Religion and Social Change Flashcards
RELIGION AS A FORCE FOR CHANGE: HINDUISM AND CONFUCIANISM
Complete the following sentence:
It is very important to note that ____ was not arguing that _____ beliefs were the cause of modern capitalism, but that they were _____ of its causes.
- Weber
- Calvinist
- One
RELIGION AS A FORCE FOR CHANGE: HINDUISM AND CONFUCIANISM
Complete the following sentence:
The Protestant ethic of Calvinists was _____ sufficient on its own in bringing about _______ capitalism. A number of _______ or _______ factors where necessary such as natural resources, trade, and money economy, towns and cities and a system of ______ to bring about modern capitalism.
- Not
- Economic
- Material
- Law
RELIGION AS A FORCE FOR CHANGE: HINDUISM AND CONFUCIANISM
Complete the following sentence:
There have been other ______ that have had a higher level of economic _____ than northern Europe had in the 16th and 17th centuries, but that still ______ to develop _____ capitalism. In particular, ancient _______ and India were more materially advanced than Europe but capitalism did not take off there. The failure of capitalism to take off there was due to the lack of a ______ belief system like that of Calvinism that would have spurred its development.
- Societies
- Developments
- Failed
- Modern
- China
- Religious
RELIGION AS A FORCE FOR CHANGE: HINDUISM AND CONFUCIANISM
Complete the following sentence:
In ancient India, Hinduism was an _______ religion, like Calvinism, favouring renunciation of the ________ world. However, its orientation was other worldly – it directed its followers’ concerns away from the material world and __________ the spiritual world.
- Ascetic
- Material
- Towards
RELIGION AS A FORCE FOR CHANGE: HINDUISM AND CONFUCIANISM
Complete the following sentence:
Both Hinduism and Confucianism ______ the drive to ________ accumulate wealth that is necessary for modern capitalism. Calvinism was unique in combining asceticism with a this worldly orientation to enable the spirit of modern capitalism to emerge.
- Lacked
- Systematically
How can Weber’s theory and the concept of Hinduism and Confucianism be evaluated?
Give at least two examples.
At least two from:
- Weber’s work is often described as a ‘debate with Marx’s ghost’. Marx’s saw economic or material factors is the driving force for change, whereas Weber theory is that material factors alone are not enough to bring about capitalism.
- Kautsky (1927) argues that Weber overestimates the role of ideas and underestimates economic factors in bringing about capitalism. He argues that in fact capitalism preceded rather than followed capitalism.
- R.H Tawney (1926) argues that technological change, not religious ideas, caused the birth of capitalism. It was only after capitalism was established that the bourgeoisie adopted Calvinist beliefs to legitimate their pursuit of economic gain.
- Weber has also been criticised because capitalism did not develop in every country where there were Calvinists. For example, Scotland had a large Calvinist population but was slow to develop capitalism.
- Others argue that although Calvinists were among the first capitalists, this was not because of their beliefs but simply because they had been excluded by law from political office and many of the professions, like the Jews in Eastern Europe.
MARXISM, RELIGION AND CHANGE: LIBERATION THEOLOGY
What is liberation theory?
- A movement that emerged within the Catholic Church in Latin America at the end of the 1960s, with a strong commitment to the poor and opposition to military dictatorships.
MARXISM, RELIGION AND CHANGE: LIBERATION THEOLOGY
Complete the following sentence:
Liberation theology was a major _______ of direction for the Catholic Church in Latin America. For centuries, it had been a very ________ institution, encouraging a fatalistic _________ of poverty and supporting _______ elites and military dictatorships.
- Change
- Conservative
- Acceptance
- Wealthy
MARXISM, RELIGION AND CHANGE: LIBERATION THEOLOGY
What factors lead to liberation theology?
Give at least two examples.
- Deepening rural poverty and the growth of urban slums throughout Latin America.
- Human rights abuses following military takeovers, such as torture and death squads murdering political opponents, for example in Argentina, Brazil and Chile.
- The growing commitment among Catholic priests to an ideology that supported the poor and opposed violations of human rights.
MARXISM, RELIGION AND CHANGE: LIBERATION THEOLOGY
Complete the following sentence:
Unlike traditional ________ , which ______ the status quo, liberation theology set out to ________ society. For example, priests helped the porter establish support groups, called ‘base communities’, and ______ workers and ______ to fight ________ under the ________ of the church. Priests took the lead in developing literacy programs, educating the poor about their situation, raising awareness and mobilising support.
- Catholicism
- Supported
- Change
- Helped
- Peasants
- Oppression
- Protection
MARXISM, RELIGION AND CHANGE: LIBERATION THEOLOGY
Complete the following sentence:
In the 1970s, priests were often the only authority figures who took the side of the ______ when _________ used murder squads and _______ to hold onto power. However, during the ________ the Church’s official attitude ________. The Pope condemned liberation theology on the grounds that it resembled Marxism, and instructed place to concentrate on pastoral activities, not political struggle.
- Oppressed
- Dictatorships
- Torture
- 1980s
- Changed
MARXISM, RELIGION AND CHANGE: LIBERATION THEOLOGY
How can this theory be evaluated?
Give at least two examples.
- Since this time, the movement has lost influence.
- However, as Casanova (1994) emphasises, it’s played an important part in resisting state terror and bringing about democracy. Although Catholicism in Latin America has since become more Conservative, it continues to defend the democracy and human rights that were achieved in part by liberation theology.
- The success of liberation theology has led some Neo Marxists to question the view that religion is always a conservative force.
- For example, Maduro (1982) believes that religion can be a revolutionary force that brings about change. In the case of liberation theology, religious ideas radicalised Catholic clergy in defence of peasants and workers, making them say that serving the pool was part of their Christian duty.
MARXISM, RELIGION AND CHANGE: RELIGION AND HEGEMONY
How can this theory be evaluated?
Give at least one example.
At least one from:
- Hegemony is never guaranteed. It is always possible for the working class to develop an alternative vision of how society should be organised – that is a counter hegemony.
- Like Engels, Gramsci sees religion as having a dual character and he notes that in some circumstances, it can challenge as well as support the ruling class. He argues that popular forms of religion can help workers see through the ruling class hegemony by offering a vision of a better, fairer world.
RELIGION AND SOCIAL PROTEST: AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT
Complete the following sentence:
Although _____ had been abolished in ____, black people were denied legal and ______ rights in many southern states where ______ was forced, preventing them from using the same _______ (such as buses, shops and toilets) as white people.
- Slavery
- 1865
- Political
- Segregation
- Amenities
RELIGION AND SOCIAL PROTEST: AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT
Complete the following sentence:
Schools were ________ and ______ marriages were forbidden.
- Segregated
- Interracial
