Beliefs In Society- Nature Of Religion Flashcards
Religion prevents social change and maintains the status quo. How does religion function as a conservative force?
It supports the basic institutions in society, prevents social change, and maintains stability by upholding traditional values and structures.
Religion can lead to developments and transformations in society. How does religion act as a force for social change?
It can drive advances in social policies, institutions, values, and even types of society by inspiring movements and challenging existing norms.
How does Functionalism view religion as a conservative force?
Religion maintains social stability by protecting social solidarity, passing on collective conscience, and preventing anomie. It also reduces anxiety during life crises, such as death, by bringing communities together. In modern multi-faith societies, civil religion binds people of different cultures and faiths.
How does Marxism view religion as a conservative force?
Religion is a conservative ideology that prevents revolution by legitimizing the ruling class, disguising the exploitation of the proletariat, and creating false class consciousness.
How does Feminism view religion as a conservative force?
Religion socializes women to conform to patriarchal norms through doctrines that proclaim male superiority, male-led religious organizations, and practices that control women’s behavior.
How does Bruce illustrate religion as a force for social change using the Civil Rights Movement?
Bruce argues that the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s, led by clergy like Dr. Martin Luther King, used churches as meeting places and sources of unity. The black clergy appealed to shared Christian values of equality to shame whites into changing laws, making religion an ideological resource for inspiration and support.
What does Neo-Marxist theory, particularly Bloch, argue about religion and social change?
Bloch argues religion can encourage social change by presenting the principle of hope, offering visions of a better life and utopia, helping people see what needs to change in society.
How does Gramsci contribute to the Neo-Marxist view of religion and social change?
Gramsci claims religion can offer a vision of a better world, enabling people to see through ruling class hegemony. Religious leaders can act as organic intellectuals, organizing and leading movements for a better society.
What did Billings find in his study of coalminers and textile workers regarding religion and social change?
Billings found that religion helped coalminers in three ways: leadership (lay preachers used their church positions to persuade miners to support unions), organization (church buildings were used for meetings), and support (uplifting sermons and songs maintained morale).
How does Maduro argue religion can bring about social change?
Maduro uses liberation theology in Brazil as an example, where Catholic priests helped the poor establish base communities and educational programs, improving their lives and acting as a force for social change.
How does Lehmann contrast Pentecostalism and liberation theology in addressing poverty?
Liberation theology offers a radical, collective solution to poverty through political action led by priests and nuns. Pentecostalism, however, is conservative, focusing on individual effort and self-improvement supported by church pastors.
What are millenarian movements, and how do they relate to social change?
Millenarian movements believe Jesus will return to rule for 1,000 years, creating a heaven on earth. They appeal to the poor by promising immediate improvement and often lead to uprisings, as seen in cargo cults studied by Worsley.
What is Weber’s argument about Calvinism and social change?
Weber argues Calvinism’s belief in predestination and ascetic practices, like the Protestant work ethic, contributed to the development of capitalism. Calvinists worked hard but reinvested profits instead of spending on luxuries, promoting capitalist growth.
How does Weber contrast Calvinism with Hinduism and Confucianism in relation to capitalism?
Hinduism, though ascetic, is other-worldly, rejecting materialism. Confucianism is this-worldly but not ascetic. Both lacked the conditions for capitalism to develop, unlike Calvinism, which combined asceticism and a this-worldly orientation.
What are the criticisms of Weber’s theory on religion and capitalism?
Critics argue technological changes, not religious beliefs, may have caused capitalism. Alternatively, capitalism may have developed first, with capitalists later adopting Calvinist beliefs to justify profit-seeking.
How can religion be both a conservative force and a force for social change simultaneously?
Religious fundamentalism promotes conservative values while also driving social change, as seen in Christian and Islamic fundamentalism, which aim to return to traditional values by transforming society.
What is religious fundamentalism, and how does it function?
Religious fundamentalism involves a literal interpretation of religious texts, strict moral codes, and a return to traditional values. It rejects modern societal changes and aims to restore past norms, often through extreme social change.
How does Christian fundamentalism, like the New Christian Right, act as a conservative force?
The New Christian Right opposes liberalizing trends, such as abortion, same-sex marriage, and women working. It aims to return to traditional values and has influenced U.S. politics, including the elections of Reagan, Bush, and Trump.
What are the criticisms of the New Christian Right?
Bruce argues the New Christian Right has been largely unsuccessful due to its small membership (15% of U.S. citizens), lack of cooperation with other religions, and strong opposition from liberal organizations. However, its influence grew with Trump’s election in 2016.
How did Islamic fundamentalism act as both a conservative force and a force for social change in Iran?
The 1979 Islamic Revolution reversed westernization, reintroduced Islamic law, and supported traditional values while producing revolutionary social change. The Ayatollahs blamed poverty on the decline of Islam and western influences, leading to the Shah’s overthrow.
What role did the Ayatollahs play in the Islamic Revolution in Iran?
The Ayatollahs, led by Khomeini, blamed poverty on westernization and the decline of Islam. They organized the revolution, deposed the Shah, and established an Islamic state based on the Qur’an, reversing liberalization and reintroducing traditional values.
What is the significance of liberation theology in Brazil?
Liberation theology, developed by Catholic priests in Brazil in the 1960s, focused on praxis—practical action guided by theory. It helped the poor establish base communities and educational programs, improving their lives and acting as a force for social change.
How does Pentecostalism differ from liberation theology in addressing poverty?
Liberation theology advocates collective political action led by priests and nuns, while Pentecostalism emphasizes individual effort and self-improvement supported by church pastors.
What are cargo cults, and how do they relate to millenarian movements?
Cargo cults, studied by Worsley, emerged in the Western Pacific during colonial rule. Islanders believed cargo meant for them was taken by colonists and that this system would be overturned, leading to uprisings. These movements promised immediate improvement for the poor.
What is the Protestant work ethic, and how did it contribute to capitalism?
The Protestant work ethic, rooted in Calvinism, emphasized hard work, self-discipline, and reinvestment of profits. This ethic helped create capitalism by promoting systematic, rational, and efficient pursuit of profit.
How does Weber’s theory highlight the role of cultural factors in social change?
Weber argues that material factors alone are insufficient to explain social change; cultural factors, such as religious beliefs, also play a crucial role, as seen in the elective affinity between Calvinism and capitalism.
