beliefs Flashcards
Radical Force
religion does cause change in society
Conservative force
religion does not cause change in society
theories that argue religion is a conservative force
functionalism, i.e. peace and harmony
Marxism i.e. capitalist societal order
feminism i.e. patriarchy
these theories believe that religion maintains social order
theory that argues religion is a radical force
neo-marxism - liberation theology study
religion can cause change.
Weber’s ‘Calvinism study’
a neo-marxist that believed religion can cause change, his study focused on the development of capitalism as well as the importance of religion in process of change. did a comparative historical analysis of Calvinism with other countries.
he also compared Calvinism to Hinduism found that the economic conditions between the two are present. Hinduism lack rational values to allow capitalism to develop.
features of Calvinism that helped develop CAPITALISM
{religious ideas of Calvinism gave birth to capitalism within a society which capitalism did not exist}.
PREDESTINATION - the idea that some will be saved and that some will be doomed.
leads to people not knowing weather they will be saved or not this has led to SALVATION PANIC - anxiety about the individual been chosen. in order to cope with this anxiety they must be successful i.e. become rich and wealthy. led to intense world activities like sleeping for long is looked down upon.
HARD WORK, SAVING MONEY, MODESTY AS WELL AS SELF INDULGENCE BECAME PART OF THE PROTESTANT ETHIC. THE IMPORTANT VALUE THAT HELPED DEVELOP CAPITALISM.
hard work generates more profit which cannot be wasted on luxuries and pleasure but instead used to invest into the business in order to promote opportunities for hard work.
crit of Webar
some argue that the development of capitalism was partially due to piracy, plunder and profiteering NOT CALVINISM.
MARXISTS ARGUE THAT CAPITALISM came before Calvinism, and capitalism used Calvinism to justify exploiting the proletariat (working class).
some places in Europe, Calvinism existed but did not develop quickly alongside capitalist lines like Scotland for instance.
NEO MARXISTS - religion can cause change
neo marxists argue that religion can change and resist the power of the ruling class, for instance MADURO believes that religion can cause change and uses the liberation study , it concerns about the poverty and by foreign powers and local dictators. catholic priests voiced their concerns, has even killed some members of the government in their fight for a change. they don’t believe religion is used as a tool of oppression.
EXAMPLES OF RELIGION CAUSING CHANGE
MARTIN LUTHER KING AND MALCOLM X inspired by their religious beliefs to fight for racial equality.
ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALISM, Afghanistan and Iraq had groups like the Taliban impose the traditional values of the Q. however their interpretation is disputed by many.
*usually fundamentalists tends to be CONSERVATIVE CHANGE, protecting the traditional values but the RADICAL CHANGE would be overthrowing the old system and replacing it with new ideas.
phenomonolgy in religion
looks at what religion provides for the individual rather than the role it plays for society as a whole. looks at how members of society use religion to contribute to the construction of the meaningful world by actors.
an action theory which believe that actors create society.
berger sees religion as a sacred canopy stretching over society, provides a shield/ protects them from the meaningless and pointlessness of life. helps them interpret and make sense of the world and the position they are in.
religion provides the universe of meaning, set of ideas and values about the meaning of life helps people make sense of the world.
c.
religion may be replaced with science, no longer provides a sacred canopy or universe of meaning.
post modernists claim their is no longer an agreed universe of meaning, people interepret and follow religion in more individual ways.
structural theorists argue that religion can only be understood by looking at how it plays in society as a whole not how people create society. i.e. taking a macro instead of a micro approach.
post modernism summary
gender/ethnicity.class are no longer relevent. knowledge is relative not absolute. PM argue that religions are not declining but are changing to acommadate to a changing society.
believing without belonging {believe in islam but dont go to mosque}
davie argues that religion is taking a more privatised approach/attendance is a personal choice/believing without belonging where people hold beliefs but do not attend a place of worship. linked to televangilism where people can express their beliefs through the digital world without physically going to the church.
c. Bruce argues that people that not willing to invest time in place of worship may not have strong beliefs.
spiritual shopping/DIY beliefs
spiritual shoppers/ forming a DIY approach to beliefs, combining elements of different faiths to suit tastes and identity/ religion becoming more personalised and privatised, pick and mix/ different beliefs are responsible for creating their own religious identites. religion has become a spiritual supermarket.
consumer market/consumed the same way as a product/competition between religious products leads to a decline in traditional religions/not declining but changing.
c. bruce argues that people may not be free to choose their beliefs as consumers/manipulated through advertisments and believing they express individuality/instead another mass consumers/incidents where members are disowned in the family for rejecting the reigion of their forefathers.
cultural amnesia
children are given a choice/society being focused on child centredness and social equality/parents allow their children to choose their faiths/led to traditional beliefs being passed down through generations has been lost or forgotten.
new age/spirituality/bruce argues that these caused the rejection in science and rejection of organised religion.
refers to the individual finding the divine within themselves rather than through the devotion of god
holistic mileu describe wide range of beliefs that make up the new age. includes astrology, crystal healing,
leonard further argues that it has led to a growth of pilgrims/search for self discovery and subjective enlightment
