belief in society topic 2

Question 1

what is conservative force?

what is force for social change?

Answer 1

1. religion prevents social change
2. religion can lead to development and advances

Question 2

what 3 people say religion is conservative force?
( mini topic 1)

Answer 2

1. functionalist : maintain social solidarity
2. Marxist: prevents revolution
3. feminist: religion is patrichay

Question 3

what 3 people say religion is force for social change?

Answer 3

1. Bruce
2. neo Marxism - bloch and maduro

3.weber

Question 4

why does Bruce say religion is force for social change? ( 5)

Answer 4

1. he uses civil right movement in USA 1950s

2.civil right movement included protest, boycotts and demonstrations demanding equality and legal rights for black people

3. he argues clergy ( preachers) such as Martin Luther king were the leaders of the movements

4) the black clergy’s were able to shame the whites into changing the law to their share Christian values of equality

5) Bruce therefore says religion acted as ideological resource- providing beliefs the campaigners could turn to.

Question 5

neo Marxist theory - religion is a force for social change

• who is first neomarxist theorist and why does he think religion is a force for social change?
• who is second neomarxist theorist and why does he think religion can be a force for social change?

-

Answer 5

1. Bloch
   - by presenting the principle of hope
   - our dreams for a better life that includes images of utopia.
   - religion can therefore help people see what needs to change in society and combine with effective political leadership which can bring about social change
2. maduro = argues religion can be revolutionary force and uses liberation theory as a example to back his views
   - liberation theology is movement that started within catholic church in brazil ( 1960s).
   - at the time their were extreme poverty and dictorial government which committed to human right abuse
   - as result catholic priest developed a theology based on praxis.
   - this help the poor establish support groups called base communities, develop educational programmes. teaching poor how to improve their situation.

.

Question 6

why does weber think religion is a force for social change?

Answer 6

Weber argues created capitalism.
- weber studies Calvinism
- Calvinist believed in predetermination - this is were God determined every aspect in their life and there is nothing they can do about. this created salvation panic amongst Calvinist because they didn’t know what will happen to them when they died.
- to help them cope with this panic Calvinist practiced asceticism ( self denial and discipline)
- the also had protestant work ethic ( glorify their God through work)
- capitalism is economic system based on systematic, rational and efficient pursuit of profit
- Calvinists had elective affinity with capitalism
- as Calvinist had protestant work ethic but didn’t spend their money on luxury but reinvested in their business helping them grow - this created capitalism causing social change.

Question 7

evaluation of weber theory? positive and negative

Answer 7

positive = points out material factors are not enough to bring about social change but cultural factors such as religion are also important

weakness = technological changes brought about capitalism not religious beliefs.

Question 8

who says religion can be both A CONSERVATIVE FORCE + FORCE FOR SOCIAL CHANGE?

Answer 8

chrisitian and Islamic fundamentalism

Question 9

what is religious fundamentalism?

Answer 9

return to basics of religion.
- it involves literal interpretation of religious text and strict moral codes of behaviour.

Question 10

why is Christian fundamentalism a force for social change and conservative force?

Answer 10

New right Christian is protestant fundamentalism movement in USA.
- they opposed to liberasling American society e.g opposed to abortion, same sex marriage and divorce.
- it started in 1979 where jerry fadwell + small group of preachers found moral majority movement ( political movement which aim to return to traditional values)
- the election of regean as president in 1980s has been seen by some indication of the mms power. regean shared many of their views.
- so did George bush and trump.
- also exemplified the following in 2005 , Californian assembly passed the law of same sex marriages. they opposed to that and the law was reversed as they claimed the law “ threatened the sanctity of the family”

Question 11

what is criticism of new right Christians?

Answer 11

Bruce argues its has been unsuccessful taking America back to God because :

1. moral majority were actually made up of 15% of us citizen

2.it does not cooperate from people with other religions

3.it faced strong opposition from liberation organisations.

Question 12

how is Islamic fundamentalism act a force for social change?

• how did Islamic fundamentalism act as conservative force?

Answer 12

for social change:
- in 1960s shah ( ruler of Iran ) felt that Islamic culture was holding back the modernisation of the country and introduced process of social change such as westernisation attitudes and laws.
- this help create small wealthy elite whilst most live in poverty.

conservative force
- however in 1970s ayatollah blamed the country poverty on decline of Islam and introduction of westernisation therefore exiled shah and disposed the westernisation and introduced Islamic laws according to the Quran.