Religion and Social Change - Beliefs

Question 1

What is the functionalist view on religion causing social change?

Answer 1

It is a conservative force so does not encourage change in society

Question 2

What is Durkheim’s view?

Answer 2

• 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

Question 3

What is Malinowski’s view?

Answer 3

• 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

Question 4

What is Parson’s view?

Answer 4

• Religion enforces core values through generations = more the case where religion is heavily involved with the state e.g. Iran

Question 5

What is Bellah’s view?

Answer 5

• Civil religion exemplifies social change as it replaces traditional religion

Question 6

How does Marxism criticise the Functionalist view on social change?

Answer 6

Argue religion acts as mechanism of adjustment but this has a negative effect, maintaining false CC + inhibiting social change

Question 7

What is the Marxist view on social change?

Answer 7

• 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

Question 8

What is Leach’s contemporary example of how religion prevents social change?

Answer 8

80% of Bishops attended independent schools + Oxbridge. R/C values are promoted by Bishops, preventing social change.

Question 9

What is the evaluation of the Marxist view of social change?

Answer 9

• 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• Evidence of secularisation means the view of religion as a conservative force may be outdated

Question 10

What is Armstrong’s view (Oppressive Feminism)?

Answer 10

Religion is a male affair:
- women left out of church hierarchy, no archbishops
= prevents social change as women still seen as second best

Question 11

What is Daly’s view (Oppressive Feminism)?

Answer 11

Suggests religion prevents social change as society is still patriarchal - religion enforces this

Question 12

What is Wright’s view (Liberation Feminist)?

Answer 12

Structures of religion are seen as causing social change e.g. women Bishops

Question 13

What is Woodhead’s view (Liberation Feminist)?

Answer 13

Religion creates ‘religious forms of feminism’ where women have greater freedom. Promotes social change as women are able to work + be in education

Question 14

What is the evaluation of the Feminist view of social change?

Answer 14

• 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

Question 15

What is the Interactionist view?

Answer 15

Weber: religion creates social change as with the right economic conditions + a protestant ethic this can lead to capitalism - Calvinism

Question 16

What is the Neo-Marxist view?

Answer 16

• 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

Question 17

What does Nelson suggest?

Answer 17

In certain times or places religion can either be a conservative force or revolutionary force

Question 18

What are 3 examples of when religion has promoted change?

Answer 18

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

Question 19

What are McGuire’s 5 factors for religion creating social change?

Answer 19

1) Charismatic Leader
2) Beliefs and Practices
3) Relationship to society
4) Religious organisations
5) Alternative avenues to change

Question 20

Explain McGuire’s charismatic leader factor?

Answer 20

A charismatic leader who condemns the existing social arrangements and motivates other towards social change
e.g. Martin Luther King and Desmond Tutu

Question 21

Explain McGuire’s beliefs and practices factor?

Answer 21

• 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

Question 22

Explain McGuire’s relationship to society factor?

Answer 22

• 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

Question 23

Explain McGuire’s religious organisation factor?

Answer 23

• 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

Question 24

Explain McGuire’s alternative avenue to change factor?

Answer 24

• 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