Beliefs - Religion & Social Change - 5.2 Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
1
Q

How can Religion be seen as a conservative force?

A

Keeps things as they are, gives stability & social order, maintains beliefs on running of society, preserves the status quo.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Theories seeing religion as conservative force

A

> Functionalism (Consensus)
Marxism (Social Control)
Feminism (Social Control)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Functionalism (Consensus)

A

> Maintains social solidarity stops disintegration, through value consensus and dealing with stress.

> Agent of socialisation, maintains status quo, provides cultural basis for norms & values - legitimating them.

> e.g. Malinowski, Parsons, Durkheim

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Marxism & Feminism (Social Control)

A

> Marxists & Feminists see religion as means of social control, in interests of powerful

> e.g. Marx - Ideological Weapon & false class consciousness, Feminism - Patriarchy & Subordination

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Weber’s General View on Religion as Force for Social Change

A

Calvinism brought about spirit of capitalism based on pursuit of profit for its own sake rather than spending it on luxuries.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

4 Main Calvinist Beliefs

A

> Predestination
Divine Transcendence
Asceticism
Vocation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Predestination

A

God’s predetermined souls saved ‘’the elect’’. This is decided from birth and is unchangeable

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Divine Transcendence

A

God’s so great, no human can know his will, caused salvation panic in Calvinists, they didn’t know whether they’ll be going to hell or not.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Asceticism

A

Abstinence, self discipline & self denial, refraining from luxury, avoiding excess.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Vocation

A

Constant, methodical hard work in a job, but had no impact on salvation.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Response to Calvinist Beliefs

A

> Working hard was a solution to anxiety caused by beliefs on predestination, success could be sign of god’s favour & their salvation.

> Profit gained would be reinvested back into their businesses as they must live ascetically, to produce further profit.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Why has Capitalism failed in other countries?

A

> Due to lack of belief in system like calvinism, despite having factors e.g. trade, economy & legal system

> Lacked drive to accumulate wealth, calvinism was unique for capitalism to emerge.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Hinduism - Failure of Capitalism

A

Ancient India was ascetic religion, but was otherworldly focused on spiritual world.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Confucianism - Failure of Capitalism

A

Ancient China, despite being a worldly & material religion, it wasn’t ascetic.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

A03 Key Sociologists for Weber & Calvinism

A

> Kautsky
Tawney
Parkin

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Kautsky A03 - Calvinism

A

Capitalism already existed before Calvinism, only purpose of it was to justify ruling class domination & continue myth of divine inequality.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Tawney A03 - Calvinism

A

Technological changes not religious ideas led to capitalism, bourgeoisie adopted Calvinist beliefs to justify pursuit of economic gain.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Parkin A03 - Calvinism

A

Capitalism late to develop in Scotland despite presence of calvinism.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

4 Factors outlined by McGuire & Robinson determining if religion is a conservative force or a force for social change

A
  1. Nature & Extent of Religious Belief
  2. Significance of Religion in Society
  3. Extent of Social Involvement of Religion
  4. Extent of Central Authority in Religious Organisations
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Nature & Extent of Reg Belief - McGuire

A

If people hold religious beliefs, conflicting with society, religion leads to criticism of society & attempt to change it.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Significance of Religion in Society - McGuire

A

If religion is a central part of cultural & daily life more likely to be force for social change.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Extent of Social Involvement of Religion - McGuire

A

Societies with a major connection with religious leaders & politicians, likely to create social change.

23
Q

Extent of Central Authority in Religious Organisations - McGuire

A

Societies where religious organisations have strong central authority, religion is in a better position to create change.

24
Q

How are Neo-Marxist views different to Marxist views?

A

Sees how religion can be form of social change & developing class consciousness.

25
Q

How does Neo-Marxism agree with Marxist views?

A

Religion exploits working class

26
Q

Neo-Marxism & Religion Key Thinkers

A
> Engels (Disguising Inequality)
> Bloch (Principle of Hope)
> Maduro (Liberation Theology) (Radical)
> Worsley (Millenarian Movements)
> Gramsci (Hegemony)
> Billings (Religion & Class Conflict)
27
Q

Engels - Disguising Inequality (NM)

A

> Religion stops change by disguising inequality, but also challenges status quo & encourages change.

> e.g. despite senior clergy supporting status quo, lower ranks in church hierarchy have supported protests

28
Q

Bloch - Principle of Hope (Neo-Marxism)

A

> Religion has dual character, stops change but offers people idea of utopia & change for a better life

> Hope from religious belief inspires rebellion rallying people to bring a revolution, with aim of social change.

29
Q

Maduro - Liberation Theology (Radical) (Neo Marxism)

A

> Encourages people to change society in Latin America, due to exploitation faced.

> Shouldn’t rely on aid from rich countries & behave in revolutionary way.

> Need for poor to put these ideas into action (praxis) & overthrow dictatorship, bringing about democracy, not threatening capitalism.

30
Q

What is Praxis?

A

Practical action guided by theory e.g. priests raising political awareness, resisting state terror.

31
Q

Criticisms of Liberation Theology

A

Pope rejected Liberation Theology & told priests to focus on religious duties.

32
Q

Penetocostal Challenges (Conservative) alternative to Liberation Theology

A

Offers option for poor for individuals to pull themselves out of poverty, by changing their personal behaviour, in private sphere of family & church.

33
Q

Millenarian Movements (Worsley) (NeoMarxism)

A

> Based on desire to change things now, to bring kingdom of God on earth for poor

> A response to colonialism, offering immediate improvement, trailblazer for political movements overthrowing colonialism in 50s & 60s.

34
Q

What is Hegemony?

A

Ideological control ruling class have over working class.

35
Q

Gramsci on what ruling class (bourgeosie) rely on to maintain rule?

A

Ruling class rely on consent to maintain rule, institutions e.g. Church maintains consent promoting hegemony.

36
Q

Why does Gramsci believe Control isn’t inevitable?

A

> But control isn’t inevitable as working class have dual consciousness, they’re aware of exploitation & can see through ideology.

> So can create own set of ideas for social change, working class can win battle for ideas, producing own organic intellectuals

> e.g. clergy can help working class realise their situation.

37
Q

Criticisms of Gramsci - Underestimation

A

Role of controlling political forces, held back the formation of counter-hegemony (political ideas which would have helped a revolution), due to working class fear of state violence or employment

38
Q

Billings - Religion & Class Conflict (NeoMarxism)

A

> Coalminers & textile workers suffered from exploitation

> Coal miners struggled for recognition, pushing for social change due to their religious environment, but textile workers accepted the status quo.

39
Q

Briefly outline 3 Reasons why coal miners pushed for change & textile workers didn’t

A

> Leadership
Organisation
Support

40
Q

Leadership - Textile workers V Coal miners

A

Coal miners educated by organic intellectuals, learnt right from wrong pressing for equality. Textile workers lacked leadership

41
Q

Organisation - Textile workers V Coal miners

A

Coal miners could use churches to organise meetings, but textile workers lacked such spaces

42
Q

Support - Textile workers V Coal miners

A

Coal miners took part in activities e.g. hymns keeping morale high, but textile worker’s union activity was met with opposition by church leaders.

43
Q

Religion & Social Protest - Key Sociologist

A

> Bruce (American Civil Rights Movement & New Christian Right)

44
Q

Aims of American civil rights movement - Bruce

A

> Aimed to get equal rights, led by Martin Luther King using Christian values to gain unity & find common ground.

> Helped gain legitimacy & followers

45
Q

Methods used by American civil rights movement to bring change

A

Protests, marches, boycotts & demonstrations

46
Q

How did their use of Religion make American civil rights movement successful?

A

Involved in secular struggle, reaching out to sympathetic audience, embodying US constitution.

47
Q

4 Tools used by Religious Organisations during American civil rights movement to create Social Change

A

> Moral-High Ground
Channelling Dissent
Honest-Broker
Mobilising Public Opinion

48
Q

Moral-High Ground

A

> Pointing out hypocrisy of white clergy supporting segregation

> e.g. ‘’love thy neighbour didn’t fit in with racial segregation.

49
Q

Chanelling Dissent

A

Ways to express political dissent safely e.g.

Martin Luther King funeral rallying point for civil rights cause.

50
Q

Honest-Broker

A

Respected by both sides, so shared context for discussions

51
Q

Mobilising Public Opinion

A

Churches act as network spreading support for campaign.

52
Q

Aims & Beliefs of New Christian Right - Bruce

A

> Take USA back to God, before secularism & make LGBT & Abortion illegal

> Favour traditional family/gender roles, ban sex education in school & teach creationism.

53
Q

How did New Christian Right use media?

A

> Owned TV channels, raising funds & programmes aimed at recruiting new members.

> Christian pressure groups strengthened links with Republicans.

54
Q

Why was New Christian Right unsuccessful?

A

> Can’t cooperate with people from other groups e.g. Muslims even when campaigning on same issues e.g. Abortion

> Lacked widespread support strong opposition from groups favouring autonomy (people being able to choose what is right for them)