Religion as a force for change

Question 1

RELIGION AS A FORCE FOR SOCIAL CHANGE

Answer 1

To what extent does religion enable change in society?

Question 2

ENGELS and explain

Answer 2

The birth of Christianity was revolutionary, both politically and religiously

• as such, religion can help overthrow the oppression of the ruling class

Question 3

BLOCH and explain

Answer 3

Religion offers hope of ‘heaven on earth’- a utopia vision of society

• through religious teachings it was possible to imagine a better future

Question 4

BLOCH CRITISIM

Answer 4

Religion is limited in its actions towards this goal

Question 5

MADURO

Answer 5

Religion helped to equip individuals to resist authoritarian rule through liberation ideology

Question 6

FEMINIST VIEW (daly and woodhead)

Answer 6

Daly- Goddess religions reject patriarchal control of women and create the ‘divine feminine’

Woodhead- Growth of alternative forms of spiritualty gives women confidence and self-esteem

Question 7

WEBER and explain

Answer 7

Weber sees religion as a force for social change, due to involvement of Calvinist movement in the growth of capitalism

• demonstrates power of religion as a force for change

Question 8

WEBER AGAIN and explain

Answer 8

Wealth is seen as acceptance by god- those who had where seen as ‘chosen’

• this generated a protestant work ethic and aided spread of capitalism

Question 9

EVIDENCE

Answer 9

US civil right movement led by martin Luther aided by Baptist movement

• Civil right used religious institutions as a space to congregate when expressing voices against segregation over racism faces by the black community

Question 10

EVALUATE

Answer 10

Critics of weber argue capitalism spread as a result of technology and the ‘age of empires’ rather than religious beliefs

• nations that profited the most were those with largest empires, economy was built on slavery