Religion and Social Change - Beliefs Flashcards
What is the functionalist view on religion causing social change?
It is a conservative force so does not encourage change in society
What is Durkheim’s view?
- Funerals and other religious traditions still exist today = religion does not cause social change
- A collective consciousness prevents social change because people continue to share the same values
What is Malinowski’s view?
- Religion stops change as it helps us to carry on as normal by providing answers
- People worship their religious figure so are worshipping society which prevents them thinking for themselves
- Provides social solidarity so do not want to go against the status quo
What is Parson’s view?
- Religion enforces core values through generations = more the case where religion is heavily involved with the state e.g. Iran
What is Bellah’s view?
- Civil religion exemplifies social change as it replaces traditional religion
How does Marxism criticise the Functionalist view on social change?
Argue religion acts as mechanism of adjustment but this has a negative effect, maintaining false CC + inhibiting social change
What is the Marxist view on social change?
- Prevents social change by stating your class is ‘god given’ preventing people changing their position
- Promise of an afterlife + suffering seen as virtuous = reluctant to change their suffering
- Legitimises ruling class, maintaining the class system
What is Leach’s contemporary example of how religion prevents social change?
80% of Bishops attended independent schools + Oxbridge. R/C values are promoted by Bishops, preventing social change.
What is the evaluation of the Marxist view of social change?
- Fewer people attending Church = difficult to see religion as a tool for the U/C
- Evidence of secularisation means the view of religion as a conservative force may be outdated
What is Armstrong’s view (Oppressive Feminism)?
Religion is a male affair:
- women left out of church hierarchy, no archbishops
= prevents social change as women still seen as second best
What is Daly’s view (Oppressive Feminism)?
Suggests religion prevents social change as society is still patriarchal - religion enforces this
What is Wright’s view (Liberation Feminist)?
Structures of religion are seen as causing social change e.g. women Bishops
What is Woodhead’s view (Liberation Feminist)?
Religion creates ‘religious forms of feminism’ where women have greater freedom. Promotes social change as women are able to work + be in education
What is the evaluation of the Feminist view of social change?
- Women in Islam are ‘owned’ and controlled by their husbands
- Women seen to be weaker assigned at birth as a punishment for Eve
- Still no female Arch Bishops
What is the Interactionist view?
Weber: religion creates social change as with the right economic conditions + a protestant ethic this can lead to capitalism - Calvinism
What is the Neo-Marxist view?
- Religion can be used by the proletariat to liberate themselves - used as a tool of w/c resistance
- Institutions have relative autonomy from the economy so are able and free to change
What does Nelson suggest?
In certain times or places religion can either be a conservative force or revolutionary force
What are 3 examples of when religion has promoted change?
1) England 1381 John Ball’s peasant revolt
2) Churches played an important role in the civil rights movement in America in the 1960s
3) Latin American 1960s - radical individual groups emerged, saw the creation of Liberation theology
What are McGuire’s 5 factors for religion creating social change?
1) Charismatic Leader
2) Beliefs and Practices
3) Relationship to society
4) Religious organisations
5) Alternative avenues to change
Explain McGuire’s charismatic leader factor?
A charismatic leader who condemns the existing social arrangements and motivates other towards social change
e.g. Martin Luther King and Desmond Tutu
Explain McGuire’s beliefs and practices factor?
- Religions emphasising strong moral codes may produce members who are critical of social injustices and seek change
- Religions which focus on ‘this word’ are more likely to try and change the world than religions which focus on ‘spirituality’ e.g. Christianity rather than Buddhism
Explain McGuire’s relationship to society factor?
- Where religion plus a central part in the culture or political and economic life of a society it may be more likely to produce social change
= centrality of Catholicism in Latin America + Islam in Iran
Explain McGuire’s religious organisation factor?
- Sects are often critical of society and want to change it
- Churches often accept society and its values
BUT large organisations such as Churches may be more effective in influencing events
Explain McGuire’s alternative avenue to change factor?
- In some societies the absence of political protest means the church is the only avenue for dissent
= E.g. in Chile political dissent is crushed religion is the only outlet for criticism
