Religion as a force for change Flashcards
What does Bloch mean when he says religion has a duel character?
has positive and negative elements- negative- masses internalize the belief they will be rewarded for suffering.
positive- idea of what a perfect world would look like may help people in seeing what needs to be changed.
What did Gramsci say about religion?
religion contributed to hegemonic control of the ruling class.
Workers were able to organize themselves against the hegemony and develop counter hegemony led by organic intellectuals.
Charismatic religious leaders could take role of organic intellectuals.
What are two examples of Gramsci’s organic intellects?
Martin Luther king in US civil rights movement
liberation theology in Latin America.
What does Maduro say about liberation theology?
religion could bring about social change through liberation theology, challenge to Marxism.
What is liberation theology?
justification for the liberation of the oppressed people, poor people themselves should be sole factor in own disempoverishment.
Why does this challenge traditional Marxist ideas about religion?
insists religion can act as a force for change, decrease poverty and bring unity. Contradictory to classical Marxism.
Who is Camilio Torres and how can we use him as an example of liberation theology, explain how liberated?
lived in s America, 65% land owned by rich families, believed only way to stop this was Christian revolution. . Catholic church did x support Torres believing gov would crush peaceful protest, Torres joined gurellia movement and died fighting govt 1966.
Who is Malcom X and how can we use him as an example of liberation theology, explain how liberated?
Malcom X fought for civil rights for Black Americans, preached from Qur’an, neo-Islamic liberation movement to pursue collaboration between Muslims and non-Muslims to achieve equal society.
How does MLK highlight religion as a force for change?
he was a Baptist pastor
used ideas on religion and everyone being created equally to promote racial equality.
How can we link Hinduism and Indian nationalism to religion being a force for change?
idea of duel character exemplified in Hinduism. for years, was used as powerful conservative force. However, same religion inspired social change in Indian nationalist movement.
What does Nanda say supporting the Hinduism and Indian nationalism?
Hinduism related to Indian “ultra Nationalism”, survey, 93% Indians considered their culture “superior to others”. Indian national identity seen as connected to Hinduism, Hinduism has become civil religion.
“ultra nationalism” most common amongst wealthy m/c, this used to explain growing economic success.
What are the characteristics of fundamentalism?
authoritarian sacred text
us and them mentality
use of modern technology
patriarchal
What are the two types of fundamentalism identified by Bruce?
Islamic fundamentalism
Christian fundamentalism.
Why did Iranian fundamentalism develop?
Islamic- Muslims unhappy w Iranian society and began to oppose Shah.1979, Ayatollah came to power, Established society based on Islamic law.
Why did Christian fundamentalism develop?
New Christian Rights in America argues that American society is in decline and state of moral crisis, Due to changes in law like easy divorce, abortion, gay rights.
How does Islamic fundamentalism show religion can be a force for change?
Taliban regime in 90s set up extreme form of religious regime, based on extremely scrupulous interpretation of Koran, women forced to dress head to foot in traditional clothing. Really harsh punishments imposed like amputation for theft.
How can we argue the Taliban Islamic fundamentalism movement is showing religion as a conservative force rather than force for change?
Although religion did instigate social change, the change was reactionary and conservative, harking back to traditional Iranian society.
How can we use the origins of the labour party to show religion is a force for change?
Wesley, founder of Methodist church, used religion to bring unity to the w/c, holding sermons in public places not buildings, leading to the development of labour party from these w/c individuals. Wesley believed church should promote social justice x dominant ideology.
How can we criticise the origins of the labour party bringing change through religion?
Halevy- at the time, religion was conservative force, Religion changed not society.
What does Weber say about authority and religion?
Religion can give people authority which they can use to make social change.
The protestant branch of calvinism encouraged ppl in 16th century to follow the “protestant work ethic”, what is this?
encouraging the poor to work harder and the rich to constantly reinvest profits.
What is predestination?
idea that god had decided peoples fate from birth, example- who goes to heaven
ppl had “salvation panic” about whether they would get into heaven so tried to maximise profits to get in.
Calvinists were encouraged to live an “ascetic life”, what does this mean?
encouraged people to live frugally, cheap life not extravagant.
Why didn’t capitalism develop in China or India?
While China and India had the right economic conditions for capitalism, did not have necessary values
How do Robertson and Kautsky challenge Weber?
R- beliefs attributed to Calvinists were shared w that of other religions like Catholcism, ended child labour
K- capitalism outdates Calvinism, therefore latter could have not caused former.
What were the 4 key beliefs of Calvinism?
predestination
ascetism
divine transcendence-god was so above anything, no one could possibly know his will.
vocation/calling
What does Maguire says makes religion conservative or radical?
belief
culture
social location
internal organization
How does belief according to Maguire make a religion conservative or radical?
if religion focuses belief om this world rather than spiritual world more likely to encourage change
example- Protestantism rather than Buddhism.
How does culture according to Maguire make a religion conservative or radical?
if religion is important part of culture, more likely to have the power to change things
example- secularization in UK means has no influence.
How does internal organization according to Maguire make a religion conservative or radical?
religions w strong central source of authority have more chance of influencing society. Case in some NRM’s
example- charismatic leaders like MLK
How does social location according to Maguire make a religion conservative or radical?
how far does religion have an influence on politics in country, where there’s separation of state and religion, less likely to be a force for change.
