Beliefs- Topic 2 (Paper2)

Question 1

Two ways in which religion can be seen as a conservative force.

Answer 1

-It’s often seen as conservative in the sense of being ‘traditional.’ Defend traditional values.

-It’s conservative because it functions to conserve or preserve things as they are. It stabilises society and maintains the status quo.

Question 2

2 examples of traditional conservative beliefs held by religion.

Answer 2

-Abortion.
-Divorce.

Question 3

How does functionalism view religion as a conservative force?

Answer 3

See religion as a conservative force because it functions to maintain social stability and prevent society from disintegrating.

Question 4

How does marxism view religion as a conservative force?

Answer 4

See religion as a conservative ideology that prevents social change.

Question 5

How does feminism view religion as a conservative force?

Answer 5

See region as a conservative force as it acts an ideology that legitimates patriarchal power and maintain women’s subordinate in the family and wider society.

Question 6

According to Weber, what major social change did Calvinism bring about?

Answer 6

Modern capitalism.

Question 7

What’s unique about modern capitalism?

Answer 7

It’s based on the systematic, efficient rational pursuit of profit for its own sake.

Question 8

What is the calvinist belief of predestination?

Answer 8

God had predetermined which souls would be saved ‘the elect’- and which’s wouldn’t l, even before birth. God decides who goes to heaven and hell.

Question 9

What is the calvinist belief of divine transcendence?

Answer 9

God was so far above and beyond this world and so incomparably greater than any mortal, that no human being could possibly claim to know his will.

Question 10

What is the calvinist belief of asceticism?

Answer 10

Living a simple life, completely free from pleasure.

Question 11

What is the calvinist belief of the idea of vocation or calling?

Answer 11

This meant renouncing everyday life to join a covert or monastery. Working hard and being self-disciplined.

Question 12

2 consequences of Calvinists’ lifestyle.

Answer 12

-Wealth and success as a sign they were the elect.

-Used money generated from hard work to reinvest in businesses leading to industrialisation.

Question 13

What way did Hinduism fail to encourage capitalism, according to Weber?

Answer 13

They weren’t encouraged to persue the calling.

Question 14

What way did Confucianism fail to encourage capitalism, according to Weber?

Answer 14

They were discouraged the growth of rational capitalism. It was a this-worldly religion that directed it’s followers towards the material world.

Question 15

3 criticisms of Weber.

Answer 15

-Capitalism didn’t develop in ever country where there was calvinists.

-Weber overestimates the role of ideas and underestimates economics factors.

-Calvinists were among the first capitalists, this wasn’t because of their beliefs.

Question 16

According to Bruce, why were the black clergy so important in the black civil rights movement?

Answer 16

Their churches provided meeting places and sanctuary from the threat of white violence and rituals.

Question 17

4 ways in which religious organisations can support and contribute to social change.

Answer 17

-Taking the moral high ground.

-Channelling dissent.

-Acting as honest broker.

-Mobilising public opinion.

Question 18

What were the aims of the New Christian Right in American?

Answer 18

Take America ‘back to God’ and make abortion, homosexuality, gay marriage and divorce illegal, turning back to a time before the liberalisation of American culture and society.

Question 19

According to Bruce, what are the 2 reasons why the New Christian Right have been unsuccessful in their aims?

Answer 19

-It’s campaigners find it very difficult to cooperate with people from other religious groups, even when campaigning on the same issue like abortion. They weren’t united.

-It lacks widespread support and has met with strong opposition from groups who stand for freedom of choice.

Question 20

Define relative autonomy.

Answer 20

They can be partly independent of the economic base of society.

Question 21

How has religion got a dual character?

Answer 21

Religion inhibits change by disguising inequality, it can also challenge the status qui and movement for change.

Question 22

Explain Ernst Bloch’s- the principle of hope.

Answer 22

Our dreams of a better life that contain images of utopia (the perfect world).

Question 23

What was the aim of liberation theology?

Answer 23

The movement that emerged within the Catholic Church in Latin America at the end of the 1960s.

Question 24

What 3 factors let to liberation theology?

Answer 24

-Deepening rural poverty and the growth of urban slums throughout Latin America.

-Human rights abuses following military take-overs such as torture and death squads murdering political.

-The growing commitment among Catholic priests to an ideology that supported the poor and opposed violations of human rights.

Question 25

According to Maduro, Hoe does liberation theology show that religion can be a revolutionary force.

Answer 25

As it’ll being change.
Duty to help the poor.

Question 26

Why did the Roman Catholic Church’s attitude to liberation theology change?

Answer 26

Making worse see that serving the poor was part of their Christian duty.
John Paul the second.

Question 27

The difference between liberation theology and pentecostalism.

Answer 27

Liberation theology- offer a radical solution to poverty.

Pentecostalism- there solution is conservative.

Question 28

According to Worsley, what do millenarian expect?

Answer 28

The total and imminent transforms of this world by supernatural means.

Question 29

Why do millenarian movements appeal to the poor?

Answer 29

As they promise immediate improvement and they often arise in colonial situations.

Question 30

What are cargo cults?

Answer 30

Millenarian movements in Melanesia.

Question 31

What is the political significance of millenarian movements?

Answer 31

They used religious ideas and images but they united indigenous populations in mass movements that spanned tribal divisions.

Question 32

Define hegemony.

Answer 32

The way that the ruling class use ideas like religion to maintain control.

Question 33

How does religion act as counter-hegemony?

Answer 33

Working class develop alternative vision of how society should be organised.

Question 34

3 ways which religion can challenge hegemony, according to Billings.

Answer 34

-Leadership.

-Organisation.

-Support.