BinS MT2- Nature of religion

Question 1

One way in which religion is a force for social change

Answer 1

WEBER studied Calvinists who believed in predestination - God had decided everything about a person’s life, even which souls will go to heaven, before they were even born. There is nothing people can do to change that - regardless of how good or bad they are in their life on Earth.This created a salvation panic among Calvinists - the burden of not knowing what God had predestined for them so they panic about what will happen to them when they die. To help them cope with this panic they practised asceticism - abstinence, self-denial and self-discipline. They also believed it was their religious duty to glorify God through their work. Weber referred to this as the protestant work ethic. Weber argued Calvinist religion helped bring about major social change - it helped create capitalism. Weber referred to this pursuit of profit as the spirit of capitalism - making money for its own sake.

Question 2

criticism of WEBER

Answer 2

it can be argued that it was technological changes that brought about capitalism,not religious beliefs.

Question 3

2nd way in which religion acts as a force for social change

Answer 3

Bruce uses the example of the CRM in USA to show how religion can bring about social change. CRM included protest marches, boycotts and demonstrations demanding equality for black people. Bruce argues that the clergy, such as Dr Rev Martin Luther King, were the leaders of the movement. Their churches were used as meeting places, as well as providing a source of unity and support through prayer. The black clergy were also able to shame the whites into changing laws by appealing shared Christian values of equality. Bruce therefore claims that religion acted as an ideological resource -providing beliefs the campaigners could turn to for inspiration and support.

Question 4

briefly outline 2 ways in which religion is a conservative force

Answer 4

Marxism -religion is a conservative ideology because it prevents revolution. It legitimates  the position of the r/c and disguises the exploitation of the proletariat. It does so by creating false class consciousness 
Feminism - religion is a conservative force because it socialises women to conform to patriarchal norms. For example, religious doctrines proclaim male superiority , the organisation of religions is male-led and religious practices are more controlling of women's behaviour.