Lecture 8 (Religion) Flashcards
Karl Marx - Religion as “Opium of the People”
- Main idea: religion is a tool of oppression designed to maintain the power of the ruling class and alienate the working class
- Historical materialism:
» society evolves based on material and economic conditions (means of production)
» Religion supports the dominant economic system by justifying inequality
– ex:
(1) monarchs claiming the “divine right to rule” justified their power and wealth as God-given, making it harder for people to question/challenge them
(2) in caste systems, religious doctrine (hinduism’s caste hierarchy) taught that one’s special position was determined by divine law - Religion as OPIUM
» like a drug, religion gives people false hope (promises of an afterlife) and dulls their awareness of their exploitation
» it makes oppression seem tolerable by promoting ideas of divine justice and equality (equal before God) - Religious Hegemony
» religion is used to legitimize power; monarchs claim divine right to rule/modern capitalist systems use religion to justify wealth inequality
Gramsci Counterpoint - Religion as Tool for Liberation
Ex: Martin Luther King Jr. used Christian teachings to challenge racial inequality, framing the civil rights movement as MORALLY JUST
Weber - Religion as a Force for Change
- main idea: religion is not just a tool of oppression > it can drive economic and social transformation
- The protestant ethic (Weber’s book: “The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism)
- protestant values: hard work, frugality, and individual resp were core values of protestantism (esp calvinism) > aligned perfectly with the mindset needed for capitalism - Calvinist belief in PREDESTINATION
- calvinists believed that God had already decided before u were born, whether you were going to Heaven or Hell
- you couldnt change this destiny but you didnt know what your destiny was
- anxiety: people desperately wanted to know if they were among the “elect” (chosen for salvation)
-solution: material success and wealth were seen as SIGNS OF GOD’S FAVOR (successful = chosen for heaven)
HOW IT CHANGED BEHAVIOR? helped CAPITALISM develop
1. hard work = higher productivity (increase economic output)
2. frugality (hemat) = reinvestment
- instead of spending money on luxury, calvanists saved it and reinvested it in their businesses (created growth > foundation of modern capitalism)
Modern example: prosperity theology
- what it teaches?
- prosperity theology is a belief in some christian movements that God rewards faith with material success and wealth
- wealth is seen as a SIGN OF DIVINE FAVOR - similar to Calvinists beliefs
- ex: PROSPERITY GOSPEL (INJIL) PREACHERS encourage ppl to:
» work hard
» donate to their churches generously
» pursue wealth as evidence of their faith
THIS ENCOURAGED BEHAVIORS (HARD WORK, SAVING, REINVESTING) THAT HELPED CAPITALISM DEVELOP
LINKING WEALTH TO GOD’S BLESSINGS
Émile Durkheim - Religion and Social Cohesion
- main idea:
» religion is not abt God or supernatural - it’s about creating and maintaining social bonds
» through shared rituals, symbols, and beliefs, religion helps people feel part of a larger community - durkheim’s point:
» SACRED THINGS are objects, symbols, or practices set apart from everyday life.They evoke (membangkitkan) feelings of respect, awe, or reverence because they represent something larger than the individuals
» purpose: these sacred things create a shared identity and social cohesion (a sense of unity) by helping people feel connected to their community/society
ex: ABORIGINAL TOTEMS
- in Aboriginal cultures, a totem (tree/animal) is considered sacred bcs it symbolizes the group’s identity and unity
- the totem represents the COLLECTIVE CONSCIENCE - a shared set of beliefs and values that hold up the group tgt
ex: MODERN SYMBOLS
1. flags: represents the nation as a collective group (symbolizes shared values like FREEDOM OF UNITY)
- socio concept: the flag functions as a symbolic representation of the collective identity of a nation
WHY IT MATTERS?
- sacred things arent sacred by themselves, their MEANINGS comes from society
- SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION: a way that society gives meaning to object, ideas, or practices
- sacred things help create SOCIAL SOLIDARITY > a sense of togetherness and shared purpose that keeps societies functioning
COLLECTIVE EFFERVESCENCE - Émile Durkheim – Religion and Social Cohesion
Collective effervescence: shared emotional experiences during rituals or celebrations strengthen group bonds and create a sense of belonging
Ex: religious festivals like Christmas or communal events like concerts
Modern ex: singing or listening to a national anthem during important events creates a moment of COLLECTIVE EFFERVESCENCE (national anthems = form of ritual > durkheim: essential for reinforcing social cohesion)
Weber’s Types of Authority
- Charismatic:
> authority based on the personal qualities, charisma, where followers believe the leader has sacred, heroic, or exceptional qualities that make them worthy of devotion (arises in time of crisis when people look for extraordinary solutions)
> ex: Martin Luther King Jr. (charisma and moral authority during the Civil rights movement) - Traditional:
> authority derived from long-standing customs, traditions, and established practices (reinforces stability and continuity BUT can struggle to adapt to MODERNITY)
> ex: Queen Victoria/other monarchs who ruled based on the tradition of royal lineage - Rational-Legal Authority
> authority based on rules, laws, and formal systems of governance (foundation of modern bureaucracies)
> ex: a leader whose power comes from their position within a democratic system (govs, corporations, and legal systems)
Weber - Protestant Ethic
- explains how religious beliefs, particularly those rooted in Calvinism, influenced the dev of MODERN CAPITALISM
- core protestant values:
1. Frugality: avoidance of luxury and unnecessary spending > supported the accumulation of capital (key element in capitalism)
2. Austerity: living a discipline, modest life (hard work is seen as VIRTUOUS BEHAVIORS)
3. Improvement: believers encouraged to improve themselves, their skills, and their PRODUCTIVITY (capitalist ethos > efficiency and progress)
Durkheim - Elementary Forms of Religious Life
Main point: religion is not just about supernatural beliefs, it functions to create SOCIAL COHESION, regulate behavior, and reinforce group identity
Durkheim - Sacred vs. Profane
- Sacred: things set apart as special, holy, or revered
ex: a cross in christianity, a totem in Aboriginal cultures - Profane: ordinary, everyday things with no sacred significance
ex: a regular tree used for firewood - Logic: societies use the sacred-profane distinction to organize meaning and reinforce collective identity (organize a group’s shared beliefs and reinforces SOCIAL SOLIDARITY by uniting people around common symbols and rituals)
Durkheim - Collective Effervescence
- Def: shared emotional energy during rituals/group gatherings that strengthens bonds
- Ex: religious ceremonies, sports games (world cup), or concerts
- Logic: group rituals create unity and a sense of belonging, reinforcing SOCIAL SOLIDARITY
Durkheim - Religion as Society
- def: religion is not about worshiping animals, nature, or totems - it is about worshiping SOCIETY itself. when ppl worship a sacred object, they are symbolically worshiping their society and its shared values
- ex:
1. national flags and anthems serve a similar role in modern societies
2. totems represent the COLLECTIVE IDENTITY and shared values of the group - Logic: religion reflects the SOCIAL FACT of collective identity - created by and for the group
- FUNCTIONALISM: religion connects individuals to their group, fostering SOCIAL COHESION and reinforcing a COLLECTIVE CONSCIENCE
Durkheim - Social Functions of Religion
- SOCIAL COHESION: religion creates shared rituals and symbols that unify ppl
- ex: celebrating christmas or eid brings communities tgt - SOCIAL REGULATION: religion established norms and taboos that guide behavior
- ex: “Thou shalt not kill” sets moral boundaries - PREVENT ANOMIE (A SENSE OF NORMLESSNESS/DISCONNECTION):
religion helps prevent anomie by giving people purpose and a sense of belonging, esp in uncertain or difficult times (crises/natural disasters)
Durkheim - Collective Conscience
- def: the collective conscience is the set of shared beliefs, values, and attitudes that unify society and provide its moral foundation (shared morality that transcends individuals and maintains SOCIAL COHESION)
- ex:
1. religious rituals: attending sunday church services reinforces shared values like kindness and community
2. national holidays: celebrating independence day promotes patriotism and unity
Clifford Geertz: Culture as a System of Meaning
- concept:
> culture is a “system of inherited conceptions expressed in symbolic forms” that helps people interpret their reality
> religion is a SYSTEM OF SYMBOLS that creates meaning, shapes behavior, and influences how people understand their place in the world - ex: Balinese religion: offerings and temple rituals reaffirm SOCIAL ORDER and CULTURAL IDENTITY, reminding people of their roles in society
- MODEL OF REALITY: religion provides a framework for understanding the universe and one’s place in it through symbols (objects, rituals, language)
