Religion and Social Protest

Question 1

Describe the American Civil Rights Movement

Answer 1

• Bruce describes the struggle of the Black Civil Rights movement of the 1950s/60s to end racial segregation as an example of religiously motivated social change.
• Black people at the time were denied legal and political rights and segregation occurred.
• After much campaigning by people like Rosa Parks and Martin Luther Kung, segregation was outlawed.

Question 2

Describe how the American Civil Rights Movements achieved social change

Answer 2

• Bruce argues the religious leaders were the backbone of the movement. Led by Martin Luther King, the church provided meeting places and sanctuary from the threat of white violence
• The black clergy were able to shame the whites into changing the law due to shared Christian teaching of equality.

Question 3

Outline the ways in which religious organisation are equipped to contribute to social change

Answer 3

• Taking the moral high ground
• Channelling dissent
• Acting as honest broker
• Mobilising public opinion

Question 4

How do religious organisation take the moral high group?

Answer 4

e.g. Black clergy pointed out the hypocrisy of White clergy who preached ‘love thy neighbour’ but supported racial segregation.

Question 5

How do religious organisations channel dissent?

Answer 5

• Religious provides channels to express political dissent.
• e.g. the funeral of Martin Luther King was a rallying point for the civil rights cause

Question 6

How do religious organisations act as a honest broker?

Answer 6

Churches can provide a context for negotiating change as they are often respected by both sides in a conflict and sees as standing above ‘mere politics’

Question 7

How do religious organisation mobilise public opinion?

Answer 7

e.g. Black churches in the South successfully campaigned for support across the whole of America

Question 8

Describe the New Christian Right

Answer 8

• It’s a protestant fundamentalists movement that opposes the liberation of American society
• They aim to take America ‘back to God’ and make abortion, homosexuality and divorce illegal.
• They believe in traditional family and gender roles.

Question 9

How does the New Christian Right aim to achieve social change?

Answer 9

• They made effective use of the media and networking, notably televangelism, where church-owed TV stations raise funds and broadcast programmes aimed to make converts and recruiting new members.
• Right-wing Christian pressure groups have also become the focus for political campaigning and for strengthening links with the Republican party
• e.g. they achieved overturning Roe v Wade.

Question 10

Why has the New Christian Right been unsuccessful?

Answer 10

Bruce suggests:
- Its campaigners find it difficult to cooperate with people from other religious groups, even when campaigning on the same issue (abortion)
- It lacks widespread support and had met strong opposition from groups who stand for freedom of choice.