Religion and Social Change Flashcards
What are the 3 theories that come under religion and social change?
- Weber
- Bruce
- Neomarxism
According to Weber, what is his view on religion?
Weber believed society was shaped from the bottom up and that religion and religious leaders had the ability to generate ideas which went against the already accepted beliefs.
According to Weber, what study did Weber use to illustrate the idea that religion can lead to social change?
From the 1500s onwards, there was a strong link between the rise in Protestantism and industrial capitalism. In a catholic dominated Europe, it was always accepted that wealth was God given and this could not be changed. However, Protestant John Calvin proposed an alternative idea that a persons calling in life was being economically active.
According to John Calvin and Weber, why did protestantism help capitalism (before and after)?
Calvin taught his followers “predestination” meaning God had already chosen which souls would enter heaven. God is in a state of divine trascendence meaning no one could understand his reasoning behind the placement of individuals. Led to protestants feeling salvation panic (didn’t know what was going to happen)
People should therefore spend their time on earth wisely, developing a vocation (skill) to work hard on. Weber called this the protestant workethic
What 3 things did Calvanism help people understand?
- predestination (God has already sought an afterlife for people)
- divine transcendence (nobody could understand his reasoning)
- salvation panic (no one knew what would happen after death)
According to Weber, what are the 4 key features of the protestant workethic?
- ascenticism (self-disciplined)
- hard work (max effort)
- thrift (careful with money)
- rejection of pleasure (not indulging in weird things)
Becuase of John Calvin’s ideas, what happened to protestants and capitalism?
Harder they worked the more successful they became. Was a solution to salvation panic, success was a sign from God that they were going to heaven. Calvanists accumulated wealth and were behind a number of changes in the UK including national banking and canals. Also slave trading. Weber claimed that this lead to the advancement in industrial capitalism in the world
Evaluation of the claim of Weber that religion leads to social change?
- capitalist ideas emerged before Calvinism took hold
- technology played a bigger role
- ruling class attracted because it justified their position
According to Bruce, what within religion can bring about social change?
Protests made possible by religion
According to Bruce, what two events highlight the fact that religion can bring about social change?
- The Civil Rights Movement
- The New Christian Movement
According to Bruce, how did The Civil Rights Movement bring about social change?
During the 60s and 70s, many protests and marches took place in order to end racial segregation in the USA. Most notably Rose Parks. Black Christianity stood up and Martin Luther King (a black minister) stood up and gave his “I Have a Dream” speech. Members of the Black Clergy stood up against segregation calling out White Supremisists support for segregation whilst still supporting God. Churches helped the black community to channel their distent by giving them a safe place as well as acting as an honest broker in debate. Concluded that religion forced the CRM to take place when the Civil Rights Act was signed in 1965.
According to Bruce, why was the The Christian Right unsuccessful in promoting social change?
American religious fundamentalist group who are extremely socially conservative being against; abortion, homosexuality, and feminism. They were unhappy with the liberalisation of American culture. They have been unsuccessful due to two reasons
1) movement is divided on key issues
2) lack support of wider society
Evaluation of the Bruces’ view that religion brings about social change?
- other factors such as media perception and changing of wider social attitudes could of been more influential
- those who controlled legislation needed to agree on cause to legislate
What are the 2 sub theories part of neo marxism and social change?
- Bloch and the principle of hope
- Gramsci and religion as a challenge to Hegemony
According to Bloch, what brings about social change within religion?
Believes that religion is dual character. Most of the time religion leads people to believe that society cannot be changed but in some cases it can offer a principle of hope which can provide people with a utopian vision of the world.
