Religion And Social Change Flashcards
High moral ground
Black people should show that they are better than the whites. Martin Luther King said the whites go against their own religion (Christianity).
Channelling dissent
Providing a way to express feelings of injustice and anger. (Martin Luther Kings funeral)
Honest broker
Churched are neutral ground for both sides of conflict.
Mobilising public opinion
Church congregation are large and spread ideas.
Dual character of religion
Religion can hold back change because people are deceived with promises of reward in heaven. But the same image of heaven gives us an in sight into how things should be.
Hegemony
One group have control over another. Gramsci said it can be done through ideas just as much through force.
Religion challenges hegemony
Life experience shows the poor that the world is not always what they are told. Create a dual consciousness. They know what they are told to believe and they can also, see what the world is really like.
Organic intellects
Help the poor recognise their real situations and help form organisations such as trade unions.
Company/ free churches
Gramsci - textile workers worshipped in company churches, miners worshipped in free churches. Miners joined trade unions and fought for better conditions and pay. Textile workers were submissive and accepted the status quo.
Religion and totalitarian dictatorship
Mauro - religious ideas actually override ruling class ideology. In societies with totalitarian dictatorship, all political protest is banned. The only place people can gather in large masses in places of worship. Because leaders are scared to get rid off or kill religious leader because it will start riots.
Liberation theory
Catholic Churches in Latin American. Some priests left church to go live with the poor and help workers fight oppression and create support groups.
