Marxism, Religion and Change Flashcards
Describe Marx’s view on religion as a dual character
He sees religion as capable of humanising a world made inhuman by exploitation.
Describe Engels view on religion as a dual character
He argues while while religion inhibits change, it also challenges the status quo and encourage social change.
Describe Bloch’s ‘principle of hope’
- Religion is an expression of ‘the principle of hope’ (our dreams of a better life that contain image of utopia)
- Images of utopia can sometimes deceive people with promises of rewards in heaven. But, it can also help people see what needs to be changed in this world. Religious beliefs then creates a vision of a better world, which if combined with effective political organisation, can bring about social change.
Outline the liberation theology
- It’s a movement that emerged within the Catholic Church in Latin America at the end 1960s
- It was in opposition to the military dictatorships at the time and were committed to helping the poor
Why did the liberation theology emerge?
- Deepening rural poverty and the growth of urban slums throughout Latin America
- Human rights abuses following military take-overs, e.g. torture
- The growing commitment among Catholic priests to an ideology that supported the poor and opposed violations of human rights
How did the liberation theology help to change society?
- e.g. priests helped the poor establish support groups (‘base communities’), and helped workers and peasants to fight oppression under the protection of the church.
- Priests took the lead in developing literacy, programmes, educating the poor about their situation, raising awareness and mobilising support.
Describe how the liberation theology influence declined
- In the 1980s, the Church’s attitude changed and it condemned liberation theory as it resembled Marxism, and instructed priests to concentrate on pastoral activities, not political struggles.
- Since then it has lost influence. But Casanova, emphasis it played a role in resisting state terror and bringing about democracy. While Catholicism in Latin America has become conservative, it continues to defend democracy and human rights
How does the liberation theology lead Neo-Marxists to question the view that religion is always a conservative force?
- Maduro believes the religion can be a revolutionary force that brings about change.
- In the case of liberation theology, religious ideas radicalised the Catholic clergy in defence of peasants and workers, making them see that serving the poor was part of their Christian duty.
- So the liberation theology is an example of religiously inspired social change. But much depends on how social change is defined, as while it may have helped bring about democracy, it didn’t threaten capitalism.
How does Lehmann contrast liberation theology and Pentecostalism?
- Liberation theology offers an ‘option for the poor’ of community consciousness-raising and campaigning for social change, led by ‘revolutionary priests and nuns in their jeans and sandals.’
- Pentecostalism offers an ‘options of the poor’ for people to pull themselves out of poverty through their own support, supported by the congregation and led by the church pastors, ‘uniformly respectable in their suits, white shirts and blacks ties.’
What is the difference between the liberation theology and Pentecostalism?
- Liberation theology offers a radical solution to poverty: collective improvement through political action in the public sphere
- Pentecostalism’s solution is conservative with individual self-improvement through the private sphere of the family and church.
What are millenarian movements?
- They are an example of the desire to change things on earth at presents and bring about the kingdom of God.
- Worsley argues such movements expect the immanent transformation of this world by supernatural means, where the groups will be sabes on earth
Why did the millenarian movement appeal to exploitated groups?
The appeal of the movements is largely to the poor as they promise immediate improved, and they arise in colonial situations.
How have millenarian groups led to social change?
- European colonialism led to economic exploitation and cultural and religious domination. It also shattered traditional tribal cultures.
- Worsley studied millenarian movements known as cargo cults. The islanders felt wrongfully deprived when ‘cargo’ arrived in the islanders for the colonists, and it was meant for the islanders.
- The movements then lead to widespread unrest that threatened colonial rule.
Outline a Marxist view on millenarian movements
- They think it empowers people with he idea that change is possible, and plants the ‘seeds’ of revolution
- Engels argues they represents the first awakening of ‘proletarian self-consciousness’ (understand their position in society)
What is hegemony?
- Refers to the way that the RC uses ideas like religion to maintain control.
- Gramsci means ideological domination or leadership of society. When hegemony is established, the ruling class can rely on popular consent to their rule, so there’s less need for coercion.
Outline Gramsci’s view on religion
- He sees religion as having a dual character and it can challenge or supports the RC.
- 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
- Some clergy may act as organic intellectuals as leaders. They help workers see the situation they’re in and support WC organisation e.g. trade unions
Outline Billings’ case study that applied Gramsci’s ideas
- He compared class struggle in 2 communities, one of coalminers, the other of textile workers.
- Both were WC and evangelical Protestants, but the miners were much more militant, struggling for recognition of their union and better conditions while the textile workers accepted the status quo
- Billings argues that the differences in levels of militancy can be understood in terms of hegemony and the role of religion.
What are the 3 ways in which religion can support or challenge hegemony that Billings identified?
- Leadership
- Organisation
- Support
How can leadership support or challenge the employer’s hegemony?
- The miners benefited from the leadership of organic intellectuals (many of them lay preachers who were themselves miners and trade union activist). These clergy helped to convert miners to the union cause
- Textile workers lacked such leadership
How can organisation support or challenge the employer’s hegemony?
- The miners were able to use independent churches to hold meetings and organise
- The textile workers lacked such spaces
How can support from other support or challenge the employer’s hegemony?
- The church kept miners’ morale high with supportive sermons, prayer meetings and group singing.
- Textile workers who engaged in union activity met with opposition from local church leaders
