nature of religion Flashcards
religion as conservative force
functionalism - functions to maintain social solidarity by passing collective conscience - protects society from social change. also helps individuals by reducing anxiety in times of life crisis. civil religion binds together different people from different cultures and faiths
marxism - prevents revolution by legitimating position of r/c and disguises exploitation by creating FCC
feminism - socialises women to conform to patriarchal norms through organisation, practices and teachings
religion as force for social change - weber
calvinism - believed in predestination - nothing people can do to change fate - creates salvation panic - so calvinists practised asceticism - abstinence, self denial & self discipline and adopted protestant work ethic - believed it was their duty to serve god through their work
ascetic aspects of calvinism promoted capitalism development - worked hard but couldn’t spend money so reinvested into business helping them grow
calvinism created capitalism - capitalism = economic system based on systematic, rational, efficient pursuit of profit - spirit of capitalism - making money for its own sake.
weber criticism
possible capitalism developed first but capitalists adopted calvinist beliefs to justify pursuit of profit
religion as force for social change - bruce CRM
protests and boycotts demanding equal political and legal rights for black people.
churches used as meeting places and provided source of unity through prayer. black clergy shamed whites into changing law by appealing to shared christian values of equality
religion acted as ideological resource - provided beliefs campaigners could turn to for support
religion as conservative force through social change - christian fundamentalism
new christian right - politically and morally conservative protestant fundamentalist movement in USA
opposed to liberalising of american society
small group of preachers founded moral majority movement - conservative political movement which aimed to return to traditional values
new christian right criticism
NCR largely unsuccessful in taking america ‘back to god’
bruce - this is because moral majority only made up of 15% of US citizens and doesn’t cooperate with people from other religions
religion as conservative force through social change - islamic fundamentalism
1960s - shah of iran felt traditional islamic culture was holding back modernisation of the country - introduced process of social change via westernisation of attitudes and laws which helped create small wealthy elite while majority lived in poverty
by 1970s - religious leaders blamed poverty of masses on decline of islam and into of western influences - resulted in 1979 islamic revolution where new state reversed previous trend of liberalisation
bruce CRM criticism
feminists - religion oppresses women
