Reliogion And Social Change Flashcards
what is a conservative force
functions to conserve or preserve things as they are. it stabilises society. it stabilises society and maintains status quo.
status quo
keeping things the same
why do feminists see religion as a conservative force
is is an ideology that legitimates patriarchal power and maintains women’s subordination in the family and wider society
why do Marxists see religion as a conservative force
prevents social change, by legitimating and distinguishing inequality. it creates false consciousness in the WC and prevents revolution
max weber (1905)
thinks religion can bring about social change. weber argues that Calvinism (a form of protestants) brought about by john Calvin during the reformation helped to bring about major social change including bringing about modern capitalism
reformation
brought about change between 16th -17th century
Calvinism
came about as a result of the reformation. reformation opposed the roman catholic church and resulted in the creation of protestants churches
spirit of capitalism
based on an ordered rational and efficient pursuit of profit for its won sake rather than for consumption
Calvinist beliefs
predestination, divine transcendence, ascetism and the idea of a vocation or calling
predestination
it is predetermined who is to be saved. you can do anything to change this. your fate is predetermined accept your position in society
divine transcendence
God is far beyond their mortal world- no one can know God including priest-creating an unprecedented loneliness” when combined with predestination it brought about a salvation panic
ascetism
self-discipline/self-denial/avoiding leading a simple non materialistic life, devoted to God and prayer
the idea of a vocation or calling
worldly asceticism-Calvinists they believed they were called by God to do constant methodical hard work everyday in their jobs not monastery.
how did Calvinists beliefs affect their lives?
Calvinists led an ascetic lifestyle
ascetic lifestyle
they do not want luxury- it was not valued to want and have luxurious items. worked long hours practised religious idleness was viewed as a sin worked hard at whatever they did.
what effect did Calvinist beliefs have on their life
the wealth and success performed a psychological functions helped them cope with the salvation panic.
Hinduism
an ascetic religion, like Calvinism, favouring renunciation of material word. directed followers away from the material world and towards the spiritual world
what did weber believe was necessary to bring about social change and capitalism
a classless society
how have Marxists criticised weber’s theory
Kautsky argues weber overestimates the rate of ideas and underestimates the role of ideas and underestimates economic factors in bringing in capitalism into being. capitalism proceeded rather than followed Calvinism.
what did Tawney argue
argues that technological change, not religious ideas, caused the birth of capitalism.
Bruce
is interested in the relationship between religion and social change. he compares two examples of the role of religiously inspired protest movement in America that have tried to change society.
the civil rights movement and the new Christian right
how are religious organisations equipped to support protests to bring about change.
taking the moral high ground, channelling dissent, acting as an honest broker and mobilising public opinion.
clergy
people who work in religion. e.g victors, priests and vicars.
taking a moral high ground
black clergy pointed out the hypocrisy of the white clergy who were saying “love thy neighbour” but in reality they supported racial segregation
channelling dissent (opposition)
religion provides channels for political- the funeral of martin Luther king was a rallying point for the civil right cause
acting as an honest broker
churches are regarded as a standing above politics
mobilising public opinion
black southern churches successfully campaigned for support and change across the whole of America.
what is the new Christ church
is a politically and morally conservative, protestant and fundamentalist movement. oppose liberalising Amerian society
what are the aims of the NCR?
the aims are of the NRC is that they seek to take America “back to ground” and make abortion, homosexuality, gay marriage and divorce illegal
what do NCR believe in?
believe strongly in traditional family and traditional gender roles. campaign for creationism and to ban sex education in schools
have the NCR been successful in their campaigning
to a certain degree as they get media coverage
what do NRC do?
picket and rally against gay relationship; soldiers funerals, abortion
what is the moral majority?
a pressure group founded in 1978 became the focus for political campaigning and strengthening links with the republican party. for example NCR don’t have this
have the NRC been successful
no- “moral majority” was only 15% at its most.
campaigners found it difficult to cooperate with people from other religious groups campaigning on the same issue such as abortion.
has the NRC made change?
bruce, no it has not achieved it goal to bring America back to God .
what brings about social change?
religiously motivated protest groups and pressure groups have consistent views with mainstream society about democracy, equality and religious freedom
what does Marx believe about religion
he did not see religion as entirely negative. “heart of the heartless world”. he though religion could humanise a world made inhuman by exploitation- even if the comfort is illusory.
Engels
marx’s life long collaborator. religion does inhibit change by disguising inequality. Religion can protest against slavery and misery.
Bloch
religion has a dual character. positive and negative influence on social change. religion can inspire protest and rebellion. religion is an expression of the “principle of hope”- our dream of a better world that contain images of Utopia(perfect world)
utopia
promises of utopia helps people to see what needs to be changed in the world. religious beliefs may create vision of a better world.
what is literation theology?
is a movement that emerged within the catholic church in Latin America at the end if the 1960’s, with a strong commitment to the poor opposition to military dictarships.
what factors led to the growth of the liberation theology?
growing number of really poor people
what does the LT emphasise
played an important part in resisting state terror and bringing about democracy
how does LT different from the catholic church?
LT wanted to change society and educate the community
how does LT support the view that religion can bring about social change
This involved the use of peaceful protest and resisting of violence in order to bring about social change.
liberation
freedom through the study of God
what factors emergence of LT
growth of rural poverty
opposition to military dictatorships
growth of urban slums
human rights abuses following military take overs
how does LT criticise traditional Marxist views
LT want change
traditional catholic beliefs
maintains the status quo
priests focus on one religion content
traditional Catholics didn’t believe that the poor and the rich can be equal.
liberation theology beliefs
sets out to change society
priests help the poor to set up base communities and help workers to fight oppression under the protests of the church.
support literacy programme for the poor and raise the poor’s awareness about exploitation
did Lt bring about social change
yes-Latin America s now a democracy. (casanova-1994)
Catholicism has become more conservative it still continues yo defend democracy and human rights
Madura (1982) (Marxist) thinks that religion can bring about social change
millenarian movements
“millenarian” meaning a thousand years. In Christian theology, this refers that Christ will come back to the world and rule for a thousand of years before judgement day.
Worsely
studied millenarian movement in western pacific-cargo cults. the native islanders felt deprived when material goods arrived for the islanders colonists. cults sprang up asserting that the cargo was for the natives but the white were claiming for themselves, and that this unjust social order was about to be overturned. (brought about social change)
what does Gramsci see religion has having a dual character?
is some circumstances religion can challenge as well support the ruling class.
what is Hegemony
to refer to the way that that the ruling class use ideas such as religion to maintain control.
how can religion challenge the ruling class
Gramsci argues that popular forms of religion can help workers see through the ruling class hegemony by offering a vison of the better, fairer world.
billings
Billings applied Gramsci’s ideas in a case study comparing the struggle in two communities-one of coal miners and one of textile workers.
