Key Theorists - Religion and Social Change Flashcards
1
Q
Key Theorist – Weber: The Protestant Ethic and Spirit of Capitalism
WHAT DO THEY ARGUE?
A
- The religious beliefs of Calvinism helped bring about major social change – specifically, the emergence of modern capitalism in Northern Europe in the 16th and 17th Centuries.
- Modern capitalism is unique because it is based on the systematic, efficient and rational pursuit of profit, for its own sake, rather than for consumption.
2
Q
Key Theorist – Weber: The Protestant Ethic and Spirit of Capitalism
WHAT DO THEY NOTE?
A
- Many past societies had capitalism in the sense of greed for wealth, which they often spent on luxury consumption.
3
Q
Key Theorist – Gramsci (1971): Religion and Hegemony
WHAT IS HE INTERESTED IN?
A
- How the ruling class maintain their control over society through the use of ideas.
4
Q
Key Theorist – Gramsci (1971): Religion and Hegemony
WHAT DOES HE USE AND REFER TO?
A
- The term hegemony to refer to the way that the role in class use ideas such as religion to maintain control. According to Gramsci, Germany is the ideological domination or leadership of society.
5
Q
Key Theorist – Gramsci (1971): Religion and Hegemony
WHAT DOES HE ARGUE?
A
- When hegemony is established, the ruling class can rely on popular consent to the rule, so there is less need for coercion.
- Conservative ideological power of the Catholic Church helps to win support for Mussolini’s fascist regime.
6
Q
Key Theorist – Gramsci (1971): Religion and Hegemony
HOW CAN THIS THEORY BE EVALUATED?
A
- Hegemony is never guaranteed. It is always possible for the working class to develop an alternative vision of how society should be organised – that is a counter hegemony.
- Like Engels, Gramsci sees religion as having a dual character and he notes that in some circumstances, it can challenge as well as support the ruling class. He argues that popular forms of religion can help workers see through the ruling class hegemony by offering a vision of a better, fairer world.
7
Q
Key Theorist – Bruce: Religion and Social Protest
WHAT DOES HE DESCRIBE?
A
- The struggle of the Black civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s to end racial segregation as an example of religiously motivated social change.
8
Q
Key Theorist – Bruce: Religion and Social Protest
WHAT DOES HE ARGUE?
A
- The black clergy were the backbone of the American civil rights movement. Led by Martin Luther King, they played a decisive role, giving support and moral legitimacy to civil rights activists.
- Black clergy were able to shame white people into changing the law by appealing to their shared Christian values of equality.
- Religion in this context is an ideological resource. It provided beliefs and practices that protesters could draw on for motivation and support. Using the civil rights movement as an example he identifies several ways in which religious organisations are well equipped to support protests and contribute to social change. Firstly, black clergy pointed out the hypocrisy of white clergy who preached ‘Love Thy Neighbour’ but supported racial segregation. Secondly religion provides channels to express political descent. For example, the funeral of Martin Luther King was a rallying point for the civil rights cause. Thirdly churches can provide a context for negotiating change because they are often respected by both sides in a conflict and seen as standing above ‘mere politics’. Lastly, black churches in the South successfully campaigned support across the whole of America.
- The civil rights movement is an example of religion becoming involved in secular struggle and helping to bring about change. The movement achieved its aims because it shared the same values as those in wider society and those in power. It brought about change by shaming those in power to put into practice the principle of equality embodied in the American Constitution that all men and women were born equal.
