religion and social change

Question 1

Traditional Marxist Take

Answer 1

Balibar & Althusser:
NO SOCIAL CHANGE as religion is OPPRESSIVELY & SUPPORTIVELY maintaining economic status quo.

1. oppressively: imposition of religious doctrine blatantly, especially when it has politico-economic power
2. supportively: religion as a pathway for dissent to be channelized so it never harms the actual rule.

Question 2

Marxist defense of the “What about Iran” counter

Answer 2

Azad - iranian revolution was an alliance of forward elements such as scholars. religious leaders winning the later power struggle had nothing to do with the initial revolution.

Question 3

who says both conservative & radical?

Answer 3

canin: both conservative (paternalistic control over the faithful, making sure their focus is off the poverty of the world)

and liberating, in instances where rituals & church spaces can provide the material conditions for the trasnformation of social order

Question 4

USA movements

Answer 4

martin luther king, heavily aided by the baptist church.

Farley: bus boycotts were organized by black churches

Question 5

poland?

Answer 5

solidarity movement, completely supported by roman catholic church won against the communist party.

then, the church (which was the only thing free of the state) was able to be a place for people to gather & critique the state

Question 6

Weber’s whole take

Answer 6

Protestent ethic, specifically aescetic calvinism–

> > created a high valuation of hard work and the belief that money = being in God’s good graces

> > encouraged saving, accumulating wealth

> > began capitalism

> > capitalism needed rationality

> > rationality inside the society, state, offices, industries, everywhere led to disenchantment and loss of religiousness

Question 7

Critics of Weber

Answer 7

Sombart:Calvinism wasn’t about money!!!
Weber: yes, but it produced accumulating behaviour.

Calvinism was it a LOT of places (Switz, Scots) where capitalism didn’t flourish at all.
Marshall: yes, but Weber doesn’t say that’s ALL you need.

Kautsky: captialism predates calvinism
Weber: before Calvinism it was just trading and wealth, not a “distinctive rational beahviour style to encourage entrepreneurship”

finally, “It’s actually bc Calvinists were sociopolitically marginalized that they turned to $$, like Jews.”

Question 8

Neo-Marxist, person, theory + example

Answer 8

Robinson:

1. is the oppressed religion different from ruling?
2. do the oppressed share a religion?
3. are legitimate protests channels blocked?
4. is the religious teaching radical?
5. are the clergy associated with the oppressed?

YES: baptist churches of the blacks bv. protestant churches of the whites, USA circa 1950s

Question 9

Liberation Theology + Example

Answer 9

A type of religion which seeks to aid the oppressed group, usually the poor and fight the existing oppressive political or economic system, originated in latin-america

EG: Nicaragua where the sadinistas were aided by religious groups that preached against a “Sinful economic strucutre”
THIS IS ALSO NEO-MARXIST