Religion as a social change

Question 1

Weber

Answer 1

This is the sociologist Max Weber of 1904-5 who studied the protestant ethic and the spirit of capitalism. He argued that the necessary beliefs of countries and the right economic conditions led to the growth of capitalism. He studied Calvinists, who led an ascetic lifestyle and believed in the elect and the concept of predestination, that they were a distinct group of people predestined for heaven. This created a salvation panic amongst them and with other factors meant they worked harder and put it back into society, and this was their calling, a sign from God that they were saved. Weber argued this is the development of rational capitalism.

Question 2

Neo- Marxism view of religion

Answer 2

Has a dual-character of religion acting as a social change/ conservative force. They believe religion can act as a tool of resistance and change and that the superstructure within society has more freedom in doing so.

Question 3

Examples of religion facilitating social change/

Answer 3

American civil rights: Martin Luther King. Poland: against communist rule and soviet union. Iran: revolution of 1979 led creation of Islam republic imposing sharia law.

Question 4

Engel (neo-marxism)

Answer 4

Religion can bring a revolutionary social change and studies religion as a way of coping with oppression, developing into political movements and bringing change on earth rather than salvation in heave.

Question 5

Maduro (neo-marxism)

Answer 5

Claims religion can be revolutionary and an available channel to bring about social change. This clergy can then fulfill the functions of Gramsci’s proletarian intellectuals; by expressing the discontent of the oppressed and working with them to devise strategies of action. They preached liberation theology, its the duty of the church members to fight against unjust and right wing oppressive dictatorship.

Question 6

Example of neo-marxist views.

Answer 6

Oscar Romero. The arch bishop for 3 years, was assassinated on the 24/3/1980. He represented the poor and oppressed in El Salvador and became a supporter of Liberation Theology.

Question 7

Religious Fundamentalism key characteristics

Answer 7

Key characteristics: interpret ‘infallible’ texts, ‘us’ and ‘them’ mentality, aggressive reaction, use of modern technology, patriarchy, prophecy and conspiracy theories.

Question 8

Davie (fundamentalism)

Answer 8

Argues fundamentalist’s are threatened by modernity, they are products of it and suffer a clash of cultures in modern society: modernity and traditional cultures.

Question 9

Giddens (fundamentalism)

Answer 9

Links rise of fundamentalism to postmodernism, that these are the features of an uncertain and free society. There are 2 responses: the fundamentalist response (defensive and threatened) and the cosmopolitanism response (reflexive thinking, tolerant to views of others and open to new ideas, self-improvement).

Question 10

Castells (fundamentalism)

Answer 10

Two similar response are the resistant identity and the project identity. A defensive reaction and a more forward looking and engaging response with social movements.

Question 11

Bruce on fundamentalism

Answer 11

Believed that different fundamentalist movements had different origins: often a reaction to change taking place in society. Such as in America the New Christian Right is opposed to family diversity and gender equality.

Question 12

‘Developing world’

Answer 12

The shah of Iran is an example of how local population are unhappy with changes, which then lead to movements. The western capitalist power of companies had an impact of Iran which led to the illegal overthrow of a democratic western regime, the focus of resistance against: the Islamic Republic.

Question 13

Almond, Scot, Appleby and Sivan (other reasons for fundamentalism)

Answer 13

They explained the causes of fundamentalism: agreed secularization and modernization helped produce fundamentalism but also other factors such as; low levels of education and high levels of inequality , displacement of people by war, economic problems, chance events like poor harvest, western imperialism, effective leadership, failure of politicians.

Question 14

Secular fundamentalism

Answer 14

Means non-religious. Rise of science and rational thoughts saw the decline of religion, fundamentalism is a reaction this (first phase). Globalization has created uncertainties, lost faith in mainstreams politics and turn to secular nationalist fundamentalism (second phase).

Question 15

Examples of fundamentalist nationalist movements.

Answer 15

Donald trump, Brexit campaign, France attempting to stop pupils wearing religious symbols.

Question 16

Religion as a source for conflict

Answer 16

Mark Juergensmeye points out violent acts in the world are carried out in the name of religion, the idea to be ‘cleansed’. Has been linked to nationalism. These global movements are essentially there in opposition to threats and protecting on a global scale.

Question 17

Examples of sources of conflict.

Answer 17

Iran and Israel.

Question 18

The clash of civilizations

Answer 18

Samuel Huntington states in Western, Islamic, Latin American, Confucian (China), Japanese, Hindu and Slavic-orthodox, there are religious differences which globalization has made nation-wide, making it less-significant and creating a gap that religion has filled.

Question 19

Bruce on religion and conflict

Answer 19

Argues sometimes religion is no more than a justification for war or violence. There are different types of relationships between: used to justify, participants see themselves engaged in a crusade and overlapping between ethnic divisions; providing the view that they are superior and the enemy is inferior.