Beliefs- Religion and Social Change Flashcards
Why is religion often seen as traditional?
It encourages traditional values in things like morals, roles, family life etc. It also has various ceremonies and customs that follow established patterns
What is the example in India of how religion tends to keep things the way they are?
The caste system divides people based on inherited status and it prevails because of the Hindu belief in reincarnation
How do Marxists and feminists view religion being conservative as a bad thing?
They believe that it allows repression of the working-class and women to continue unchallenged
How do functionalists view religion being conservative as a good thing?
As it provides stability
Why did Engels think that religion could actually be a revolutionary force in some circumstances?
Sometimes religion is the only means of change because all other routes have been blocked
What did Weber look at?
How the religious ideas of Calvinism led to social change
What is predestination?
The idea that your life and whether you’re going to heaven are predetermined by God- Calvinists believed only a few were chosen for heaven which created anxiety as no one knew if they were chosen
What is the ascetic ideal?
Working hard in your job was a solution to this anxiety and success might be a sign that you were chosen for heaven- early Calvinists lived a strict and disciplined life of hard work and simple pleasures
What do functionalists believe?
Religion brings stability- by giving a society common values and morals, it can create and maintain stability and a unifying religion can bring people together and help them function better as a community
What is one criticism of the functionalist view?
Religion only creates stability within a religious community, not between different religions
What is Huntington’s ‘clash of civilisations’?
Conflicts are caused by different cultures and religious beliefs of different civilisations
What do critics of Huntington say?
His view is unfair on the majority of a religion and he ignores any conflicts within civilisations
What social changes have changed the nature of religious beliefs?
Urbanisation and globalisation
How has urbanisation changed the nature of religious beliefs?
Religious communities that were small have become larger and more spread out so the bonds that held them together are weaker and less effective
How has globalisation changed the nature of religious beliefs?
People from diverse backgrounds with different religions are all living in the same area so there is no single unifying religion
