Religion and social change

Question 1

What is Wbers study called?

Answer 1

‘The Protestant Ethic and Spirit of Capitalism’

Question 2

What does the Protestant Ethic and spiritual capitalism state?

Answer 2

That calvinism brought about social change specifically the emergence of capitalism

Question 3

What does Weber argue modern capitalism is based on?

Answer 3

The systematic efficient pursue of profit for its own sake rather than consumption

Question 4

What did Weber believe pursuit of profit for its own sake had?

Answer 4

• this has an elect affinity or unconscious similarity to Calvinist beliefs and attitudes

Question 5

What were Calvinist four main beliefs?

Answer 5

Predestination- God determined who will be saved and is going to heaven
Divine transcendence- God was so far above and beyond this world which created a salvation panic
This- worldy Asceticism- referring to abstinence and self- discipline
Lastly the idea of a vocation- meaning constant methodical work in an occupation, revealed by God in the Bible

Question 6

What happened as a result of calvinist beliefs?

Answer 6

As a result of these beliefs there was a work ethic of gathering wealth without spending on luxuries and instead further investing the money they earnt into their business causing them to grow and prosper; producing further profit for them to reinvest and so on

Question 7

In Wbers view what does he call this?

Answer 7

This is the spirit of modern capitalism. Thus calvinism and its beliefs demonstrate how religion can be a force for social change

Question 8

What is the evaluation of weber?

Answer 8

Tawney argues that technological changes, not religious beliefs caused the birth of capitalism. It was only after capitalism was established that the bourgeoisie adopted calvinists beliefs to legitimate their economic gain.

Question 9

What was Bruce also interested in?

Answer 9

The relationship between religion and social change.

Question 10

What did Bruce compare?

Answer 10

Two case studies, The American civil rights movement (CRM) and New christian rights movement (NCR) to describe how religion has led to social change

Question 11

What is the black civil right movement of the 1960s an example of?

Answer 11

religiously motivated change

Question 12

What is the black civil right movement of the 1960s an example of?

Answer 12

religiously motivated change

Question 13

What does Bruce describe the Black clergy as?

Answer 13

The backbone of the movement, giving moral legitimacy to civil rights activists

Question 14

What did the black churches provide?

Answer 14

-The churches provided a meeting place and sanctuary from the threat of white violence, and prayer and hymns singing helped white poeple in the face of oppression
- The black clergy were able to shame white people into changing the law by appealing to shared christian values of equality
- This thus is an example of religion becoming involved in a secular struggle and helping to bring about social change

Question 15

What was the NCR?

Answer 15

A protestant fundamentalist movement.

Question 16

What was the aims of the NCR?

Answer 16

seeked to take America ‘back to God’ and aimed to make abortion, homosexuality, gay marriage and divorce illegal

Question 17

Where did the NCR aims stem from?

Answer 17

Their believes in traditional gender roles and the family

Question 18

Where did the NCR aims stem from?

Answer 18

Their believes in traditional gender roles and the family

Question 19

What did the NCR use to publicize themselves?

Answer 19

The NCR used televangelism in order to make concerts and recruit new members

Question 20

Why did Bruce argue the NCR were unsuccessful in creating such change?

Answer 20

-Due to lack of widespread support and the democratic values of most of American society
-Therefore unable to bring about change as their religious beliefs did not connect with mainstream beliefs about equality and democracy which the CRM did

Question 21

Evaluating Bruce CRM VS NCR

Answer 21

However, the CRM aimed to achieve racial equality which are fundamentally different objectives from the NCRs focus on promoting conservative christian values. This differences in goals makes it difficult to draw parallel conclusions

Question 22

What does Engles say about religion having dual character?

Answer 22

Marxists such as Engels argues that although religion inhibits change by disguisng inequality, it can also challenge the status quo

Question 23

How does Bloch support Engels?

Answer 23

• believes that religion is an expression of ‘the principle of hope’- our dreams of a better life that contain images of utopia
• religion thus may help people see what needs to be changed

Question 24

An example of religion having a dual character?

Answer 24

libertarian theology, a movement that emerged in the late 1960s

Question 25

What did liveration theology set out to do?

Answer 25

They set out to change age society, for example priests helped the poor to establish support groups called ‘base communities’ and took lead in developing literacy programmes, educating the poor about their situation and raising support.

Question 26

What does Maduro argue?

Answer 26

that religious ideas radicalized the Catholic clergy in defence of peasants and the poor making them see that serving the poor was part of the christian duty
- Thus this shows religiously inspired social change

Question 27

Eval of liberation theology

Answer 27

While neo-marxists like maduro acknowledge the positive influence religion can have on social change.
Reliance’s on religious institutions can be problematic. Gramsci argues that religions role in promoting ideology has led to hegemony (domination of the ruling class). A famous example of this is the ideological power of the catholic church in helping to win support for Mussolini’s Facist regime. This implies that institutions can be co-opted by the very systems they seek to challenge inhibiting social change.