Religion and Social Change Flashcards
Weber: Religion as a force for social change.
Calvinist Beliefs: Predestination
God had predetermined which souls would be saved and not even before birth.
- individuals could do nothing to change this, whether through their deeds as Catholics believed or through faith. Gods decision is made and cannot be altered
Weber: Religion as a force for social change.
Calvinist Beliefs: Divine Transcendence
- god was so far above and beyond this world and so incomparably greater than any mortal that no human could possibly claim to know his will.
- this included the Church and the priests - leaving the Calvinists to feel an ‘unprecedented inner loneliness.’
- when combined with the doctrine of predestination this created what W calls a Salvation Panic in the Calvinists They could not know whether they has been chosen to be saved and they could not do anything to earn their salvation
Weber: Religion as a force for social change.
Calvinist Beliefs: Ascetism
refers to self discipline and self denial.
Weber: Religion as a force for social change.
Calvinist Beliefs: The idea of vocation or calling
- Before Calvinism the idea of a religious vocation meant renouncing everyday life to join a convent
W calls this Other Worldly Asceticism. - By contrast Calvinism introduces the idea of ‘This Worldly Asceticism.’
The only thing Calvinists knew of Gods plan for humanity came from the Bible, which revealed to them that we were put on the earth to glorify Gods name by our work.
Thus for Calvinists the idea of a vocation meant constant methodical work in an occupation. But work could not earn salvation - it was simply a religious duty.
Weber: Religion as a force for social change.
Calvinist Beliefs: Calvinists Lifestyle
- Calvinists led an ascetic lifestyle shunning all luxury worked long hours and practised rigorous self discipline.
Idleness is a sin
The Calvinists hard work and asceticism had 2 consequences:
1. their wealth and success performed a psychological function for the Calvinists that allowed them to cope with their salvation panic. As they grew more wealthy they took this as a sign of Gods favour and their salvation
2. Driven by work ethic, they systematically accumulated wealth by the most effecient means possible. By not permitting themselves to squander it on luxuries, they reinvested it in their businesses, which grew. - In W view this is the very spirit of modern capitalism - the acquisition of more and more money as an end in itself.
- Calvinism brought capitalism as we know into the world
Evaluation
- Webers work is often described as a ‘debate with Marx’s ghost.’
Marx saw economic or material factors as the driving force of change, whereas Weber argues that material factors alone are not enough to bring about capitalism. But in W view, it is also needed specific cultural factors - the beliefs and values of Calvinism - to bring it into being.
Evaluation - Marxists - Kautsky
- Weber overestimates the role of ideas and underestimates economic factors in bringing capitalism into being.
Evaluation - Marxists - Tawney
- argues that technological change not religious ideas caused the birth of capitalism,
Bruce - The American Civil Rights Movements
- the struggle of the black civil rights movement of the 1950s-60s to end racial segregation as an example of religiously motivated social change.
- describes the black clergy as the backbone of the movement. Led by Martin Luther King they played a decisive role, giving support and moral legitimacy to civil rights activists.
- their churches provided meeting places and sanctuary from the threat of white violence and rituals such as prayer were a source of unity in the face of oppression
- B argues that the black clergy were able to shame whites into changing the law by appealing to their shared Christian values of equality.
Is the American Civil Rights Movement a conservative force/force for social change?
- force for social change
- helping to bring about change
Marxism: Bloch the Principle of Hope: Conservative Force for Social Change
- sees religion as having a dual character
- argues for a view of religion that recognises both it’s positive and negative influence on social change
- he emphasises that religion can also inspire rebellion
- religion is an expression of the ‘principle of hope’ - our dreams of a better life that contain images of utopia
- images of utopia can sometimes deceive people with promises of rewards in heaven, as Marx himself describes.
- however they may also help people see what needs to be changed in this world.
- can therefore bring about social change
Functionalism theory
- conservative force
- maintains social solidarity
Feminist theory
- conservative force
- maintains patriarchy and male dominance
- deny womens access
+C: Functionalist
does not apply to multi faith
ignores conflict within religion
+C: Feminists
Western views on what we may view as signs of oppression may be a symbol of liberation
