religion and social change

Question 1

Religion as a conservative force

Answer 1

generally refers to
-upholding and defending tradition/traditional values/customs / institutions, moral views etc., uphold, traditional beliefs about how society should be organised
-to preserve and conserve things the way they are and maintain the ‘status-quo’

Question 2

religion as a force for change

Answer 2

religion being the driving force for reform/change
-Religion, contributing/motivating and uprising may be against oppression or inequality

Question 3

What sociological perspectives believe religion as a conservative force?

Answer 3

functionalists, Marxist and feminist, see religion as maintain the status quo by
-Keeping society the way it is and stabilising it
-Preventing social change (reform)
HOWEVER many sociologists, see religion as a powerful tool for social change in certain circumstances

Question 4

Religion- conservative beliefs

Answer 4

many religions have traditional conservative beliefs, which oppose changes that would allow more freedom in personal/sexual matters e.g. Catholic church forbids divorce, abortion, artificial contraception, opposes, gay marriage and condemns homosexual behaviour.
-Most religions uphold ‘ family values’ which often favour, a traditional patriarchal, domestic division of labour e.g church of England, 1602, believes men should be the head of the family
-Bride ‘ love, honour and obey’
Groom ‘ love and honour’
-also pre-dominate in non-Christian religions to like Hinduism, which endorses make domestic authority and practice of arranged marriage

Question 5

An example of social change

Answer 5

American civil right movement
-Martin Luther, King used religion as a power for tour to promote equality between races and an oppression
-Aimed to alter the status-quo

Question 6

WEBER- social action theorist

Answer 6

-Religion as a force for social change
-Challenges the materialism and economic determinism of Marxist theory
-notes society is shaped by human ideas, rather than action directed by ideology that is manipulated by an economic elite
-Started how societies developed and progressed
-Interested in variables that led to economic growth and the increase of industrial society
-Conducted a comparative analysis of many societies and identified main factors that cause the birth of the industrial age
-Key factor was the PROTESTANT FAITH
Catholic to protestant rule was the most significant change in the 16th/17th century

Question 7

Calvinist beliefs- predestination

Answer 7

God has predetermined which souls be saved ‘the elect’ and which not even before birth, and this decision cannot be altered through anything

Question 8

Calvinist beliefs- divine transcendence

Answer 8

God was so far above, and beyond this world that no human could possibly Plame to reveal his well other than what he has revealed
-this created a ‘ salvation panic’ in the Calvinists, as they could not know whether they had been chosen to be saved, and they cannot do anything to gain salvation

Question 9

Calvinist beliefs- Ascetism

Answer 9

abstinence, self-discipline and self-denial
-e.g monks refraining from luxury to devote themselves to God and prayer

Question 10

Calvinist beliefs- idea of vocation or calling

Answer 10

‘worldly ascetism’- constant methodical work- a religious duty, but could not salvation, so Calvinist led an ascetic life, shunned luxury and practised long hours of vigourous self-discipline, living an AUSTERE LIFESTYLE
-idleness= a sin

Question 11

PROTESTANT ETHIC

Answer 11

-calvinist, believe that humans had a calling, and that this was their career(their way to please God)
-The wealth and success had a psychological function as a helped them cope with salvation panic
They took this as a sign of God’s favour and salvation.
-Hard work in one’s career was a sign of obedience and respect to God and God would reward them for this hard work with money
-Cavaness would be frugal so that their wealth was not wasted on luxuries and money should only be reinvested into business

Question 12

What did the Calvinists disapprove of?

Answer 12

-Time wasting
-Laziness
-Idle gossip
-Hedonism (self-indulgence, E.G.alcohol gambling, dancing)
-Sexual intercourse that was not for procreation
-Excessive sleeping
-Sports for entertainment

Question 13

What did the attitude of Calvinism lead to?

Answer 13

The creation of more profit and wealth, which helped the rise of capitalism and investment
-Capitalism is based on rational organisation, and action.
-these ethics, led to:
-Duties/obligations (a single minded, methodical pursuit of calling)
-Hard work
-Rise of rational capitalism
-Attitude toward spending this accumulated wealth on luxuries has been gradually changing over time, and have now become acceptable

Question 14

Hinduism and Confucianism- WEBER

Answer 14

Calvinism not the main cause, just one of the causes of modern capitalism
A number of the economic factors were necessary like natural resources, trade, money, economy, towns, and cities and system of law etc
-Have been societies with high levels of economic development than the northern Europe in the 16th century, but they still failed to develop modern capitalism like ancient China and India, due to a lack of religious belief system like Calvinism

Question 15

Ancient India

Answer 15

hinduism was also an ascetic religion.
However, it’s orientation was ‘other-worldly’- directed its followers concerns away from material world and towards the spiritual world.
-Lacked the drive to systematically accumulate wealth necessary for modern capitalism

Question 16

Ancient China

Answer 16

‘this-worldly’ like Calvinism- towards material world but was not ascetic
-lacked the drive to systematically accumulate wealth necessary for modern capitalism

Question 17

Evaluation

Answer 17

-Weber’s work is often described as a ‘ debate with Marx’s ghost’- material factors alone is not enough to bring about capitalism as he also need cultural factors like the beliefs and values of Calvinism.
): Kautsky argues that Weber overestimates the role of ideas and underestimates economic factors in bringing capitalism into being- capitalism preceded > followed Calvinism
): Tawney argues that technological change> religious ideas, caused the birth of capitalism- only after capitalism was established that the bourgeoisie adopted Calvinist beliefs to legitimate their pursuit of economic gain
): capitalism did not develop in every country where there were Calvinists e.g Scotland
BUT (: Weberians e.g. Marshall say this is because of a lack of investment capital, unskilled labour, so you need both material and cultural factors.
): others argue that, although Calvinist were among the first capitalist, this was not because of their beliefs, but because they were excluded by the law from political office and many of the professions ,e.g. Jews in used in Europe, so turned to business as alternatives open to them BUT
(: Weberians- other religious minorities were also excluded in this way but did not become a successful capitalist

Question 18

BRUCE

Answer 18

was interested in the relationship between religion and social change
Used to case studies of the role of religiously inspired protest movements in America to assess the link:
-The American civil rights movement
-The New Christian Right

Question 19

American civil rights movement

Answer 19

-segregation still existed after slavery in America
Rosa Parks, in 1955, began the movement, refusing to sit at the back of the bus -> campaigning-> Segregation being outlawed

Question 20

why did Bruce find that the black clergy were the key to the movement?

Answer 20

-The church provided meeting places
-Providers sanctuary from the threat of violence
-Ritual such as prayers and hymns

Question 21

Religion as an ideological resource for motivation and support

Answer 21

equipped them for social change in many ways:
(1) taking the moral high ground
-The black clergy pointed out the hypocrisy of white clergy, preaching the Bible, E.g. ‘Love Thy Neighbour’
(2) channelling dissent
-Religion provided channels to express political dissent e.g. Martin Luther King Junior’s funeral was a rallying point for the cause (was assassinated in 1968)
(3) acting as a honest broker
-Churches provided context for negotiating change because they’re respected by both sides in the conflict and was seen as standing above mere politics
(4) mobilising public opinion
-Black churches in the south successfully campaigned for support across the whole of America

Question 22

Main objective and aims of the New Christian Right

Answer 22

seek to take America ‘ back to God’ and make abortion, homosexuality, gay marriage and divorce illegal
-Campaigns for the teaching of creationism (bible story is the literal truth) and to banne sex education in schools
-Turning the clock back to a time before the liberalisation of American culture and society

Question 23

How did the New Christian Right spread their message?

Answer 23

effective use of media and networking
Televangelism- where church open to television stations, raise funds and broadcast programs aimed at making converts and recruiting new members
-Right-wing, Christian pressure. Groups led to the focus for political campaigning, strengthening links for the Republican party

Question 24

Why did Bruce believe this was largely unsuccessful?

Answer 24

-Its campaigners, find it very difficult to cooperate with people from other religious groups, even when campaigning on the same issue e.g. Abortion
-Lacks widespread support and has met with strong opposition from groups standing for freedom of choice
-Believes it has failed because of the basically liberal and democratic values of most of America where they believe in a separation of church and state
-NO THEOCRACY- rule by religious leaders

Question 25

What did numerous American surveys show?

Answer 25

most Americans are comfortable with legalising activities, that they personally believe are immoral e.g. Abortion, homosexuality, pornography and are unwilling to accept other peoples definitions of how they should live their lives, so it is NOT POSSIBLE to make everyone conform to the Bible’s teaching

Question 26

Bruce’s comparison to the civil right movement

Answer 26

suggested that to achieve success, the beliefs and demands of religiously-motivated protest, movements and precious needs to be consistent with those of wider society
-They need to connect with mainstream beliefs about democracy, equality, and religious freedom, which the American civil rights movement did, but the new Christian rights did not

Question 27

How did Marx describe religion as?

Answer 27

-The heart of a heartless world
-The soul of a soulless condition
Does see it as capable of humanising a world made for inhumane exploitation, despite it being an illusion

Question 28

Engels

Answer 28

supports the view that religion has a dual purpose
-Believes that religion can help to challenge the status quo
-Social change

Question 29

Ernst Bloch: the principle of hope

Answer 29

-accepts religion inhibits change but emphasises that it can also inspire protests and rebellion
-Religion is an expression of the principle of hope - our dreams of a better life that contains images of utopia (perfect world) - a communist society
-Images of the utopia can help us see what needs to be changed in this world so religious beliefs create a vision of a better world and -encourages social change through combining religious beliefs with effective, political organisation and leadership

Question 30

Liberation theology

Answer 30

-A phrase used to describe the religion can be a revolutionary force fighting to liberate the poor and oppressed
-In South America(Latin America) Catholic priests in the late 1970s were standing up against the ruling class and helping the poor in countries like El Salvador
-Poor people were banned from protesting to the police for their corner, and use the church to give them a voice
-Oscar Romero was one priest who challenged the rich through his speeches, and he was assassinated by a death squad for this

Question 31

Casanova

Answer 31

The movement played an important part in resisting state terror and bring about democracy
-Although Catholicism in Latin America has since become Conservative, it continues to defend the democracy and human rights, that were achieved in part by liberation theology

Question 32

Maduro

Answer 32

-social change
-Believes that religion can be a revolutionary force that brings about changes
-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 as part of the Christian duty

Question 33

Löwy

Answer 33

-similar to Maduro
-questions Marx’s views that religion, always legitimates social inequality

Question 34

GRAMSCI- religion and hegemony

Answer 34

economic forces alone cannot maintain the dominance of the ruling class
To keep a stronghold on society, the ruling class has to persuade masses that everything is good and fair for everyone -> this is hegemony
-Believes religion has a dual nature that can help workers challenge the ruling class by seeing through the hegemony, and offering a vision of a fairer world-> relative autonomy
-Religion, therefore can develop to the support the ruling class according to Gramsci, religious control is not inevitable
-if the church joined forces with intellectuals, then I can leave the masses to challenge the status quo and free themselves from oppression

Question 35

Billing- Religion and class conflict

Answer 35

-applies Gramsci’s ideas in a case study, comparing class struggle in two communities- one of coal miners and the other of textile workers (1920s and 30s)
-both were working-class and Evangelical Protestant, but the miners are more militant and struggle for recognition of their union and better condition by the text to workers accepted the status quo
-believes the difference in levels of militancy can be understood in terms of hegemony and role of religion
-There are three ways religion supports/challenges, employers’ hegemony
LEADERSHIP
ORGANISATION
SUPPORT

Question 36

Leadership

Answer 36

• miners benefited from the leadership of organic intellectuals-many of them lay preachers, who were themselves miners and trade union activists
  -These clergy help to convert miners to the union cause
  -Textile workers lacked such leadership

Question 37

Organisation

Answer 37

miners were able to use independent churches to hold meetings and organise, whereas the textile workers lacked such spaces

Question 38

Support

Answer 38

-churches kept miners morale high with support of sermons, prayer, meetings and group singing
-In contrast, textile workers who engaged in union activity met with opposition from local church leaders