 23

The new right/ christain right

Question 24

Which theory argues that religion maintains stability ?

Answer 24

• Functionalism - Durkehim- social solidarity - collective worship
• Parsons - mechanism of adjustment

Question 25

Which theorist argues that religion is a revolutionary force therefore leads to social change ?

Answer 25

WEBER - calvanism - changed the economy- contributed to the development of capitalism -

Question 26

Who argued that religion can be a voice for the oppressed ?

Answer 26

Neo marxists- Maduro - liberation theology- eg burmese monks , MLK

Question 27

who argues that religion can lead to social change but only in the right circumstances

Answer 27

• Mcguire- 4 factors

Question 28

What religious groups suggest that religion is a conservative force but needs revolution in order to go back to the traditional values ?

Answer 28

Religious fundamentalism- using the literal interpretations of religion to return back to tradition